Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

05/03/2024 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

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Audio Topic
03:30:39 PM Start
03:31:34 PM SB266
04:35:17 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 266 CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROG; STUDENT ACCTS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                                                                                                                                
        SB 266-CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROG; STUDENT ACCTS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:31:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 266                                                               
"An  Act relating  to  standards-based  assessments; relating  to                                                               
correspondence study programs; relating  to student fund accounts                                                               
for  correspondence   study  programs;   and  providing   for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:33:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN stated this was the  second hearing on SB 266. During                                                               
the  first hearing  public testimony  was  opened. The  committee                                                               
will continue hearing  public testimony today. She  stated SB 266                                                               
is  based off  a regulatory  package that  was propagated  by the                                                               
Department of Education and Early  Development (DEED) in 2008. It                                                               
was in effect in 2014.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:33:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN stated  she drafted SB 266 without  assistance. If SB
266 looks  like other legislation it  is because it was  based on                                                               
2008  regulations,  which  was  the  most  recent  example  of  a                                                               
constitutionally  sound  correspondence  allotment  program.  She                                                               
said  that  people  have concerns  about  stipulations  that  are                                                               
outlined  in  SB  266.  The   stipulations  come  from  the  2008                                                               
regulatory  package, that  at the  time  were considered  amiable                                                               
under the  constitution. She referenced  SB 266, page 3,  line 30                                                               
and noted that  while there are limitations  on reimbursement for                                                               
family  travel, there  is  a stipulation  that  DEED, the  school                                                               
board, or  a district superintendent  could approve it.  There is                                                               
also  a stipulation  that costs  associated with  memberships for                                                               
sports or  access to recreation  are deductible when  included in                                                               
the student's  individual learning plan.  SB 266 on page  4, line                                                               
24,   provides   flexibility   by   allowing   a   chief   school                                                               
administrator to identify  items under a student's  plan that may                                                               
exceed  what  is  believed  to  be  approved  by  the  individual                                                               
learning plan.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:36:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN joined the meeting.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TOBIN  said parents  can  use  the allotment  to  purchase                                                               
materials,  resources, and  curricula  that are  approved by  the                                                               
school  district  or DEED,  including  private  tutoring. SB  266                                                               
includes   accountability  reporting   necessary  for   providing                                                               
oversight and input. It also  contains a requirement for student-                                                               
based assessments  to acquire accountability data.  She clarified                                                               
that the state has multiple  statewide assessments, including the                                                               
AK STAR  and MAPS testing,  which are  not high stakes  tests but                                                               
rather  tools used  to determine  whether  students are  learning                                                               
content  standards.  She  referenced  the  Moore  consent  decree                                                               
directing the legislature  to assess students to  ensure they are                                                               
receiving  appropriate  instruction  in content  standards.  Data                                                               
from  the assessments  allows  the  legislature to  appropriately                                                               
allocate  funds  to  underfunded  areas  thereby  supporting  the                                                               
state's constitutionally mandated public education systems.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:38:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated  the discussion on the issues                                                               
addressed   in  SB   266.   He  opined   that   there  has   been                                                               
misunderstanding regarding the  work that has been  done, but the                                                               
goal  is to  make sure  Alaska's  children get  educated and  the                                                               
state's money is spent appropriately.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:38:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 266.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:38:44 PM                                                                                                                    
LARRY  SLONE,  representing  self, Homer,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support of  SB 266 stating  it helps clarify a  central political                                                               
and  social  issue  regarding the  interpretation  of  the  First                                                               
Amendment's  "wall of  separation" between  church and  state. He                                                               
said  the statute  has  provided a  valuable  vehicle for  public                                                               
funding  of  private and  religious  schools  for ten  years.  He                                                               
opined  that it  is now  under assault  by public  school funding                                                               
activists  who, in  the Alexander  lawsuit, would  cut off  their                                                               
nose to spite their face  regarding Alaska's educational systems.                                                               
It  is important  that their  objective of  shutting down  public                                                               
funding  be  declared  official  policy so  the  statute  can  be                                                               
harmonized  with  the  Alaska  State  Constitution's  prohibition                                                               
against such  public funding. At  issue are efforts  by activists                                                               
