Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/06/2023 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB29 | |
| SB24 | |
| Presentation Alaska Public School Funding Formula | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 29-CIVICS EDUCATION; EST AK CVCS ED COMM
3:34:17 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 29
"An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and
secondary school graduation requirements; establishing the
Alaska Civics Education Commission; and providing for an
effective date."
3:35:06 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion to adopt a committee substitute
for SB 29.
3:35:11 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 29, work order 33LS0246\S, as the working document.
3:35:19 PM
CHAIR TOBIN objected for purposes of discussion.
3:35:26 PM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided a summary of changes for
SB 29 as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SUMMARY of CHANGES
(from version A to S)
1. Deleted reporting requirements from version A
a. (version A) Page 2, lines 11-14, relating to
School District civics curriculum and
assessment data reporting requirements to
DEED; and
b. (version A) Page 3, lines 2-7 and lines 23-28,
relating to annual reporting of this data from
the state board of education and early
development to the Legislature.
2. Staffing the Commission from Lt Gov to DEED
a. (version A) Page 4, line 3, struck "lieutenant
governor" and replaced with
b. (version S) Page 3, line 18, "Department" (of
Education and Early Development), as staffing
the Commission.
3. Redesigned representation of the Judiciary on the
Commission:
a. (version A) Page 4, lines 8-9: from a justice
of the Supreme Court to
b. (version S) Page 3, lines 23-26: a retired
Alaska judicial officer or administrative
person with judicial experience in the state.
4. Commission meetings, sharing Legislative resources
a. (version S) Page 4, lines 27-29 to page 5, line
2: allowing for legislative council to assist
the Commission in the conducting its business,
including use of legislative meeting space and
related resources.
3:37:48 PM
CHAIR TOBIN removed her objection; she found no further
objection and SB 29, work order 33-LS 0246\S, was adopted.
3:38:33 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Innovation and Education
Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED), Juneau, Alaska, explained the fiscal note OMB component
number 2796 for SB 29. She said DEED's fiscal note consisted of
two parts. One section addresses one-time expenses. The other
section addresses annual expenses.
[Original punctuation provided.]
This fiscal note contains the following one-time
expenses: 1) $49.5 for department staff and 20
educators to travel to civics curriculum and
assessment development convenings; 2) $229.1 to
contract a facilitator to convene department staff,
educators, and stakeholders for participation in the
development of a civics assessment and corresponding
secondary semester long civics curriculum, as well as
associated data collection elements, and legal fees;
3) $5.0 for the initial supplies and equipment set up
of a new employee; and 4) $40.0 for stipends ($2.0 per
participant).
In addition, this fiscal note includes out-year annual
expenses: 1) $118.8 for one Educational Specialist 2
position to serve as a Social Studies Content
Specialist and Alaska Civics Education Commission
Coordinator; 2) $4.0 for staff travel to the annual
in-person Commission convening; and 3) $33.1 for annual
in-person Commission convening and department
chargeback expenses.
3:41:53 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated he was shocked by DEED's fiscal note. The
cost is unnecessary and would kill SB 29. He opined that SB 29
does not require a full-time employee. He is having new fiscal
notes drafted to reduce the cost substantially.
3:42:42 PM
CHAIR TOBIN stated the committee would look forward to receiving
updated fiscal notes as SB 29 moves through the process.
3:42:58 PM
JOHN APPLEBEE, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Governor Nancy
Dahlstrom, Office of the Governor, Juneau, Alaska, stated the CS
for SB 29 the committee adopted makes the fiscal note the Office
of the Governor submitted irrelevant and zeros it out in its
entirety.
3:43:39 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 29.
3:44:31 PM
ELLEN WEISER, President, Kids Voting North Alaska, Fairbanks,
Alaska, testified in opposition to SB 29. Kids Voting North
Alaska is a non-partisan program committed to helping children
become lifelong learners. The organization has worked in the
North Star Borough for over 30 years. Kids Voting North Alaska
is a supporter of civics education in schools. Its board agreed
that a semester-long civics course would benefit students. The
founding fathers considered public education a key element to
maintaining the American Republic. She opined that schools
should integrate history and civics. Civics should not take the
form of a one-semester-and-done requirement. States should
reconceive educational goals using open-ended questions to
stimulate analytical thinking.
3:47:10 PM
MS. WEISER said the organization is concerned about the civics
test educational requirement. Civics is more than memorizing
facts about government. It is about applying civic knowledge
within towns, boroughs, the state, and the nation. She opined
that a civic service-learning component should be a culminating
activity. SB 29 should be flexible and emphasize local control.
Additionally, the legislation should increase the number of
highly qualified civics teachers employed within a district to
support any mandated assessment for graduation. Kids Voting
North Alaska disagrees with having a civics commission. SB 29
should designate Alaskan educators as the experts that create
the curriculum and assessment. Local education agencies should
choose the curriculum.
3:50:38 PM
TIM DORAN, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
opposition to SB 29, saying he has been an educator for over
forty years. Every teacher in a school teaches civics. When a
child enters school they acquire the skills to get along, work
together, share, and respect one another. They learn to live
within a community while discovering how broader outside
communities operate. He opined that this is the essence of
civics. He said Fairbanks' schools offer civics education at
every grade level and named curriculum titles. He opined that SB
29 was based on a weak premise. SB 29 would have a third party
establish a civics curriculum that endangers local control and
implements a high-stakes graduation test. He suggested the
civics panel promote a less broad and more inclusive curriculum
guided by state standards. He opined that students should not be
refused graduation based on a single test score. Alaska removed
a high school qualifying exam because of inequity. He said he
strives for his professional vision that students become
competent, confident, curious, caring, and contributing
citizens. His vision is reinforced daily by watching students
and educators implement the learning and teaching process. He
urged support, encouragement, and recognition of educators'
civics lessons.
3:54:37 PM
AMY GALLAWAY, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
opposition to SB 29, saying she is a civics teacher who was the
Alaska Teacher of the Year in 2020. She opined that SB 29 is not
evidence-based. It addresses the right issue but provides the
wrong solution. The sponsor should change SB 29 to direct DEED,
the State Board of Education, and practicing educators to
develop relevant, engaging, and evidence-based K-12 civic
standards. Standards should adhere to the 2020 Educating for
American Democracy Roadmap. A portfolio of authentic assessment
options could accompany the standards. This combination would
make for a rigorous curriculum supported by research to prepare
Alaska's students to save our republic. She said that for 24
years, she has told students that representative democracy is a
living organism. It requires civic knowledge, skills, and
dispositions to be systematically taught and assessed in grades
K-12. She thanked the legislature for elevating the need for
engaged and informed citizens because apathy is rampant. Civics
education is about knowing how the world works. She opined that
people are not disengaged because their civic knowledge is low.
They are disengaged because their political efficacy is low.
They do not have the skills to be effective citizens nor the
experience of successful participation. She suggested
decluttering social studies to make room for problem-solving,
critical thinking, and skills application by having students do
projects. The citizenship test is a valuable learning tool, but
when used as a high-stakes test, students memorize to pass
rather than learn. Students remember authentic assessments based
on community engagement. Alaska must provide training and
support to educators for SB 29 to elevate civics education. She
stated that although the idea of a commission is interesting, it
is not necessary because DEED already has a process for creating
and writing curriculums that work. Teachers and experts in the
field should develop the curriculum.
4:00:02 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 29.
4:00:21 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said it is hard to create a perfect bill and
difficult to obtain funding. He said he appreciates Fairbanks
testifiers. However, if Alaska were doing such a good job, young
people would understand what it means to be a citizen. Yet
statewide, Alaska is doing a poor job of helping its children be
good citizens. Experts testified on the many positive attributes
of SB 29. He hoped SB 29 would improve as it moves through the
process. It is critical to encourage young people to be good
citizens. He said one of the foundational reasons the US became
a country was to create citizens who could participate and vote.
He opined that SB 29 is a good bill.
4:01:33 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said he appreciates the sponsor's work. It is a
better bill than last year. The test is not a high stakes test;
it's one way students can demonstrate their mastery of the
material.
4:02:17 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she supports SB 29 and the changes.
4:02:50 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
4:02:53 PM
SENATOR KIEHL moved to report the CS for SB 29, work order 33-
LS0246\S, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:03:10 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 29(EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative Finance Foundation Formula Presentation to Senate Education 03.03.2023.pdf |
SEDC 3/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
Education Funding |
| DEED Foundation Formula Overview for Senate Education 03.03.2023.pdf |
SEDC 3/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
Education Funding |
| DEED Handout 1 - Foundation Funding Program Overview 2024 03.06.2023.pdf |
SEDC 3/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
Education Funding |
| SB 29 CS Version S 03.06.2023.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2024 8:00:00 AM SEDC 3/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB 29 Summary of Changes Version A to S 03.06.2023.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2024 8:00:00 AM SEDC 3/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |