Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
02/14/2020 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 6-PRE-K/ELEM ED PROGRAMS/FUNDING; READING
9:01:04 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE
FOR SENATE BILL NO. 6, "An Act relating to early education
programs provided by school districts; relating to funding for
early education programs; relating to the duties of the
Department of Education and Early Development; establishing a
reading intervention program for public school students enrolled
in grades kindergarten through three; establishing a literacy
program in the Department of Education and Early Development;
and providing for an effective date."
He noted that this was the eighth hearing on the bill since
January 23. He asked Senator Begich for his comments as the bill
sponsor.
9:01:38 AM
SENATOR BEGICH thanked the staffs of Senator Stevens and Senator
Costello and his staff for crafting the amendment that was under
discussion during the last meeting. He said he looked forward to
a swift meeting and he would offer some comments at the end of
the meeting.
9:02:11 AM
CHAIR STEVENS expressed appreciation for everyone's efforts to
work on the amendment under discussion yesterday. He said the
draft committee substitute (CS) for SB 6, work order 31-
LS0159\G, as amended yesterday, is the working document.
He called on Senator Costello to offer an amendment.
9:02:35 AM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to adopt Amendment 6, G.9.
31-LS0159\G.9
Caouette
2/14/20
AMENDMENT 6
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR COSTELLO
TO: CSSSSB 6 (EDC), Draft Version "G"
Page 12, lines 29 - 30:
Delete "meet additional reading instruction
coursework requirements established"
Insert "complete three credits or the equivalent
of coursework, training, or testing requirements in
evidence-based reading instruction approved"
Page 12, line 31, following "department.":
Insert "A teacher may apply coursework, training,
or testing requirements completed under this
subsection toward continuing education requirements
established by the board in regulation."
Page 13, lines 2 - 3:
Delete "meet additional reading instruction
coursework requirements established"
Insert "complete three credits or the equivalent
of coursework, training, or testing requirements in
evidence-based reading instruction approved"
Page 13, line 4, following "department.":
Insert "A teacher may apply coursework, training,
or testing requirements completed under this
subsection toward continuing education requirements
established by the board in regulation."
Page 24, following line 15:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 22. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
APPLICABILITY. Section 17 of this Act applies to
endorsements in elementary education issued on or
after the effective date of this Act. An endorsement
in elementary education issued before the effective
date of this Act may not be renewed on or after the
effective date of this Act unless the teacher has
completed three credits or the equivalent of
coursework, training, or testing requirements under
sec. 17 of this Act."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
9:02:41 AM
CHAIR STEVENS objected for purposes of discussion.
SENATOR COSTELLO said as the committee discussed yesterday, the
heart of the bill is reading specialists and getting evidence-
based instruction to students. Elementary classroom teachers
need six credits to renew their certification and currently are
able to choose the topics of those credits. Amendment 6 would
require teachers renewing their certification to meet additional
reading instruction coursework by completing at least three
credits or the equivalent of coursework, training, or testing
requirements in evidence-based reading instruction approved by
the board.
SENATOR COSTELLO explained that there are new, effective
science-based and evidence-based methods of teaching reading.
Alaska wants current teachers to have the benefit of that
training. Under the bill, as written, teachers could earn three
credits or their equivalent through coursework, training, or
testing requirements. Teachers already renew their certificates
every five years, so Amendment 6 would not change that. As their
renewal comes up, this would be the requirement and teachers
would have the opportunity to take that training.
9:05:28 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked whether this applies to pre-K through third
grade teachers or high school teachers as well.
SENATOR COSTELLO suggested the commissioner to speak to the
question because the department has a menu of certifications.
The intention here is for the lower grades, she said.
CHAIR STEVENS called the commissioner to the table.
9:06:16 AM
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Ph.D., Commissioner, Department of Education
and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, explained that as
the department understands it, Amendment 6 would only be for
those teachers with an elementary education endorsement.
SENATOR BEGICH asked whether this amendment would be rolled into
the normal process of teacher recertification.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON answered that is correct. Senator Costello
considered input from teachers and their representatives as she
was making the amendment. Teachers renew their certificates
every five years. Part of that requirement is six credits of
coursework. That is integrated into the amendment and is not an
additional burden for teachers. It is a specific application of
current practice so that it is focused on reading.
SENATOR BEGICH asked if Amendment 6 provides the flexibility
needed by the department and teachers.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON answered yes. In some ways, it provides
more flexibility for teachers renewing their certificates
because they will be able to use department-provided training as
part of those credits. There are many opportunities to work with
partners on department-approved trainings.
9:08:56 AM
SENATOR HUGHES pointed out that a recently-certified teacher
would not have to meet this until 2025. She asked if between now
and 2025 there is any requirement that teachers get training
from the department so that five years will not go by before
these teachers are equipped to use evidence-based methods in the
classroom. She expressed a preference for teachers to be trained
as soon as this coming year.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON responded that teachers could accomplish
the requirements any time within that five years. If the Alaska
Reads Act passes and is signed into law, the department is
already preparing and working with its partners to provide
training as fast as it can to as many teachers as it can.
Teachers can meet the requirements of Amendment 6 next year and
use that to renew their certificate in 2025.
SENATOR HUGHES summarized that teachers could wait for five
years, but his intention is that the training begin soon and
that all teachers have access to that training. She expressed
hope that district administrators will get the word that there
should be no delay in training. She said she understands from
Posie Boggs that there is some free, wonderful online training.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON replied he completely agrees and will work
toward that end.
9:11:36 AM
CHAIR STEVENS acknowledged the presence of Representative
Drummond, the chair of the House Education Committee.
SENATOR COSTELLO said yesterday, the question came up about
whether the department has the flexibility to not burden
teachers by requiring training that they have already received.
The purpose is to arm teachers with the best tools and not
restrict teachers from taking classes in other areas if they
already have this training. She asked the commissioner to
respond.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON agreed. He said Senator Costello was very
thoughtful about the input received yesterday and made that
change in Amendment 6. The Alaska Reads Act will provide
opportunity for the department to connect with all its partners
to develop regulations that are creative but provide the
flexibility that Senator Costello is describing.
9:13:40 AM
CHAIR STEVENS removed his objection and there being no other
objections, Amendment 6 was adopted.
CHAIR STEVENS asked the department to present the fiscal notes
for SB 6.
9:14:21 AM
ERIN HARDIN, Legislative Liaison, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, said her comments
would be brief since the five fiscal notes were reviewed in a
previous meeting. She noted that a summary spreadsheet shows the
totals of the fiscal notes through FY 2026. DEED carried that
out another three years because it will take until FY 2029 for
all school districts to move through the preschool grant cycle.
The department has begun to review the committee substitute and
the amendments and does not believe the fiscal notes will need
substantial changes, but they will change some of the narratives
to reflect the additions. The Parents as Teachers language will
be included in the early learning coordination fiscal note. The
department has begun preliminary discussions about what support
is needed in the fiscal notes for the teacher retention work
group. To allow that group to meet one or two times, the
department is looking at about $1,000 per person for travel,
which would add $20,000 to the fiscal note. She said the
department will continue to evaluate that as the bill moves to
the next committee.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if $20,000 is an addition on an annual
basis.
MS. HARDIN answered that she believes there was an expiration.
9:16:40 AM
At ease
9:16:53 AM
CHAIR STEVENS reconvened the meeting and asked Ms. Hardin to
continue.
MS. HARDIN advised that the teacher retention work group would
be added to the student and school achievement fiscal note. The
department anticipates adding no more than a one-time cost of
$20,000 to support the work of that group. The amendment notes
that the work group could meet electronically or telephonically.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the fiscal note shows the increase in
formula spending once a pre-K grant expires and a child is then
counted as a .5 in the average daily membership (ADM).
MS. HARDIN said yes.
SENATOR BEGICH directed attention to the third line, number
three and five, the public education fund. He said the increase
begins in FY 24. As [pre-K] kids roll into the public education
fund, that replaces grant funds, which eventually expire. The
fiscal note shows that by 2029, the public education fund
increases by about $17 million.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the ongoing cost are expected to be $17
million once 80 percent of four-year-olds are enrolled in
voluntary pre-K.
SENATOR BEGICH confirmed that would be the cost, which is .02
percent of the current education budget.
9:20:12 AM
CHAIR STEVENS opined that the bill deserves a fiscal note from
the university about what it is going to do to train teachers
already in the field, as well as students in the system working
for a certificate. He expressed hope that would shortly be
forthcoming from the university.
SENATOR BEGICH asked the commissioner, assuming the bill passes
and the effective date is July 1, if he plans to make some
accommodation for teachers whose credentials happen to expire on
that date so those teachers are not lost inadvertently. He said
he believes this could be handled though regulation but he
wanted it on the record to reassure those teachers caught in
this impossible time constraint.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON confirmed that he was able to honor the
legislature's intent to make sure that teachers get training in
reading skills and also accommodate those teachers whose
credentials expire on that July 1 cusp.
CHAIR STEVENS noted that public testimony has been heard and was
closed on SB 6. He asked if there were any further comments.
SENATOR HUGHES said she'd like the sponsor to comment on the
talk she'd heard about a possible policy tweak to the pre-K
grant program outlined in the bill. As currently written, the
first round of grants is for the lowest 10 percent and she heard
that might be changed to the lowest 25 percent. She said this is
the policy committee and she'd like the committee to be updated
about that possibility.
9:24:00 AM
SENATOR BEGICH replied the request is not about pre-K. He
explained that the
bill has a provision that the state will provide intensive
support for up to 10 schools that are not performing well. Those
10 schools are drawn from the lowest performing 10 percent.
Former board member Judy Eledge suggested expanding the universe
from which those 10 schools can be selected to the lowest
performing 25 percent of schools. It is her belief that the bill
might not have enough reach otherwise. He said that seemed
reasonable and it could be fixed in the next committee of
referral.
SENATOR HUGHES said that seems to make sense.
CHAIR STEVENS opined that it seems to be a legitimate fiscal
issue that the Finance Committee can address. He asked if there
were further comments.
SENATOR HUGHES noted that homeschooling was mentioned during the
discussion yesterday but her understanding is that the things
that were discussed apply to districts. She said she has a large
homeschool population in her district and she wants it a matter
of record how this impacts the homeschooling population in the
state. Homeschool parents want their children to be proficient
in reading and they are not inclined to socially promote.
CHAIR STEVENS asked the commissioner to update the committee on
the impact this bill will have on homeschool students.
9:27:10 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON responded that a student is a student, so
the bill will apply to homeschool students. The goal is for all
students to learn to read proficiently by the end of third
grade, but the bill provides flexibility that homeschool
families might want. One is with the screener. A statute that
applies to all students says families can opt out of statewide
assessments, so homeschool families can opt out of screening if
that is their choice. Homeschool families generally keep pace
with the kinds of policies that improve student outcomes so the
bill will work fine for homeschool families. Furthermore, the
department will work with homeschool families and educators who
work with homeschool families to make sure the regulations are
appropriate for homeschooling.
SENATOR HUGHES said she looks forward to seeing the training on
science-based and evidence-based methods. She asked if
homeschool parents will have access to training and if the
department will promote that so those parents can be equipped.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON replied that has been the department's
intention since it began working on the bill. The department
wants the Alaska Read Act to be a movement across the state and
provide those opportunities not only to homeschool parents and
educators, but superintendents, principals, school board
members, and community members. If the Alaska Reads Act is
signed into law, he wants to engage the business community to
focus on students becoming proficient in reading.
SENATOR BEGICH shared that he has seen letters from homeschool
organizations indicating that the bill mandates retention of
homeschool students. He asked if the bill, as written, does
that.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON answered no.
CHAIR STEVENS asked Senator Begich for his closing comments.
9:30:47 AM
SENATOR BEGICH said he spoke to or met with at least 30
superintendents, 50 to 60 school board members, 30 principals,
an uncountable number of teachers, and the homeschool community
in Juneau and has sent letters to a number of homeschool
parents. He has spoken to colleagues in the House and Senate,
oftentimes battling presumptions about the legislation, because
people find it incredible that people of different political
persuasions could agree on this bill. Organizations with such
vast differences as the Alaska Policy Forum to the National
Education Association have talked about the need for policy and
to put politics aside. He echoed the comments from Senator
Hughes that the Senate Education Committee is the policy
committee and it must make these decisions.
SENATOR BEGICH said this policy committee has done its job. It
took a good idea that was translated into a bill and made it a
much better bill. Robust discussions will continue. Every single
member of the committee has added to this legislation, as have
most Alaskans. He looks forward to it moving on to the next
committee of referral. He said he also looks forward to robust
debate on the floor of the Senate with the opportunity once
again for members to talk about the value of education and
teachers and how parents have a right to ensure that their kids
receive a good education. The legislature wants to do that in a
context doable in the state of Alaska. He thanked everyone for
the work to make SB 6 a better bill.
9:33:34 AM
At ease
9:38:06 AM
CHAIR STEVENS reconvened the meeting and acknowledged the
presence of Senator Coghill. He removed his objection and
solicited a motion.
9:38:24 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to report the committee substitute (CS) for
sponsor substitute for SB 6, version G as amended, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached and
forthcoming fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSSSSB 6(EDU) was reported from the
Senate Education Standing Committee.
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