to  empower  governmentnot   to establish  a  government-mandated                                                               
Church  of   Americabut   to   inappropriately  flip   the  First                                                               
Amendment  on  its  head   and  indiscriminately  use  government                                                               
decrees  to  condition  Alaskans.  Henceforth,  Christian  family                                                               
values  would no  longer  play a  role in  the  education of  the                                                               
Nation's  children, eliminating  the need  for competing  private                                                               
schools. Alaskans  face a stark  choice: either shut  down public                                                               
funding  as  mandated by  the  Constitution  or amend  the  State                                                               
Constitution  to  allow  freedom   of  expression,  religious  or                                                               
otherwise, in conformity with Supreme Court and other rulings.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:41:12 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID MORRISON, representing self,  Wasilla, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266.  He stated  that many  homeschoolers avoid                                                               
public  schools  because  they fail  to  meet  children's  needs,                                                               
parents  disagree  with  the  curriculum,  or  the  schools  lack                                                               
desired educational  opportunities. He  argued that SB  266 would                                                               
severely  limit   parents'  ability  to   provide  individualized                                                               
education  tailored  to  their children's  and  families'  needs,                                                               
often at  a lower  cost to  the state  than public  schooling. He                                                               
opposed forcing all families and  students to conform to a system                                                               
that does  not serve everyone  effectively. He added that  if the                                                               
intent  was   solely  to   address  constitutional   issues  with                                                               
correspondence schooling, SB  266 should limit its  focus to that                                                               
matter.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:42:21 PM                                                                                                                    
MARIA  MICHALOSKI, representing  self, Palmer,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in  opposition  to   SB  266.  She  thanked   Senator  Tobin  for                                                               
clarifying  that  private  tutoring   is  allowed  and  expressed                                                               
appreciation for this  flexibility. She noted that  SB 266 seemed                                                               
to suggest such tutoring required  certified teachers employed by                                                               
the school  district but was relieved  to learn this was  not the                                                               
case, as  it would demand  additional funding and  burden already                                                               
busy teachers. She  said her primary concern with SB  266 was the                                                               
cancellation of the  rollover fund. She explained  that since her                                                               
son enrolled  in 2015, she  has saved $15,000 from  his allotment                                                               
for future higher  education, such as college  or pilot training,                                                               
instead  of  spending  it  on  other  classes  or  tutoring.  She                                                               
expressed frustration  that SB 266  would redirect this  money to                                                               
the  school   district,  which  she   finds  unfair,   and  urged                                                               
consideration of amendments to align  SB 266 more closely with HB
400.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:44:04 PM                                                                                                                    
KATHERINE ARNDT, representing self,  Palmer, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to SB  266.  She  said she  chose  to homeschool  her                                                               
children because  her oldest son  struggled with severe  ADHD and                                                               
autistic  tendencies,  and  attending a  brick-and-mortar  school                                                               
would not serve  his needs or benefit others.  She explained that                                                               
schools are not  designed to provide the one-on-one  time her son                                                               
requires,  and  the  allotment received  through  IDEA  (Interior                                                               
Distance Education  of Alaska) has  been invaluable.  Rather than                                                               
providing  unrestricted  funds,  the  allotment  enabled  her  to                                                               
tailor  her children's  curriculum,  fund  field trips  exploring                                                               
Alaska's  wildlife and  history,  and  support unique  activities                                                               
like  learning Scottish  bagpipes and  drums. The  allotment also                                                               
covered  books  that  helped  her  older  children  achieve  high                                                               
school-level  reading skills  by ages  9  and 10.  She noted  her                                                               
experience  is not  unique, citing  Alaska charter  schools' high                                                               
national  rankings  in  mathematics and  reading.  She  expressed                                                               
concern  that SB  266 jeopardizes  educational opportunities  for                                                               
homeschool  students, describing  it  as a  setback for  families                                                               
striving to provide quality education.  She criticized SB 266 for                                                               
failing  to  distinguish  between  private  schools  and  private                                                               
businesses, requiring  certified teachers  or staff  for tutoring                                                               
and  classes,   mandating  testing,  and   eliminating  allotment                                                               
rollovers.  She  added  that  SB 266  might  restrict  access  to                                                               
cultural and educational sites like the Anchorage Museum.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:46:14 PM                                                                                                                    
MELINDA DEGNAN, representing self,  North Pole, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to SB 266.  She expressed concern  about mandatory                                                               
state  testing, stating  it does  not benefit  students and  that                                                               
there   are  better   ways  to   measure  growth,   success,  and                                                               
appropriate fund use. She urged  a focus on these alternatives to                                                               
preserve educational  freedom. She opposed  eliminating allotment                                                               
rollover,  arguing it  would not  save money  but instead  prompt                                                               
parents  to spend  funds hastily,  undermining  their ability  to                                                               
save for long-term  goals like dual enrollment  in college during                                                               
high  school.  She  emphasized  the  harm  this  would  cause  to                                                               
students  who have  been  saving  for years  to  invest in  their                                                               
futures. She  also highlighted the  potential negative  impact of                                                               
stricter  spending   rules  on  remote  students,   who  rely  on                                                               
resources  such  as  physical   education  equipment,  and  urged                                                               
careful consideration of their unique needs.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:47:45 PM                                                                                                                    
KATE GAPPERT, representing self,  Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  SB  266.  She  highlighted  the  availability  of                                                               
quality  standardized tests  through  the  free market,  offering                                                               
faster  and more  flexible results  for  parents. She  questioned                                                               
whether Alaska  applies retaliatory measures for  test scores and                                                               
if such policies affect all  schools equally. She emphasized that                                                               
rollover  funds are  essential for  families saving  for advanced                                                               
courses like AP and college  classes, which motivate students and                                                               
parents.  She  asked  whether restricted  use  would  affect  the                                                               
ability of correspondence  schools to have clubs  and sports. She                                                               
asked  for clarification  on whether  private  tutoring could  be                                                               
used  for the  arts but  not  core subjects,  arguing this  would                                                               
contradict  the state's  efforts to  improve education.  She also                                                               
questioned  the  financial impact  on  small  businesses and  the                                                               
fairness  of  applying   restrictions  solely  to  correspondence                                                               
schools,  urging clarity  and reconsideration  of  limits SB  266                                                               
places on educational choices.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:50:21 PM                                                                                                                    
DEB  MACKIE,  Assistant   Director,  IDEA  Homeschool,  Soldotna,                                                               
Alaska, testified in opposition to SB  266 on behalf of IDEA. She                                                               
stated she has  been involved in homeschooling for  over 30 years                                                               
and joined  Interior Distance Education  of Alaska (IDEA)  at its                                                               
inception  after independently  homeschooling  her oldest  child.                                                               
She  shared that  her children,  educated through  individualized                                                               
homeschooling, pursued  secondary education, and  earned master's                                                               
degrees, becoming  a successful  businesswoman and  a specialized                                                               
nurse    and   educator,    respectively,   while    contributing                                                               
meaningfully   to   their   communities.  She   emphasized   that                                                               
assessments,  like  all aspects  of  education,  should remain  a                                                               
parental  choice. She  criticized  SB 266  for limiting  parental                                                               
choice,  individual  learning  plans,  and  spending  flexibility                                                               
compared to brick-and-mortar schools.  She urged the committee to                                                               
align  SB  266  with  CSHB 400,  which  addresses  constitutional                                                               
concerns   without   undermining   public   school   choice   for                                                               
homeschooling families.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:53:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISTY MONTERO, representing self,  Juneau, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to SB  266. She stated that she is  that parent of two                                                               
children that homeschool. She expressed  concern about SB 266 and                                                               
its   impact  on   educational  flexibility   and  funding.   She                                                               
emphasized  that  many  students, including  those  with  special                                                               
needs,  do  not  thrive  in traditional  schools,  and  requiring                                                               
certified educators  or resources  would limit  opportunities for                                                               
these  children.  She  highlighted  the  importance  of  rollover                                                               
funds, noting  that many families  rely on these savings  to plan                                                               
for their children's future education.  She criticized SB 266 for                                                               
appearing  to address  public school  funding  shortfalls at  the                                                               
expense of homeschool families, which she argued is unfair.                                                                     
She  noted   that  homeschool   families  are   self-reliant  and                                                               
resourceful  and pointed  out the  challenges  of finding  enough                                                               
certified  teachers  to  meet   the  proposed  requirements.  She                                                               
advocated  for meeting  in the  middle  and respecting  families'                                                               
right to  choose the  educational approach  that best  fits their                                                               
children's  needs,   comparing  educational  choice   to  medical                                                               
decision-making. She urged  legislators to consider collaborative                                                               
solutions  that support  all students  and families,  rather than                                                               
further dividing  communities, and  emphasized the  importance of                                                               
respecting individual needs while managing resources flexibly.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:56:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHERIE TAYLOR, representing self,  Soldotna, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to  SB 266.  She  expressed  deep concern  about  its                                                               
impact   on  homeschooling   families  across   the  state.   She                                                               
identified three key issues with  SB 266: the removal of parents'                                                               
right to  opt out of  testing, which  she argued should  remain a                                                               
parental   choice;   significant  allotment   restrictions   that                                                               
prohibit items like PE equipment, educational furniture, and in-                                                                
state  travel,  creating  hardships  for  families  and  economic                                                               
losses for vendors; and the  elimination of allotment carryovers,                                                               
which  families rely  on to  cover more  expensive materials  and                                                               
classes as  children grow older.  She said she  strongly supports                                                               
CSHB 400, version  U, stating it offers  continuity and minimizes                                                               
disruption for homeschool  correspondence students, including her                                                               
son.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:57:37 PM                                                                                                                    
AMANDA WRAITH,  representing self, Wasilla, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266. She  urged alignment  of SB 266  with CSHB
400, describing the  latter as a better  alternative. She opposed                                                               
SB 266 for unnecessary mandates.  She specifically called for the                                                               
removal  of mandatory  testing requirements,  noting that  state-                                                               
provided  test  results arrive  too  late,  often in  January  or                                                               
February,  making them  ineffective  for timely  decision-making.                                                               
She  emphasized   that  better   assessment  options   exist  for                                                               
evaluating children  and strongly discouraged further  pursuit of                                                               
SB 266.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:58:50 PM                                                                                                                    
EMILY MOODY,  representing self, Cordova, Alaska,  testified with                                                               
concerns on  SB 266. She  stated does  not want any  public money                                                               
used for  religious schools,  emphasizing the  need to  close any                                                               
loopholes  because  it   is  unconstitutional.  She  acknowledged                                                               
concerns  about   assessment  requirements  for   homeschool  and                                                               
correspondence schools  and suggested that if  those policies are                                                               
changed, alternative  assessments should  also be  considered for                                                               
public schools  facing similar  challenges, as  they too  rely on                                                               
public funding.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:00:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CLAY  ARNOLD, representing  self, Wasilla,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to SB 266. He shared  that his child is excelling in a                                                               
correspondence  school, completing  kindergarten while  advancing                                                               
to  second-grade math  due to  the tailored  education  something                                                               
not possible in  a neighborhood school. He explained  that he and                                                               
his family  have invested significant time  researching curricula                                                               
and methodologies  that fit  his child's  needs, options  that SB
266 would  eliminate. He highlighted  concerns about  the wording                                                               
of  SB 266,  noting  that while  Senator  Tobin stated  textbooks                                                               
would  still  be allowed,  the  language  in  the bill  does  not                                                               
clearly reflect that intent. He  urged clarity in the legislation                                                               
to   avoid   misinterpretation,   citing  terms   like   "private                                                               
educational  institutions"  as   ambiguous.  He  emphasized  that                                                               
parents, not  the Department,  know their  children best  and are                                                               
best equipped  to evaluate their  needs. He  criticized mandatory                                                               
testing,  arguing  it has  no  educational  benefit for  children                                                               
since results  are delayed for nearly  a year and serve  only the                                                               
state.  He  underscored  the importance  of  preserving  parental                                                               
choice, a  hallmark of  Alaska, and strongly  opposed SB  266 for                                                               
undermining those rights.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TOBIN referenced SB 266, page 3, lines 3 - 13.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:02:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SUSANNE ALDRIDGE, representing self,  Kenai, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to SB 266. She said  she is a mother of three children                                                               
and  has  been  a  homeschool correspondence  educator  for  five                                                               
years. She  works with  multiple community  organizations serving                                                               
children  and  homeschooling youth  and  is  a member  of  IDEA's                                                               
parental  advisory committee.  She  described widespread  concern                                                               
and  uncertainty  among  homeschool families  regarding  proposed                                                               
allotment  changes  in  SB  266,  which  she  said  threaten  the                                                               
homeschooling  model  and  children's right  to  an  unencumbered                                                               
education.  She argued  that state  assessments are  not reliable                                                               
indicators of  a child's aptitude,  as factors like  test anxiety                                                               
and  cognitive  maturity  greatly  influence  results,  and  such                                                               
assessments  should  not   determine  allotment  allowances.  She                                                               
emphasized  that restrictions  on  allotment spending  in SB  266                                                               
would negatively  affect all  22,000 Alaskan  homeschool children                                                               
