Legislature(2009 - 2010)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/01/2010 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB237 | |
| SB109 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 237 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 109 | ||
SB 109-REPEAL SECONDARY SCHOOL EXIT EXAM
8:13:57 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS announced consideration of SB 109.
8:14:44 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, spoke to the
comprehensiveness of the state's assessment program and the
remediation requirement under regulation for students who take
the High School Qualifying Exit Exam (HSGQE). He then shared
some statistics on student attendance since the exam has been in
place.
He stated that testimony heard during the previous meeting,
which indicated the governor is supporting this bill, is not
correct. There was a misunderstanding regarding a statement
issued by the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special
Education stating their position, and while it is on state
letterhead, it is clearly not the governor's position.
MR. MORSE said he would agree that tenth grade is too late to
begin assessing students' progress, but the Department of
Education and Early Development does not do that. Schools
administer an assessment called "The Developmental Profile" in
kindergarten. They don't do another statewide standardized test
until third grade, but do administer the Standards-based
Assessment (SBA) annually from third through tenth grades. It is
almost statistically impossible for a student who is proficient
on that assessment in all of those years not to be proficient on
the high school qualifying exam.
He conceded that more frequent in-classroom assessments based on
the curriculum would be more effective to improve student
learning, but the state cannot hold students accountable with
that type of assessment. A statewide end-of-year assessment is
necessary for accountability. Under the existing statute the
individual student accountability component is the HSGQE. The
rest of the accountability system comprises primarily
consequences applied to schools because of the Title 1
requirement "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB). Most of Alaska's
comprehensive high schools are not Title 1 schools and don't
deal with the heavier consequences of NCLB.
8:18:53 AM
MR. MORSE went on to address remediation plans. The state Board
of Education passed a regulatory requirement that the school
districts place students who do not pass the exam on the first
try on remediation plans. A remediation plan was further defined
by a judge in Moore vs. State as one designed for each
individual student. The department monitors the plans in any
district where the state has intervened. He added that the state
has intervened in five districts; last year the department asked
each of them to turn in every individual student remediation
plan for review, to make sure they met the requirements. This
year any district that was late turning in those plans or that
did not have comprehensive remediation plans, has to turn in all
of their plans. The department will have people on the ground to
make sure teachers are following through.
8:20:28 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked Mr. Morse how the judge's ruling differed
from what was in place.
MR. MORSE said that prior to 2007, the department asked the
districts to have general remediation plans for all students,
but those did not address individual students. The judge
clarified that districts must have plans that specifically
identify where individual students need help and what is being
done for them.
8:21:34 AM
ERIK McCORMICK, Director, Assessment and Accountability,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau,
Alaska, said that 6 percent, or just about 3800 kids between
seventh and twelfth grades, dropped out between July 1 and June
30, 2005. In 2009 it was 5.2 percent or 3100 kids, a reduction
of 645 kids or 0.8 percent statewide. The dropout rate actually
increased in the special education population between 2005 and
2008, but decreased in 2009. It was 5 percent among special
education students in 2005; it rose to 6.4 percent in 2008, and
dropped to 5.9 percent in 2009.
The graduation rate, which is the percentage of kids graduating
in four years, was 6900 students or 61 percent in 2005; in 2009
8000 students or 67.5 percent graduated even though enrollments
were declining. That means there were 1100 more diplomas issued
than in 2005. Also in 2005, the graduation rate for the special
education population was 39 percent, or 426 children with
disabilities; that was up to 43.6 percent or 549 children in
2009, a 38 percent increase.
MR. MCCORMICK said that of the 1500 seniors in 2008 who did not
receive a diploma but did complete the school year, over two
thirds had passed the HSGQE. That leaves about 500 kids who did
not receive a diploma and did not pass all three parts of the
HSGQE.
He explained that the department followed a cohort of students
through all four years of high school starting in their freshman
year and found that they had a cumulative pass rate of over 90
percent. In other words, of the kids who took the test for the
first time in the spring of their sophomore year, 90 percent of
those who stayed in school through their senior year eventually
passed all three parts of the HSGQE.
8:25:26 AM
SENATOR DAVIS requested that Mr. McCormick provide the committee
with a copy of his statistics. She contended that the progress
Mr. McCormick cited can continue even without the exit exam; not
all of that improvement can be tied directly to the test.
MR. McCORMICK agreed.
MR. MORSE added that they can speculate, but he is confident
there must be an accountability system in place that provides
some consequence in case of failure.
SENATOR DAVIS said it would be up to the department to decide
what other assessments they would use; she does not intend to
get rid of assessments, just this exam. She reminded them that
most states are moving away from a high-stakes test to other
types of assessment tools.
8:28:43 AM
MR. MORSE answered that a number of states are going away from a
single exit exam and toward end-of-course exams. Some of those
states are requiring that students pass a certain number of end-
of-course exams in order to obtain a diploma, so more testing is
required and students still might not receive a diploma.
8:30:12 AM
SENATOR DAVIS disagreed.
MR. MORSE asserted that those states generally test in multiple
courses at the end of each semester.
8:30:20 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER questioned how many students attended school for
all 12 years and did not obtain a diploma.
MR. MCCORMICK responded that he does not have the 2009 numbers
with him but the vast majority of the 8000 graduates in 2009
would have made it through in four years.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked whether all of them passed the exit exam.
MR. MCCORMICK confirmed that they had to pass all three parts of
the HSGQE in order to get a diploma.
CO-CHAIR MEYER repeated that he wants to know how many students
went to school all four years and did not pass the exit exam.
MR. MCCORMICK replied that number was about 500 in 2008.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if those 500 kids finished school without a
diploma.
