Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB20 | |
SB80 | |
SB72 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 20-OUT OF STATE TEACHER RECIPROCITY 9:10:06 AM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 20 "An Act relating to recognition of certificates of out-of-state teachers." He asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS). 9:10:19 AM SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the work draft committee substitute (CS) for SB 20, work order 32-LS0202\B, as the working document. 9:10:34 AM CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion and asked Mr. Lamkin to explain the changes. 9:10:46 AM TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated the CS addresses concerns that were brought up. He explained the following changes: Change #1 The title, Page 1, Line 1, following "relating to" Delete: "recognition of certificates of out-of-state teachers." Insert: "teaching certificates for teachers holding out-of-state certificates." Change #2 (Version A) Section 2 (page 2 Lines 8-11) Relating to a requirement for an out-of-state teacher to have a baccalaureate degree, in version A this reference was being repealed. Version B maintains the statute. Change #3 Section 3, relating to the time period an out-of- state teacher has to complete course trainings in Alaska and multi- / cross-cultural studies, from three years to two years. Change #4 Version A, Section 5 (page 3, Line 1-11) Relating to an exemption for out-of-state certificate holders from having to hold a baccalaureate degree. This section was deleted from Version B. Change #5 In version B, a new section 5 (page 3, Lines 1-3) was drafted, directing the department to adopt regulations to assist in expediting the issuance of a certificate for military spouses. 9:11:50 AM CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. There being no further objection, version B was before the committee. SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated the input of the committee to make the bill stronger and better. CHAIR HOLLAND called on Education Commission of the States (ECS) to make their presentation 9:12:56 AM CASSIDY FRANCIES, Policy Researcher, Education Commission of the States, Denver, Colorado, introduced herself. 9:13:30 AM TIFFANY MCDOLE, Senior Policy Analyst, Education Commission of the States, Denver, Colorado, introduced herself. MS. FRANCIES said that ECS is a nonadvocacy, nonpartisan organization that provides policy support and independent research to the states. Last year ECS looked at policies regarding teacher license reciprocity across the 50 states. She showed slide 2 of the presentation License Reciprocity: National Landscape. Research shows that teachers are the most important in-school factor impacting student achievement. As a result, policymakers take great interest in recruiting and retaining effective teachers. MS. FRANCIES presented slide 3 and said many states struggle with teacher shortages. Teacher shortages are often concentrated to schools with specific characteristics and certain subject areas. Teacher shortages are impacted by mismatched supply and demand and state policies. Any policy related to teacher licensure, retention and recruitment, and license reciprocity will intersect with the issue of teacher shortages. MS. FRANCIES presented slide 4 and said policymakers balance policy priorities which seem to be in competition with each other: In setting licensure policy, policymakers balance several priorities: • Ensuring all teachers are equipped for the job • Ensuring there are enough teachers to fill vacancies • Ensuring that licensure requirements do not unintentionally keep strong candidates out of the classroom MS. FRANCIES presented slide 5 on NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification), an interstate agreement among 47 states and D.C. NASDTEC facilitates educator mobility between states by outlining minimum requirements. A bachelor's degree is a minimum essential component of an approved educator preparation program and teacher licensure through the agreement. States can require their own specific requirements 9:17:44 AM SENATOR BEGICH clarified that unlike some other interstate compacts, NASDTEC allows states to go beyond the compact. MS. FRANCIES replied that is correct. NASDTEC only sets the minimum requirements. States can add to that. SENATOR BEGICH said that is good news. MS. FRANCIES said ECS wanted to know how many states offer "full license reciprocity," which allows fully licensed out-of-state teachers, regardless of experience, to be immediately eligible to receive a standard teaching license, subject to few or no additional requirements. She showed a map on slide 7 that showed eight states offer full license reciprocity. The other states have additional requirements for out-of-state license seekers. The most common additional requirements are additional courses and assessment scores. Some states provide exemptions for some candidates, often those with a certain number of years of experience or advanced licensure. SENATOR BEGICH asked if even if Alaska adopted the bill, it would still be one of the gray states because the bill has additional requirements and set time periods. A person can get reciprocity, but maintaining it is contingent on completing Alaska history and geography and those kinds of things, so that would not be full license reciprocity. MS. FRANCIES said she believes the bill would move Alaska to full license reciprocity because it would allow teachers to immediately receive a license, regardless of experience or other considerations. 9:21:02 AM MS. FRANCIES noted three barriers to transferring a license: finding reliable information; cost, especially for military spouses; and time to complete an application and processing time. MS. FRANCIES said the impact on teachers is that 41 percent of teachers who left the profession but would consider returning cited the ability to transfer their license out of state as a consideration when deciding whether to return to the classroom, according to a national survey. There may be teachers in states who are qualified to teach but aren't because of difficulties or concerns with transferring licenses. This has the potential to exasperate the shortage. MS. FRANCIES noted the resources ECS provided to the committee. SENATOR BEGICH shared this his wife is a former certified teacher from Virginia. This might benefit his family, so he is putting that conflict on the record. CHAIR HOLLAND invited Tammie Perreault to testify. 