and families. Alaska is a  state with limited access to resources                                                               
like  physical  education  equipment and  facilities,  which  are                                                               
vital for mental and physical  health during long, harsh winters.                                                               
She    expressed    confidence    in   finding    an    amicable,                                                               
constitutionally compliant  solution and voiced support  for CSHB
400, which she said offers  a more balanced and flexible approach                                                               
to homeschool correspondence programs  while respecting the state                                                               
constitution.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:03:59 PM                                                                                                                    
ANDY  HOLLEMAN, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of  SB 266. He said he is  a retired educator, founder                                                               
of a charter  correspondence school, and member  of the Anchorage                                                               
School  District  (ASD)  board.  He  thanked  the  committee  for                                                               
introducing SB  266, which  he described  as clear,  focused, and                                                               
likely to  pass constitutional review.  He noted that  on Monday,                                                               
ASD paused reimbursements and expenditures  due to concerns about                                                               
the legal basis for continuation.  Due to the recent court ruling                                                               
the most immediate  issues were alleviated a  little. However, he                                                               
stressed the  need for solid  constitutional rules to  guide fall                                                               
planning for  correspondence programs  and to assist  families in                                                               
making  decisions.   He  opined   that  SB  266   provides  clear                                                               
guidelines to  ensure compliance with the  Constitution and urged                                                               
its passage during  this legislative session to  allow for timely                                                               
implementation. He  encouraged the  committee to expedite  SB 266                                                               
and  expressed  appreciation  for   the  work  of  the  committee                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:05:24 PM                                                                                                                    
KATHY DEGNAN, grandma of  homeschool students, Fairbanks, Alaska,                                                               
testified in opposition to SB 266.  She said she is a grandmother                                                               
of homeschooled children and the  wife of an educator. She shared                                                               
concerns that  public schools  may not meet  the unique  needs of                                                               
children  like  her grandchildren,  who  are  excelling in  their                                                               
current homeschool environment but would  be placed in a backroom                                                               
corner in  public school. She emphasized  that parents understand                                                               
their  children's  needs  better  than  the  educational  system,                                                               
which, while  valuable, cannot  address every  child's individual                                                               
requirements.  She stressed  the  importance  of maintaining  the                                                               
rollover  allotment,  allowing  families   to  save  for  college                                                               
credits,  purchase PE  equipment for  harsh winters,  and support                                                               
unique  educational  experiences  like   farm  tours  and  museum                                                               
visits, which she described as  critical to raising well-rounded,                                                               
socially  adept  children.  She  praised   HB  400  as  a  viable                                                               
alternative  and   urged  its  consideration,   highlighting  its                                                               
support  for parental  rights and  flexibility in  education. She                                                               
concluded  by  reaffirming  her  belief  that  parents  are  best                                                               
equipped  to   make  decisions  for  their   children  and  asked                                                               
legislators  to  reject  SB  266   in  favor  of  more  inclusive                                                               
solutions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:07:38 PM                                                                                                                    
LEEANN SHOWELL, representing self,  North Pole, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition to  SB 266. She expressed that  her primary concern                                                               
about  SB 266  was mandated  state testing,  stating it  does not                                                               
adequately  represent the  broad range  of material  her children                                                               
are learning  or their success  in mastering it. She  warned that                                                               
spending  restrictions in  SB 266  would  negatively impact  both                                                               
homeschooling  families  and  Alaska's local  economy,  including                                                               
many businesses.  She urged legislators to  educate themselves on                                                               
what  homeschooling   truly  entails,  emphasizing   the  diverse                                                               
materials   and  experiences   families  provide   under  current                                                               
statutes. She highlighted that removing  funding for PE equipment                                                               
and family passes  could prevent her family  from safely engaging                                                               
in  outdoor activities  during Alaska's  long winters.  She asked                                                               
lawmakers  to  consider  the  harmful  effects  of  the  proposed                                                               
changes   on  her   family  and   others  homeschooling   through                                                               
correspondence schools. She strongly  advocated for amendments to                                                               
SB 266  and suggested  HB 400 as  a better  alternative, offering                                                               
continuity  and  better  addressing the  needs  of  homeschooling                                                               
families.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:09:47 PM                                                                                                                    
KASIE KRAGE,  representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266. She  expressed her passion  for protecting                                                               
Alaska's freedoms,  particularly the right to  homeschool in ways                                                               
that best  suit families. She  emphasized Alaska's  uniqueness in                                                               
valuing  independence  and the  ability  to  choose how  children                                                               
learn.  She  argued  that  SB 266  threatens  these  freedoms  by                                                               
limiting spending options previously  allowed, which she believes                                                               
undermines  Alaska's   character  and   values.  She   urged  the                                                               
committee to  oppose SB 266,  advocating for the  preservation of                                                               
educational freedom  and the ability  for families  to homeschool                                                               
according to their needs.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:11:20 PM                                                                                                                    
BLAINE BRONSON,  representing self, Fairbanks,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to SB 266.  He expressed concern over  the removal                                                               
of rollover  funds, noting that he  and his wife have  saved over                                                               
$20,000 for  their children's future  education, which  now seems                                                               
at   risk.  He   explained   that  losing   this  option   limits                                                               
opportunities for  older children to access  higher education. He                                                               
also  criticized  the  restrictions  on PE  and  music  spending,                                                               
highlighting the importance of  indoor activities during Alaska's                                                               
harsh winters  and drawing comparisons to  public school programs                                                               
that fund activities  like skiing, rentals, and  passes, which he                                                               
believes should  be equally available to  homeschool families. He                                                               
said he  opposes the  mandatory testing  requirements, explaining                                                               
that   correspondence   schooling   already   involves   frequent                                                               
assessments through quizzes, tests,  and submitted samples, which                                                               
provide a  clear picture of  students' performance and  needs. He                                                               
praised  the  support and  dedication  of  the CyberLynx  program                                                               
staff  and teachers,  expressing gratitude  for their  efforts in                                                               
ensuring   a  successful   homeschooling  experience.   He  urged                                                               
consideration  of the  unique needs  of  homeschool families  and                                                               
voiced strong opposition to SB 266.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:13:37 PM                                                                                                                    
MARCILLA JAVIER, representing  self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified                                                               
with  concerns on  SB 266.  She said  she is  a grandmother  with                                                               
decades of experience in  publicly funded correspondence programs                                                               
since   1998.  She   recounted   her  homeschooling   experience,                                                               
including  nine years  of independent  homeschooling followed  by                                                               
three  years  in a  correspondence  school,  and highlighted  her                                                               
commitment  to building  respectful relationships  between public                                                               
schools  and parents  customizing  education. While  appreciating                                                               
the effort  behind SB  266, she expressed  concern that  there is                                                               
insufficient time  to address  widespread opposition  through the                                                               
legislative process. She urged lawmakers  to collaborate with the                                                               
House and  restart discussions using  CSHB 400, version  U, which                                                               
she believes  places responsibility in  the right hands  with the                                                               
State  Department   of  Education  and  Early   Development.  She                                                               
advocated for preserving allotment  carryover to prevent wasteful                                                               
spending and maintaining  parents' rights to opt  out of testing.                                                               
She   suggested  revisiting   additional   changes  after   state                                                               
elections  if  the  public   demands  it  because  correspondence                                                               
schools  need  to   know  that  they  can   move  forwarded  with                                                               
reenrollment.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:16:23 PM                                                                                                                    
ARIANA ANDERSON, representing self,  Juneau, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to SB 266. She  highlighted potential impact of SB 266                                                               
on educational  opportunities and  equity. She  shared that  as a                                                               
veterinarian  actively  contributing  to  her  community  through                                                               
emergency services  and clinic relief, her  ability to homeschool                                                               
depends  on outsourcing  parts of  her children's  education. She                                                               
noted that many working parents  similarly rely on correspondence                                                               
programs  to balance  careers  and  homeschooling. She  expressed                                                               
alarm over  the provision prohibiting  the use of  allotments for                                                               
services   or  materials   provided  by   private  or   religious                                                               
educational   institutions.  She   called  this   discriminatory,                                                               
pointing out  that public schools  routinely use  private vendors                                                               
for  materials  and  services. She  emphasized  that  prohibiting                                                               
private resources  would eliminate  valuable activities  like PE,                                                               
music,  and online  Spanish classes  taught  by native  speakers                                                                
resources  critical to  her  children's  academic and  scheduling                                                               
needs.  She  stated  that  her  family  rarely  uses  traditional                                                               
textbooks.  The private  resources she  uses would  be prohibited                                                               
because they  come from private institutions,  yet public schools                                                               
can  use private  resources, tutors,  and  curricula. She  opined                                                               
that it is the children,  not the institutions, which receive the                                                               
primary benefit  from utilizing  private institutions.  Since the                                                               
wording of who  receives primary benefit is what  the court ruled                                                               
on, clarification  either in  the constitution  or in  statute is                                                               
needed.  She stated  that the  existing  process already  ensures                                                               
religious  materials and  services  are  excluded from  allotment                                                               
reimbursement.  She  stated there  are  many  other concerns  for                                                               
educational  freedoms in  SB  266,  including inequities  between                                                               
public  schools and  correspondence  students. She  called for  a                                                               
better  solution to  preserve  diverse educational  opportunities                                                               
for homeschoolers.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:18:45 PM                                                                                                                    
JACINTHA  MEZZETTI,  representing   self,  Eagle  River,  Alaska,                                                               
testified with  concerns on SB  266. She expressed  gratitude for                                                               
the committee's  work on SB 266  but urged them to  review HB 400                                                               
and  reconcile  language  changes  to   align  SB  266  with  the                                                               
successful   practices  taking   place  Alaska's   correspondence                                                               
programs. She  highlighted the historical continuity  and quality                                                               
of  education these  programs have  provided, which  she believes                                                               
are  now at  risk.  She emphasized  the  importance of  allotment                                                               
carryover,   which  enables   disadvantaged   families  to   make                                                               
impactful  educational choices  and  allows  students to  develop                                                               
essential skills  for trade school,  advanced academic  study, or                                                               
direct entry into the workforce.  She noted that many high school                                                               
students have graduated with  associate degrees or certifications                                                               
because  of these  opportunities.  She  questioned the  mandatory                                                               
state  testing   requirement,  citing  its  punitive   effect  on                                                               
educational goals  and student self-esteem in  some families. She                                                               
also criticized spending  restrictions as unnecessarily punitive,                                                               
particularly  harming students  in  rural and  remote areas.  She                                                               
encouraged  the   committee  to  reconsider  these   elements  to                                                               
preserve  the   benefits  of  correspondence  programs   for  all                                                               
students.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:21:27 PM                                                                                                                    
NICOLE AUSTIN,  representing self, North Pole,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition  to SB 266.  She stated  she holds a  Bachelor's in                                                               
Family Studies and Early Childhood  Education from the University                                                               
of  Alaska Fairbanks  (UAF) and  homeschools her  four sons.  She                                                               
argued  that SB  266  limits her  ability  to cultivate  lifelong                                                               
learners  who   can  become  independent,   successful  community                                                               
members  and pursue  higher education.  She highlighted  the need                                                               
for  PE  equipment  and  gym access  to  support  her  children's                                                               
physical needs,  especially given  the extreme  winter conditions                                                               
in  the interior,  where her  four active  boys live.  She shared                                                               
that   her  father,   a  professor   at  UAF   initially  opposed                                                               
homeschooling  but changed  his perspective  after observing  the                                                               
confidence  and engagement  of homeschool  students during  a UAF                                                               
field   trip.   She   emphasized  that   homeschooling   produces                                                               
articulate,  curious   learners  who  positively   contribute  to                                                               
society.  She  urged  legislators to  recognize  these  benefits,                                                               
expressed strong  opposition to  SB 266,  and voiced  support for                                                               
CSHB 400, version U.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:23:33 PM                                                                                                                    
BRIAN ROZELL,  Director, CyberLynx Correspondence  School, Nenana                                                               
City School District, Nenana, Alaska,  testified with concerns on                                                               
SB 266. He said he is  representing his district of the CyberLynx                                                               
homeschool program  but is  also advocating  for all  other state                                                               
correspondence  programs,  and  the  more  than  22,000  enrolled                                                               
students  and their  families. He  emphasized  the importance  of                                                               
rollover  allotment  funds,  noting  that  many  families  budget                                                               
carefully, save  for future  expenses, and  plan for  high school                                                               
students to  take university classes. Rollover  funds prevent the                                                               
year-end scramble  to spend allotments, reducing  unnecessary and                                                               
wasteful  spending.   He  criticized   the  repeal   of  parental                                                               
authority to withdraw children from  state testing, arguing it is                                                               
hugely  unpopular   and  would   drive  families   to  homeschool                                                               
independently.  He noted  that mandating  participation in  state                                                               
assessments,  without  allowing  alternatives,  would  discourage                                                               
families from  engaging in the  program, undermining the  goal of                                                               
increasing  participation. He  also highlighted  the inequity  in                                                               
prohibiting PE equipment purchases,  pointing out that brick-and-                                                               
mortar  schools have  access  to  well-equipped gymnasiums  while                                                               
homeschool  families would  be  denied  comparable resources.  He                                                               
thanked the committee  for their work and urged  amendments to SB
266  to   address  these  issues  while   continuing  to  support                                                               
homeschool families.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:26:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN asked how long the CyberLynx program has existed.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROZELL replied since 1997.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:26:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN   stated  that  the   exemption  to   withdraw  from                                                               
assessment  became allowable  in 2016.  She asked  what CyberLynx                                                               
did prior  to the exemption  to ensure compliance  with statewide                                                               
assessments.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:26:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. ROZELL replied that, if  he remembers correctly, the State of                                                               
Alaska  Department  of  Education and  Early  Development  (DEED)                                                               
regulations  required, without  exception, all  students enrolled                                                               
in  a correspondence  program to  participate in  the assessment.                                                               
Families who did not participate  in testing had their allotments                                                               
frozen and were barred from reenrollment the following year.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:27:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN  asked  if the  CyberLynx  program  participates  in                                                               
Alaska  middle  college,  a program  that  allows  public  school                                                               
students to take courses at universities.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROZELL replied  that to his knowledge,  CyberLynx students do                                                               
not  have   access  to  that   program  but  would   welcome  the                                                               
opportunity.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:27:44 PM                                                                                                                    
STEPHANIE   FORESTER,  representing   self,  Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified in opposition  to SB 266. She  expressed strong support                                                               
for parents' right to refuse  testing for their children, stating                                                               
that while  she has  always chosen to  have her  daughter tested,                                                               
she  believes opting  out should  remain a  parental choice.  She                                                               
emphasized the importance of allotment  carryover for her family,                                                               
noting  that  it   has  been  used  to   support  her  children's                                                               
education,  including  one who  graduated  in  2017, another  who                                                               
attended Middle College  and is now at the  University of Alaska.                                                               
She stated  her plans to  use carryover funds for  her 10th-grade                                                               
homeschool  student  to take  classes  university  classes and  a                                                               
driver   education   course.    She   criticized   the   spending                                                               
restrictions  in SB  266 as  unnecessarily  strict and  punitive,                                                               
particularly for students in rural  areas. She voiced support for                                                               
HB 400,  which retains allotment  carryover and allows  the State                                                               
Board of Education  to align statutes with  the Constitution. She                                                               
urged amendments to SB 266 to make it more like HB 400.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:29:35 PM                                                                                                                    
AMBER  CUNNINGHAM, representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition to  SB 266. She said  she is a parent  of two Raven                                                               
correspondence graduates  and a  current high school  junior. She                                                               
has 15 years  of experience in correspondence  programs and works                                                               
for Home  Bridge in  Juneau. She  advocated for  allowing student                                                               
funds  to be  used  for private  tutors  and individually  taught                                                               
classes, sharing her own experience  teaching science classes for                                                               
K-8  students over  nine years,  often with  a waiting  list. She                                                               
explained that her classes adhered  to Alaska State Standards and                                                               
were approved  by certified teachers,  despite her not  holding a                                                               
teaching  degree,  demonstrating that  non-traditional  educators                                                               
can effectively  support students. She also  highlighted her role                                                               
as a robotics coach for  13 years, noting that such opportunities                                                               
would  be restricted  under SB  266, which  would harm  students,                                                               
particularly   those   academically   deficient,  who   rely   on                                                               
correspondence  schools   to  graduate.  She   acknowledged  that                                                               
standardized testing  is connected to federal  funding but argued                                                               
that tests like the ACT and  SAT are no longer viewed as accurate                                                               
measures  of  student  success,  citing  universities'  declining                                                               
reliance on them.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:32:17 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:33:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:34:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN  held public  testimony  open  and  held SB  266  in                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 266 Supporting Document - Stay of April 12 Court Ruling 05.02.2024.pdf SEDC 5/3/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Testimony Part 5 - Received as of 05.02.2024.pdf SEDC 5/3/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266