MR. MCCORMICK replied that was correct.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if the state tracks what happens to those
kids.
MR. MCCORMICK answered that the Department of Education cannot
track individual students at this point, but has just entered
into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Labor
(DOL) in cooperation with the University and is starting to do
that analysis.
8:32:25 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER said that is one reason he favors the WorkKeys
over the high school exit exam; some kids may not be able to
pass the exit exam but certainly have competence in welding,
mechanics, or other areas that don't necessarily require the
same level of academic skill.
8:33:12 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS assured Mr. McCormick that it is not the intent
of the committee to lower any standards, but to prevent a
situation that stigmatizes students who are more inclined to
vocational or technical education. He stressed that the
department needs to assess students earlier and remediate any
problems in a timely manner.
8:36:09 AM
MR. MORSE clarified that the fiscal note laid out the cost of
the exit exam as it was bid by the contractor. That contract
covers the HSGQE and all of the standards-based assessments, so
some cost-efficiencies may be lost in changing it. He was not
sure what the savings would be. He also pointed out that under
state regulation, a person can re-take the test indefinitely if
he holds a certificate of achievement.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if students can come to the district after
age 21.
MR. MORSE answered that students can come on campus to test but
have to register with the district in advance. Most districts
administer the test someplace separate from the other students;
Anchorage has an adult testing center.
He reiterated that the department feels the exam should remain
in place at least until it has a better picture of what is going
on nationally with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(ESEA), which is being renewed year-by-year.
In closing Mr. Morse emphasized that the HSGQE is a basic skills
exam and includes very little algebra and geometry. He asserted
that statistics show more students graduating today than before
the exam requirement.
8:40:04 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked Mr. McCormick to comment on the impact this
test has on the school districts.
8:40:24 AM
MR. MORSE could not provide the costs, but said schools have to
make significant changes to their high school programs for at
least half a day on each of six days per year to accommodate the
testing. Teachers have to be available in a ratio of 30:1 to
administer the exam. The districts have to prepare and deliver
the materials to all of their schools, and there is significant
time involved in putting those materials back together for
pickup by the contractor after testing.
8:41:58 AM
JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director, National Education
Association (NEA) Alaska, said NEA continues to support SB 109.
NEA represents 13,000 educators from Metlakatla to Barrow and
all points in between. He agreed with previous testimony
regarding the high cost of the test and pointed to the negative
impact on students of days of instruction lost.
Regarding problems addressed in Moore vs. State of Alaska, he
recalled that about 23 percent of schools at that time did not
offer all of the algebra and geometry covered on the exit exam.
He conceded that the problem had been addressed in part by
distance learning, but said he still saw areas of concern.
In conclusion, he said that many students believe they no longer
have to work as hard in school after passing the exit exam.
8:45:12 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked what percentage of NEA Alaska's members
support SB 109.
MR. ALACANTRA answered that support for the bill is unanimous
among the 400 elected NEA delegates.
SENATOR OLSON was concerned that the State Board of Education
has come out on one side of the issue and NEA-Alaska on the
other.
MR. ALCANTRA admitted that he does not attend the State Board
meetings and could not explain that at this time.
SENATOR OLSON asked how many of the 13,000 NEA members are
teachers in the state of Alaska.
MR. ALCANTRA replied that NEA Alaska represents the vast
majority of the 8500 teachers in the state. Valdez has about 75
teachers who are not members. Of its 13,000 members, about 8200
are teachers; 3000 are education support professionals such as
secretaries, nurse's aides and others, and about 1500 are dues-
paying members of NEA-Alaska's retired program. About 75 percent
of NEA-Alaska's retired members are teachers and 25 percent are
retired education support professionals.
SENATOR OLSON assumed the members include teachers in private
institutions.
MR. ALCANTRA said they represent K-12 public school teachers
only.
SENATOR OLSON re-stated that Alaska Pacific University (APU)
professors are not included.
MR. ALCANTRA clarified that no university professors are
members; they are represented by Alaska Public Employees
Association / American Federation of Teachers (APEA/AFT).
8:48:02 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if NEA-Alaska has looked at what might be
used to replace the HSGQE.
8:48:56 AM
MR. ALCANTRA said NEA hasn't spent time on what would replace
the test, but pointed out that the Standards-based Assessment,
the adequate yearly progress goal required by NCLB, and the ESEA
are already in place to help gauge how students are doing. He
said NEA can look at what other states are doing and get the
committee some information on other cost-effective alternatives.
8:50:37 AM
SENATOR OLSON said he understands that this bill was introduced,
in part, because employers complained that some of the students
graduating with diplomas were not proficient in basic
calculations or communication.
8:51:17 AM
MR. ALCANTRA said he does not think the exam has improved that;
it results in teaching to the test. He believes the answer is
having the best, most qualified teacher in front of every
classroom.
8:53:04 AM
SENATOR OLSON commented that support for repealing the exit exam
seems to be widespread, even among parents of high-performing
students. He asked Mr. Alcantra if that is correct.
MR. ALCANTRA said he has no polling data to offer, but he has
always opposed the exam because of the amount of time it takes
away from instruction.
8:55:08 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER concluded that all of the testimony the committee
heard from parents on Friday and earlier supports SB 109. Even
the administration does not seem to be averse to the bill; they
just want to be sure there is an efficient alternative in place.
He saw no reason to hold the bill in committee.
8:57:03 AM
SENATOR DAVIS ended by saying that she does not see a need to
wait for the federal government to decide what it will do;
education is a local concern.
9:00:43 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER moved to report SB 109 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, SB 109 was moved from committee.
9:01:17 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
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