9:24:20 AM TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison, Department of Defense, Military & Family Policy, Washington, D.C., said her mission is to be a resource for state policy makers to address quality of life issues for military families. The Department of Defense (DOD) is in support of SB 20. The process for teachers licensed in another state to become fully licensed in a new state often requires extensive documentation, additional testing, and coursework and may involve application processing delays. This creates further barriers for military spouse teachers to seamlessly continue on their career paths. SB 20 reduces these barriers. One of the key policies of SB 20 is that the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development adopt regulations which provide for expedited processing of applications for license to teach in the state for military spouses. This was a specific DOD request as military spouses are best served by receiving their license to practice an occupation within 30 days of when they make their application. Currently, many states have implemented this policy. 9:26:09 AM SENATOR MICCICHE joined the committee. MS. PERREAULT said that teaching is the most prevalent profession among licensed military spouses. The annual percentage of military spouses who move across state lines is 14.5 percent compared to only 1.1 percent of the general population. Additionally, 68 percent of married service members reported that their spouse's ability to maintain a career impacts their decision to stay in the military. This is why this is so important to the DOD, and 88 percent of military spouses reported wanting or needing to work. The DOD appreciates the tremendous effort Alaska has made to support military families and is thankful to Senator Stevens for introducing this important legislation. 9:27:21 AM CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 20. 9:27:35 AM NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School Boards, Juneau, Alaska, said that Alaska is experiencing a crisis with the teacher shortage. This bill would alleviate some of that. The bill maintains rigor and would attract teachers from out of state and retains the multicultural courses required in Alaska for a license. 9:28:53 AM THERESA OBERMEYER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, agreed with the testimony and asked where Alaska would be without its wonderful teachers. There is no group she supports more. She has been a certified teacher since 1979. She added that she thinks reciprocity should be extended to attorneys. 9:31:03 AM DAVID NEES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said that he is a retired teacher. SB 20 is an excellent bill. Senator Begich asked an excellent question about reciprocity. One of the barriers facing teachers from out of state is the multicultural and Alaska Native requirement. When he worked for the Anchorage School District, teachers from out of state usually would decide in the second or third year whether they were staying or going. Moving the deadline to two years will be more of a barrier than the committee thinks it will be. Teachers have to adopt to a new district while getting their lives focused. The bill would be better if the courses did not have to be taken for two years. That would be a minor change in the bill. Postponing the cost of taking coursework that will not be used in another state would be beneficial for recruiting teachers. 9:33:17 AM DEENA BISHOP, Ph.D., Superintendent, Anchorage School District, Anchorage, Alaska, said the Anchorage School District is in favor of the flexibility and time allotted for educators to be certified. She shared that seven percent of Anchorage School District educators are military spouses, so the flexibility adds value to recruitment. The Anchorage School District has many immersion teachers who come from other countries. The bill allows for that and ASD supports it. Someone's efficacy is by example and previous jobs. It is beneficial to be able to hire teachers and look at their past record of educating students. SENATOR STEVENS asked, as a superintendent who hires more teachers than anyone else in the state, if it is realistic to require somebody to complete the Alaska history and multicultural studies in two years. DR. BISHOP replied, what the former speaker shared may have been true in earlier times, but with online learning, it is not a barrier at this time. Having an Alaska Native studies course in another state is value added. 9:35:45 AM LISA PARADY, Ph.D., Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators, Juneau, Alaska, said she and Senator Stevens served on the governor's taskforce for teacher retention and recruitment and had a dialogue about how important this would be for Alaska. All are aware of the crisis of teacher shortage in Alaska. The Alaska Council of School Administrators joint position statement emphasizes that retaining effective educators is essential to increasing student achievement and eliminating academic disparities for all Alaskan students. SB 20 sits squarely with its position statement that all members support. Regarding the Alaska Native studies course, Alaska Staff Development Network offers multiple opportunities for educators to complete those studies, online, virtually, and in a webinar. They are readily available to educators and can be completed within that timeframe. 9:38:10 AM CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony on SB 20 and asked the will of the committee. 9:38:36 AM SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the committee substitute (CS) for SB 20, work order 32-LS0478\B, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 20(EDC) was reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
SB 80 NASW Letter of Support.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
SB 80 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
SB020_versionB.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
SB020_TeacherCert_Reciprocity_Presentation_ECS_19March2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/29/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
SB020_TeacherCert_Reciprocity_Research_ECS_policy resources_19March2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/29/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
SB80 Research.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
SB072_Civics_BillText_versionB.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
SB020_TeacherCert-Reciprocity_Summary-of-Changes_Version A to B.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
SB072_Civics_Summary-of-Changes_Version A to B.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
SB 80 ASD Mental Health and SEL Instruction.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |