Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/27/2003 03:04 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 27, 2003
3:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Carl Gatto, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Mary Kapsner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
"An Act relating to the state centralized correspondence study
program, to funding for educational programs that occur
primarily outside school facilities, and to the duties of school
boards of borough and city school districts and regional
educational attendance areas; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED HB 174 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 171
"An Act repealing the charter school grant program; and
providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 174
SHORT TITLE: CORRESPONDENCE STUDY
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
03/05/03 0449 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/05/03 0449 (H) EDU, HES, FIN
03/05/03 0449 (H) FN1: (EED)
03/05/03 0449 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
03/10/03 0496 (H) FN2: (EED)
03/11/03 (H) EDU AT 11:00 AM CAPITOL 124
03/11/03 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/03 (H) MINUTE(EDU)
03/13/03 (H) EDU AT 11:00 AM CAPITOL 124
03/13/03 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/03 (H) MINUTE(EDU)
03/18/03 (H) EDU AT 11:00 AM CAPITOL 124
03/18/03 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/18/03 (H) MINUTE(EDU)
03/19/03 0583 (H) EDU RPT 3DNP 2NR 1AM
03/19/03 0583 (H) DNP: KAPSNER, GARA, SEATON;
NR: WOLF,
03/19/03 0583 (H) GATTO; AM: WILSON
03/19/03 0583 (H) FN1: (EED)
03/19/03 0583 (H) FN2: (EED)
03/20/03 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/20/03 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
03/27/03 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
EDDY JEANS, Manager
School Finance and Facilities Section
Education Support Services
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support HB 174 and responded
to questions from the committee.
JOHN SCOTT
Gustavus, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
NANCY RICHAR
Trapper Creek, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
MARVEL LLOYD
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
SERENA LLOYD
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
JOHN PADEN, Counselor
Alyeska Central School;
Representative, Alyeska Central School Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 174 and answered questions
from the committee.
THERESA DEMOTT
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
AYARIE CANTIL-VOOHEES
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
LINDA VOOHEES
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
BETTY COME
Chugiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
NANCY WLADYKA
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
DENISE MALONEY
Willow, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
SEAN RUDDELL
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
VICTORIA MARTIN
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
HAYLIE RUDDELL
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
VERNA GIBSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
RYAN WOLCOTT
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
KYM WOLCOTT
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
JULIET ROBINSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
VIRGINIA KAHLER
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
VALERIE WHITE
Whale Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
PAULA WILLIAMS
(Address not provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
JENNIFER WILCOX
Gakona, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
TIM MORGAN
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
CHRISTINE WILCOX
Gakona, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
CINDY MICHOU
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
THOMAS ROBINSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
BREANNA ROBINSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
RUBY BULLCHILD
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
MARY TONY
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
SHEILA SYMONS
Central, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174.
ALEXANDER DOLITSKY, Ph.D.,
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on his own behalf in opposition
to HB 174 and answered questions from the committee about
Alyeska Central School, where he teaches social studies.
CECILIA MILLER
Alyeska Central School Education Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee.
KEVIN SWEENEY, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 174 and
responded to questions from the committee.
DEBBIE CHALMERS, Teacher
Alyeska Central School
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
responded to questions from the committee.
JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director
NEA-Alaska
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 174 and
responded to questions from the committee.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-29, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.
Representatives Wilson, Gatto, Wolf, Coghill, Seaton, and Cissna
were present at the call to order. Representative Kapsner
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 174- CORRESPONDENCE STUDY
CHAIR WILSON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 174, "An Act relating to the state centralized
correspondence study program, to funding for educational
programs that occur primarily outside school facilities, and to
the duties of school boards of borough and city school districts
and regional educational attendance areas; and providing for an
effective date."
Number 0115
EDDY JEANS, Manager, School Finance and Facilities Section,
Education Support Services, Department of Education and Early
Development, testified in support of HB 174 and responded to
questions from the committee. He explained that the bill would
repeal the statutes referring to Alyeska Central School (ACS),
which is a state operated correspondence program.
Number 0209
MR. JEANS said the committee has two fiscal notes in their bill
packet. Fiscal note 1 in the amount of $5.5 million reflects
the BRU [Budget Review Unit] for ACS. In ACS's budget there is
authorization to receive and expend $5.5 million. He said
$500,000 of those funds are from receipt services or fees that
ACS charges students for coursework. Through the foundation
program, ACS generates about $3.8 million so the $1.2 million
remaining comes from other sources such as federal grants
through the department. Fiscal note 2 represents a reduction in
the foundation program of $1.1 million, which is approximately
how much ACS generates for its summer school program. The
reason the department left the additional $2.6 million in the
foundation program is that the department believes those
students in the regular ACS program will enroll somewhere else
and that money needs to follow those children.
Number 0295
MR. JEANS told the committee that ACS has been in existence
since 1939 and provides educational programs to students living
in remote areas where there are no local schools available.
Alyeska Central School also serves students in urban areas
around the state. The department determined that approximately
84 percent of the students enrolled in ACS live in larger urban
areas such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Matanuska-Susitna ("Mat-
Su"), Kenai, Kodiak, and Juneau.
Number 0330
CHAIR WILSON commented that at the time ACS was created, it was
the only correspondence school available. She asked how many
other correspondence schools are available now.
MR. JEANS responded that there are a number of correspondence
programs available on a district level and 11 other
correspondence programs that are offered on a statewide basis.
In 1997 just a couple of school districts started providing
correspondence programs, and there has been quite an increase in
the number of students being served through correspondence
programs over the years. In 1999 there were approximately 7,890
students being served through correspondence school programs.
Currently, the state is up to 9,655 students on a statewide
basis. He said that if the committee looks at ACS's enrollment
back in 1999 [including summer school enrollment], it was funded
for 2,628 students. In the current year, ACS had 1,085 students
in full-time programs. Mr. Jeans agreed with Chair Wilson's
comment that there has been a sizable decrease since 1999.
Number 0466
MR. JEANS told the committee that the members will hear in
testimony that ACS is the only accredited correspondence program
in the state, but three other school districts have applied for
accreditation for their correspondence programs. The Galena
School District has a conditional accreditation pending
completion of the actual accreditation process. The other
districts that are in the process of accreditation include the
Craig School District's PACE Program and the Delta/Greely
district's Delta Charter Cyber School.
Number 0481
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked for Mr. Jeans to clarify the numbers
again.
MR. JEANS said the $1.2 million is for the summer school program
through the foundation program. The total funding ACS received
was $3.8 million through the foundation program. So there is
$2.6 million remaining that funds the regular school program.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for clarification on the fiscal
notes.
MR. JEANS responded that fiscal note 1 has a total of $5.5
million; of that, $3.8 million is funded through the foundation
funding program as interagency receipts, $500,000 is obtained
through program charges or tuition from students, and the
remainder of the funds come through the department from the
federal government for programs such as Title I.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the federal funds follow the
students as well as state funds.
MR. JEANS replied that he believes the funds would follow the
students. Those funds are distributed on a formula basis that
is determined by the needs of the students.
Number 0660
JOHN SCOTT testified in opposition to HB 174 and answered
questions from the committee. He told the committee he does not
support the closure of ACS. In his previous testimony before
the House Special Committee on Education he had told the
committee how the local Rural Education Attendance Area (REAA)
school could not offer an acceptable education for his children.
He said his family was actually refused assistance when he
pointed out problems with his children's failure to achieve
mastery of subjects being taught. He said he could not plan for
his children's education. In response to Chair Wilson question,
Mr. Scott responded that he was refused assistance about three
years ago.
Number 0681
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said that is a serious accusation and he
would like him to provide evidence that his family was refused
assistance.
MR. SCOTT explained that his daughter was having problems with
mastery of spelling and sentence structure. He said he had
asked the head teacher if his daughter's teacher would be
allowed to assist in getting additional coursework or workbooks,
and he refused to help. The head teacher told him that he did
not want to help him with this.
MR. SCOTT said another instance occurred when his children went
from fifth to sixth grade. He had requested additional help
with mathematics and science concepts. The teacher put her hand
in his face and told him that she does not teach science.
CHAIR WILSON asked how the children were doing in class at that
time.
MR. SCOTT said his children were getting As and Bs at that time.
That is also part of the problem in that he did not think the
evaluation reflected the work the children were doing. At that
time, his family needed some quality choices and alternatives in
order to ensure his children would not be left behind. As a
result, his family studied what options were available and found
that ACS was the only real alternative. None of the other
correspondence schools could offer the history and prestige of
ACS. Alyeska Central School was accredited, and therefore,
courses were accepted by colleges. Other programs do not have a
course catalog and program like ACS, and they do not have the
willing and able staff capable of evaluating mastery of
subjects, provision of assistance, and support.
MR. SCOTT told the committee he was struck by the testimony in
previous hearings where there was an assertion that other
correspondence schools could provide an equal alternative to ACS
for distance education. The other correspondence programs do
not offer an equal educational experience for his children that
ACS does. He said he was struck by the testimony of the
Department of Education and Early Development personnel
indicating "they did not want to be in this business" and that
other distance education programs could pick up the slack and
were willing and able to do so. Mr. Scott asked what business
the department wants to be in. He told the committee the only
thing the other providers were willing to do is take the state's
money and sign his children up before the "count date" in
October so they could get the money. He said he was struck by
the emphasis or the assertion that money could be saved by the
closure of ACS.
Number 0912
MR. SCOTT told the committee if they close ACS the state's
contribution toward his children's education will rise from
about $3,800 to over $10,000. There are other children who are
in the ACS student body who could go to boarding school and the
cost could go as high as $15,000. He questioned what kind of
accounting rules are being used in determining the savings to
the state. He asked if Arthur Andersen [the accounting firm
implicated in the Enron scandal] is lurking in the fiscal
department.
Number 0950
MR. SCOTT summarized by saying that at best, this is a raid on
the state's treasury by the less qualified and less capable
district programs, or at worst, it is an attempt to get families
to leave the state to seek education. Alyeska Central School is
not redundant. He asked a number of questions about how the
closure of ACS would be handled and what would happen to
students. He said this bill leaves children behind, does not
promote choice, and does not provide for a better alternative.
He said he takes it personally because it is his children who
will be left behind and his children who will no longer have a
choice. He asked the committee not to support this bill.
Number 1060
NANCY RICHAR testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee her son recently graduated from
ACS. She said her son was the third generation of children in
her family that graduated from ACS. Her children have
experienced both public and correspondence programs in the past
and found ACS a breath of fresh air. There is no comparison
between traditional public school and ACS. She told the
committee she called the Mat-Su [Matanuska-Susitna] Borough last
week to see if its program was approved. Its high school
classes are all ordered from out of state, and teacher contacts
consists of ordering courses, monthly appointments, and
recording grades. She said the Mat-Su School District
correspondence program knew nothing about participation in the
Academic Decathlon, Hugh O'Brien's Leadership Conference, or the
state and national Close-Up programs. Alyeska Central School
participates in all of these programs. In addition, if a
student enrolls after the November 1 cutoff date, the parents
have to pay the $250 fee for each course. When she called the
IDEA [Interior Distance Education in Alaska] program, she was
told that it is a home school program, not a correspondence
program. The parents are the teachers; that means the child's
education is as good as the parent's education and commitment.
She said her son would not be where he is today without ACS.
Number 1177
MARVEL LLOYD testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she lives in Nome and has two
daughters currently in ACS and a son who graduated from ACS who
is currently a junior in college. Ms. Lloyd said it is clear
from the testimony she has heard in the last three meetings that
closing ACS is not a money issue. The uniqueness of ACS has
been recounted over and over again. She told the committee
ACS's required accountability with the teachers, the fact that
the teachers know their subjects well and have written and
rewritten the curriculum, and the "one-on-one" with students
over the phone are some of the most important features of ACS.
She questioned the policy that the state should not be involved
in education. Alyeska Central School fills in gaps in
education, especially with respect to summer school. Ms. Lloyd
asked why the legislature would consider throwing away what is
not broken.
Number 1262
SERENA LLOYD testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she is a high school student with
ACS and it is a very good program. No other correspondence
program offers what ACS does.
Number 1310
CHAIR WILSON questioned whether ACS only accepts students after
"the count" with special permission from the commissioner of the
Department of Education and Early Development. She asked if ACS
also charges $250 per class if students enroll after the count
date. Chair Wilson asked if John Paden would come forward and
speak to these issues.
Number 1354
JOHN PADEN, Counselor, Alyeska Central School; Representative,
Alyeska Central School Association, testified on HB 174 and
answered questions from the committee. Mr. Paden responded that
ACS does accept children at any time of the year. The students
are counseled depending upon the particular time of the year
they are considering enrollment. For example, if a student were
to come in and want to start a class in April and finish it in
June, the counsel would be that it is pretty unlikely that a
student could finish the course in the amount of time the
student has chosen.
CHAIR WILSON asked if in that circumstance there would be a
charge and whether it would be necessary to get permission from
the commissioner of education. She asked what the process would
be.
Number 1400
MR. PADEN explained that typically a parent will call requesting
late enrollment for the child. After discussions with the
parent, he makes a decision based on the circumstances of the
student and has the ability to approve enrollment without
charge. He said that ACS does enroll some students who pay
tuition, or at a given time of the year, ACS may waive the
tuition. Much of the determination is based on the
circumstances of the family; for example, if a student has moved
from one district to another, the student would be enroll
without tuition. If the student has not enrolled in a local
school and is new to the state, ACS will enroll him/her without
tuition.
Number 1462
CHAIR WILSON asked how easy it would be for families to enroll
their children if a teacher became sick or for some reason
students were without a teacher.
MR. PADEN responded that it can be very easy, depending on the
circumstances. He said, for instance, if there has been illness
or for some reason the student has not been able to be in class,
then ACS will bring the student in at no charge to the family.
CHAIR WILSON asked if there is a limit on how many students ACS
can accept in this way without charging tuition.
MR. PADEN responded that ACS cannot do it indiscriminately;
however, they try to be responsive to what is happening with the
family.
CHAIR WILSON asked what happens if it is not necessarily a
hardship situation with the family. For instance, if a student
is having trouble at school or the student does not like the
teacher, so in the middle of the year the family wants the
student to go to ACS, what would happen in that situation?
Number 1512
MR. PADEN said in a circumstance when the student has been in
school and there is no medical issue, no change in district, and
the student is not new to the state, then the usual procedure is
to offer the program with tuition.
CHAIR WILSON asked how much would the family have to pay.
MR. PADEN responded that the cost is $250 per course per
semester.
Number 1568
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said that one of the concerns she has for
rural Alaska is that so many of the teachers in the Bush are
teaching out of their subject areas. Since ACS has so many
certified teachers in their subject areas, does ACS provide
assistance to these teachers to help strengthen the programs for
rural students?
MR. PADEN replied that it is possible and in some cases it does
happen. He said that sometimes a district will say to ACS that
it will pay the $250 for a course. Requests do not always come
from the family.
CHAIR WILSON commented that there are many teachers across the
state, not just in rural areas, that are doing an excellent job
teaching in areas that they are not certified to teach.
Number 1650
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked about schools that no longer offer a
particular course, for instance, language courses. She asked
what the arrangement is between districts and ACS with respect
to enrollment of some of their students in classes that are not
available in local schools.
MR. PADEN said it is not uncommon for districts to buy courses
from ACS. The understanding when a district does that is that
they are also buying teacher services. He commented that this
also relates to Representative Kapsner's question about when a
district is getting not just teaching materials, but also
teaching services. Sometimes a district may buy the course
without the teaching services. He said he does not know all the
details of that arrangement, but when that happens someone
locally does the teaching portion of the course while using
ACS's course materials.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the charge of $250 per semester
per course would apply.
MR. PADEN responded that is correct. Those funds would go into
program receipts that Mr. Jeans spoke of a few moments ago.
Number 1740
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said that in reviewing testimony she
noted there is a letter from Becky Crabtree, alternative
education teacher in Barrow, who says that they have a
partnership with ACS whereby over 50 North Slope students in six
remote villages have enrolled in one or more classes. She said
her question was answered thanks to both Mr. Paden and Becky
Crabtree.
Number 1761
CHAIR WILSON noted that in the House Special Committee on
Education meeting it was said that 26 percent of the students
enrolled in ACS are also enrolled in other correspondence
programs. She said that in many cases it is a "cafeteria"
arrangement where classes are picked from different schools.
Number 1788
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA explained that since she was not at the
House Special Committee on Education meeting that discussed this
bill, she is trying to gain a better understanding of the issue.
Representative Cissna shared her experience with a stepson who
was a graduate of ACS in the mid-seventies. When she began home
schooling him, he was three and a half years behind
academically. He had been to a special school and a traditional
school, but was getting further and further behind. She said as
a family there was a decision to lock heels and put him in home
school. It took 12 months of hard labor, and he graduated 8th
grade on course level with As and Bs because of concentrated
work. Her family felt it was the only way it could be done.
She asked Mr. Paden if there are statistics on why people choose
these programs and what they are able to accomplish.
MR. PADEN replied that he does not have those statistics, but
believes ACS has the ability to address that question somewhat.
There are many circumstances that bring people to ACS, and it is
hard work. Many come to ACS to shorten the time that would be
required to bring kids up to their peer level. He said it does
happen, but it is a lot of work.
CHAIR WILSON asked if there is an administrator at ACS that
makes the decisions or is he the person that makes the
determination as to whether or not a student comes into ACS.
MR. PADEN responded that there is an administrator. The Acting
Director, Margaret McKinnon, is not here today. She is the
person who ultimately makes the decisions.
Number 1942
TERESA DEMOTT testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. She told the
committee that her son is in his fourth year at ACS and he is
just completing his eighth grade this year. She asked why a
nearly perfect school is being looked at for closure. If her
family goes with one of the other correspondence schools and the
accreditation does not happen, her son will lose all that time
in school. She said her son was not offered enough in public
school. He was labeled a gifted child, but what they did for
him is offer him a bus ride every Friday to go hang out with
other gifted children. She said she knows what her child's
capability is and it is her job to make sure he achieves his
highest potential. Alyeska Central School has provided this to
him. He is an excellent student, maintains As and Bs, and is in
constant contact with his teachers, from whom he receives so
much support. He gets the support he requires, and he did not
get that in public school. Ms. DeMott said she knows money is a
big issue. She believes that the committee has not been given
enough information to make the right decision to protect ACS
students. She said she feels that she is being attacked. She
asked the committee to defeat the bill.
Number 2023
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked, if there were an alternative school
that was accredited, whether that would be all right.
MS. DEMOTT responded that it would not, because they do not
offer the same caliber of courses that ACS offers. This can be
verified by looking at other school curriculums.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if Ms. DeMott felt ACS is the only
school that can provide the education needed for her son. [Ms.
DeMott did not respond.]
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if Mr. Jeans would respond to the
reason ACS is being targeted when other schools are not.
Number 2070
CHAIR WILSON responded that ACS is the only state-run
correspondence school.
Number 2187
AYARIE CANTIL-VOOHEES testified via teleconference in opposition
to HB 174. She told the committee she has been in enrolled at
ACS since kindergarten, with the exception of three years. She
said ACS is not a duplicate of other correspondence schools.
She knows the other schools and would not be satisfied attending
them, and would not have the personal dedication she has now for
educational excellence, had she not gone to ACS. She said there
are many students that need what ACS has, and it will end up
costing the state more just to close ACS than it would to keep
it open. If the other correspondence schools do not meet the
2005 standards, the state will have to reopen ACS. She told the
committee that the governor asked the legislature to look at
this bill and judge it wisely. Please vote no on HB 174, she
asked.
Number 2187
LINDA VOORHEES testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she has used ACS for fifteen years
to home school her children. The House Special Committee on
Education heard a great deal of testimony on this bill and she
urged members who were not there to listen to that testimony.
Alyeska Central School is not a part of correspondence school
duplication. Its particular combination of assets is not offer
anywhere else. She cited the huge expense in Internet services
for rural Alaskan families. The cost could be as high as $900
per month per child, which is unaffordable to most Alaskan
families. Ms. Voorhees said it takes between three and five
years to get accredited once the school's application is in, and
it will mean students who graduate from these schools will not
have diplomas from an accredited school. She said parents who
do home schooling need options.
Number 2291
BETTY COME testified via teleconference in opposition to HB 174.
She told the committee she has two children who are enrolled at
ACS, even though her family only lives one and a half miles from
Chugiak High School.
MS. COME explained that both of her children suffer from immune
disorders. When her daughter was in ninth grade she got very
sick and spent six months out of school. Some of the teachers
would not have homework available. When her daughter was in
school [her daughter has an individual education plan (IEP) for
a learning disability], she was allowed to turn in her homework
three days late; however, that was never followed through with
the teachers, and she just got further and further behind.
During that time, her family found ACS and it has helped her
children tremendously. They are now staying up with homework
and staying on task. Her son experienced the same problem with
illness because the Chugiak High School is so overcrowded.
Since he has been at ACS, he is doing tremendously well. Ms.
Come said if it were not for ACS, her kids would be left behind.
It is the best home schooling program out there.
TAPE 03-29, SIDE B
NANCY WLADYKA testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. She told the
committee that she has two sons, ages eight and twelve, who have
been enrolled at ACS for about three years. Two words define
ACS for her family: academics and excellence. She said they
have been very impressed with the high-quality academic program
ACS offers. They are grateful to have the privilege of working
with the wonderful, dedicated teachers and staff at ACS.
MS. WLADYKA said her twelve-year-old son was enrolled in public
school through the fourth grade. The curriculum was not
challenging enough for him, and there was not much sympathy from
the public school when she complained that her son needed to
learn more than what was being offered. She said she knows
teachers have their hands full working with children who are
struggling. During the early years in school, she volunteered
on a regular basis in her son's classrooms and witnessed the
problem. Her son would spend a frustrating day in the classroom
and come home eager to educate himself. She said her eight-
year-old son is allergic to peanuts, which can be a life-
threatening allergy, and has asthma. She said her family
decided it would be reckless to send him to a school with no
school nurse and where peanuts are prevalent. They began home
schooling and he is advanced in academics. Ms. Wladyska told
the committee her children have benefited enormously from their
education with ACS and believe it would be a mistake to
eliminate ACS. No comparable program exists. She said ACS is
not a duplication, it is a success story. Please do not leave
kids stranded without ACS, she asked members.
Number 2274
CHAIR WILSON commented that Ms. Wladyka's children sound like
exceptional children. She asked if the public school was unable
to challenge them.
MS. WLADYKA responded that her son's test scores were at the
99th percentile in a second grade CAT [California Achievement
Test] test. He was eligible to be tested at the Johns Hopkins
University, and it was then recommended that he be privately
schooled or tutored. She explained that her family does not
have the financial resources for that kind of education. She
said her husband worked in the timber industry for 30 years and
she is sure Chair Wilson is aware of what is happening there.
Number 2224
DENISE MALONEY testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. She told the
committee that she is a concerned parent of an ACS student.
There are several points that need to be looked at before
considering the elimination of ACS. Alyeska Central School was
established in 1939 and has been accredited since 1979. She
pointed out that no other correspondence school offers this kind
of record. Alyeska Central School offers an extensive
curriculum to choose from in order to meet the needs of
individual students. The teachers and staff develop the
curriculum and grade the work. Many of the other correspondence
schools use outside staff and do not grade the papers. Several
of these schools actually use ACS as one of their vendors.
Alyeska Central School is not the school that is duplicating
services. She said that Mr. Jeans stated in committee that the
only concrete savings is in the Department of Administration for
leasing of space. The funds will still be there, just sent to
other schools. Those students who return to public schools will
end up costing the state more. She said her child will. Ms.
Maloney commented that her child is also a gifted child and has
taken the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) as a seventh grader
and eighth grader for Johns Hopkins University and has done
outstandingly well. She said her daughter has been with ACS for
two years. Originally, they enrolled her as a tuition-based
student because her family was not happy with the public school
system.
Number 2159
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about the relationship between ACS
and Johns Hopkins University.
MS. MALONEY responded that her daughter was identified as gifted
when in the public school system because of her CAT scores or
benchmark scores. She said Johns Hopkins University does a
talent search for gifted children. These children are offered
the opportunity to take the high school SATs at the seventh- and
eighth-grade levels. In response to Representative Gatto's
question as to whether ACS is in some way connected to Johns
Hopkins University, she responded that it is not.
Number 2099
SEAN RUDDELL testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. He told the committee he is a student at ACS and likes the
program very much. During his time in public school, from
kindergarten through sixth grade, he found it to be a traumatic
experience. He said his sister attended ACS and he believes ACS
is the best program ever. Even though he could have attended
Central Middle School, which is supposed to be one of the top
five middle schools in the country, he chose to attend ACS. He
said he loves the fact that he can choose his own learning pace
and curriculum, and the one-on-one contact with teachers.
Number 2030
VICTORIA MARTIN testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. She told the
committee she is a home school grandmother and teacher. Her two
kids are in eleventh and eighth grades and have attended ACS for
three years. She commented that a cost sheet had been submitted
by Rick Currier that proves that ACS is saving the state money.
Many of the students are employed, and the state is getting tax
money from these students. This program offers her children the
opportunity to go forward more quickly. They are able to pick
up a phone and contact a teacher if they have a question. It is
a great program and it does not need to be cut.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about her comments on Central Middle
School.
MS. MARTIN responded that her grandson won a lottery to go to
Central Middle School. He was labeled as a gifted student and
went from kindergarten through sixth grade in the Anchorage
public schools.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about her comment about picking up a
phone and contacting a teach at any time. What are the teachers
doing between phone calls?
MS. MARTIN responded that they are grading lessons. If a
teacher is not available, then ACS finds someone who can answer
a question. If they cannot get an answer right away, then the
teacher will call them back. Sometimes teachers will even call
on weekends.
Number 1927
HAYLIE RUDDELL testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She said that she has a really good friend who has been
with ACS for six years now because of illness. Ms. Ruddell said
she mentioned her friend because she is a good example of a
child that did not fall through the cracks because of ACS. She
said she has been going to ACS for three years now and it is a
wonderful program. The list of good things goes on and on. She
told the committee she does not want the school to be closed.
Number 1896
VERNA GIBSON testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she is a parent and foster parent.
When her daughter, who was an honor student, became ill, she was
only able to graduate because of ACS. She now attends UAA
[University of Alaska Anchorage] and is on the chancellor's
list, received an associate's degree with honors, and will
graduate in 2004. Her daughter was not able to come to the
meeting and speak today, so she is testifying in her behalf.
None of these opportunities would have been available to her,
had it not been for ACS.
Number 1840
MS. GIBSON explained that she is also a foster parent for
children who have problems and runs a therapeutic group home.
She told the committee she has used ACS for some of her children
who, because of behavioral problems, cannot attend public
school. Had it not been for ACS, many of these children would
not have been able to attend school. She summarized that she
believes the committee would be doing a lot of children a
disservice by voting for this bill.
Number 1819
RYAN WOLCOTT testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. He told the
committee he is twelve years old and a seventh grade student at
ACS. His family has a business that takes them to different
locations in Alaska, and ACS has provided them with the
flexibility they need. He said he was hoping to finish seventh
grade in April and move on to the next grade, hopefully
completing the eighth grade by the end of the summer or shortly
after. He told the committee his family contacted the
Department of Education and Early Development for the other
eleven options mentioned in prior meetings. On March 20 they
sent an e-mail with a list of questions. Instantly upon e-
mailing the eleven messages, they discovered six were
undeliverable. They had to call to get the correct e-mail
addresses. As of today, he said, they have only received three
responses; one answered their questions, and two would not
answer the questions and referred his family to their web site.
He said he thinks it is very scary that if there is no support
for his family now, what will happen when ACS is no longer there
for him. No other program compares to ACS. Please save ACS, he
asked members.
Number 1759
CHAIR WILSON asked Mr. Wolcott if he would fax her the questions
his family asked.
Number 1721
KYM WOLCOTT testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee that she has already testified.
Her main concern was to ensure that her son had an opportunity
to testify on his views of ACS. She said that she hopes the
committee will not vote to close ACS.
Number 1702
JULIET ROBINSON testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she has a daughter who is attending
ACS because she is unable to attend a traditional school because
she has Tourette Syndrome. It is a condition that is
distracting to other students and teachers. She said that her
daughter has always been an enthusiastic student, but in the
last year has begun to miss a lot of school due to her illness
or cold or flu. There is evidence that individuals who suffer
from this disorder also have a weakened immune system. Ms.
Robinson said when her daughter entered her freshman year in
high school she was missing one week per month and it was
becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep up with
schoolwork. Anxiety causes the symptoms of her illness to
become more pronounced.
MS. ROBINSON said after winter break, her daughter's anxiety
became so bad that she was unable to return to school. She said
that she looked into correspondence schools as an alternative
but was told that they do not accept students in mid-semester
and there was generally a charge involved. That is when she
spoke to John Paden, a counselor at ACS. She told Mr. Paden
about her daughter's condition and he told her that ACS does
make allowances for illness and that they would admit students
in the middle of the year and there would be no charge. Ms.
Robinson said she was impressed by the wide range of classes
offered by ACS. When her daughter learned that she could attend
ACS, her symptoms decreased dramatically. Please consider
everyone's testimony when you consider whether or not to close
ACS, she asked members.
Number 1595
VIRGINIA KAHLER testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174 and answered questions from the committee. She told the
committee that she has been attending ACS for three years now.
When she attended public school in ninth grade, she completely
failed it. She did not know how to do math and knew nothing
about grammar. She said she was embarrassed to ask for help
because she felt stupid. When she would ask for help the
teachers would say they would work with her at lunch, so she
would sit through the whole class not knowing what to do. When
the teachers would help her, they would rush through it and she
still would not understand it. She said she had no goals for
herself. She said if she could not pass high school, what was
she going to do with her life. When she attended ACS, the
teachers gave her one-on-one attention and made sure she got it.
The teachers would call her to make sure she understood
concepts. She said she was actually getting As and that felt
good. Her sisters now ask her how to solve math problems and
how to write paragraphs and where to put commas. She told the
committee she has now set the goal of going into the military
after high school. She said she would like to finish high
school with ACS because she has done so well. Kids who attend
ACS are graduating and getting their high school diplomas. She
asked why the legislature would want to take that away from
them.
Number 1491
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked, when she had a problem with math,
whether she called ACS.
MS. KAHLER responded that she did.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO observed that when she worked face-to-face
with a teacher in a classroom, she was not able to understand
it, but was able to understand it through a phone call.
MS. KAHLER responded that is correct. She explained that the
high school teacher in public school really had no patience with
her. When she called ACS, the math teacher was there for her.
She said he made sure she got the math problem 100 percent. She
said until she went to ACS, she never ever got As on math tests.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked how long that phone call was.
MS. KAHLER replied it was probably a 40-minute call.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO commented that she had one-on-one for 40
minutes. He asked how often she calls teachers.
MS. KAHLER responded not very often, probably three times per
week. Math is her weakest subject.
Number 1453
VALERIE WHITE testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she is a home school teacher of two
children, works in a family business, and is involved in the
community they live, which is Whale Pass. She commented that
she agrees with all the supporting testimony of ACS. Alyeska
Central School is a very important program and should stay open.
Her oldest son has been enrolled at ACS for twelve years and
hopes to get his diploma next winter. Her younger son was with
ACS for the first years of school, but has been with the IDEA
School out of Galena since 1998. Her family knows what the two
types of programs offer. Alyeska Central School has made a huge
difference in her son's life. He has been able to participate
in programs like Academic Decathlon and Close-Up. Going to
Washington, D.C., was a huge opportunity for a rural student.
She said she is concerned that the other programs are fairly new
and have not had the opportunity to prove themselves. They
could easily get regulated out of existence by the Department of
Education and Early Development or eliminated by their school
boards if financial problems arise. Alyeska Central School is
the only correspondence program guaranteed to Alaskans by law.
Please do not make any rash decisions about ACS, she asked. She
commented in response to Representative Gatto's earlier question
about what the teachers do, saying that she has had the
opportunity to visit the teachers at ACS and they are busy all
the time. They have between 70 to 80 students each. She asked
if the committee would try to do what it can to keep ACS.
Number 1302
CHAIR WILSON said ACS has 60 students per teacher capped for
elementary school; however, there are more students in the high
school, as they teach students at other high schools.
MS. WHITE said she knows the PE [physical education] teacher has
about 200 students.
Number 1270
PAULA WILLIAMS testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee that she has three boys currently
in ACS, and a daughter that already graduated from ACS. Ms.
Williams commented on the many people who testified whom she
agrees with and hopes the committee will keep their thoughts in
mind. By closing ACS, the state will be losing the only
mandated program, and for people like her family who live in the
Bush, there is no brick-and-mortar school and there is no
choice. She said she does not want to use some other program
that may not be around in a couple of years. Ms. Williams
commented that her son is a senior and wants to go to college
and he needs an accredited senior year. This school is the only
program that writes and updates the classes. Over the last six
years, she has seen the science program improve with the latest
information. Every year the teachers are improving the classes.
She asked that the legislature not close ACS. Be sure to look
at all the facts, she urged members.
Number 1183
JENNIFER WILCOX testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She said she is a student at ACS and is opposed to the
bill for two reasons. First, the other alternative schools are
not equal to ACS. Second, closing ACS will not save the state
money.
MS. WILCOX explained that the many alternative schools
identified to her family as possible replacements for ACS have
not received accreditation yet. In fact, it could take up to
five years for some of them to become accredited, while ACS has
been accredited since 1979. Many of the schools are trying to
develop courses that are already in place at ACS. The other
schools do not have the number of staff or teachers, and the
teachers do not support their students the way they do at ACS.
She said that some of the schools are completely computer-based,
which is not an option for her and other students
MS. WILCOX discussed the issued of savings to the state. She
said it costs $3,220 for an ACS student versus $10,992 for the
state to send her to public school in her district, which would
be a $7,772 increase to the state. She pointed out that there
would be no savings at all for her and her brother, just an
increase. Please consider her testimony and keep ACS open, she
concluded.
Number 1095
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked for the names of the schools her
family contacted and which they decided would not be adequate.
MS. WILCOX named the IDEA Program in particular. She also
pointed out that the superintendent for the Delta/Greely School
spoke in Representative Gatto's committee about not being
accredited and that it would take at least two years to be
accredited.
CHAIR WILSON asked if her family had actually contacted the
schools or had just heard about them.
MS. WILCOX replied that her mother did contact IDEA School and
Nenana Student Living Center. Although she had contacted
several, she said she did not have the list in front of her.
Number 1014
TIM MORGAN testified via teleconference in opposition to HB 174.
He told the committee his daughter is currently enrolled at ACS.
She got pregnant at 17, and her choice was to either drop out of
school or go to ACS. She chose ACS and it has been a good
choice for her. He said she has been able to stay home with her
baby. He said his daughter has other friends who got pregnant
in school, dropped out of school, and now are on welfare. He
said if the state closes ACS, there will be more people on
welfare because they do not have a choice. He said his daughter
cannot afford day care, so her choice is to home school or not
do school at all. He told the committee he does not think ACS
should be closed.
Number 0963
CHRISTINE WILCOX testified via teleconference in opposition to
HB 174. She said she is the parent of students in ACS and is
opposed to closing ACS for all the same reasons that the
committee has already heard. There is no real savings. The
alternative schools like IDEA did offer [her family] $1,500 per
student to attend, and the way it worked is that the family
would send in their grades once per month and that was just
about it. It did not offer the backup services offered by ACS.
She said she just does not see any advantage to closing ACS.
Everything ACS offers is excellent.
Number 0898
CINDY MICHOU testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she has testified in previous
hearings but wanted to make a quick point that the Anchorage
School District (ASD) relies on ACS and its summer school
program. The Anchorage School District has a limited number of
slots for the summer school, and ACS is the number-one school on
the ASD list where students will be accepted and receive credits
for high school. She said she believes that ACS acts as a
safety net for a lot of kids across the state and she hopes the
committee will vote no on HB 174.
Number 0806
THOMAS ROBINSON testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. He told the committee he has a child that has a need and
like a lot of other parents has looked for a way to help his
child. He said ACS was that helping hand. Mr. Robinson told
the committee he hopes the members will vote this bill down.
CHAIR WILSON asked what grade his daughter is in.
MR. ROBINSON replied that she is a freshman this year.
Number 0719
BREANNA ROBINSON testified via teleconference in opposition to
HB 174. She told the committee she is a freshman at ACS and
enrolled because she has Tourette Syndrome. If it were not for
ACS, she believes she would be behind in all of her classes.
She said she is a "pretty smart" student and does not think it
would be fair. She said she found that the other correspondence
courses did not accept students in the middle of the year. She
said that throughout her school career, she had been getting
good grades until Tourette Syndrome got worse; however, since
she has been enrolled at ACS she has been getting good grades.
Number 0620
RUBY BULLCHILD testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She told the committee she is a student at ACS because she
had knee-reconstruction surgery last fall, which meant she fell
behind in her studies. She urged the committee not to vote in
favor of closing ACS. She said the President of the United
States says he does not want any children left behind and said
that if ACS is closed, she will be left behind. Ms. Bullchild
said she is proud of attending school in Alaska and wants to
graduate from Alaska and not from a school in the Lower 48
states. She said she is a straight-A student and is ahead in
both math and reading. She said she wants to continue with ACS
so she can stay ahead and believes if ACS is closed she will
fall behind and may have to repeat ninth grade. Ms. Bullchild
told the committee that she has been going to ACS for two years
and has come to love the program because it is a great school
for remedial and "super achievers."
Number 0509
MARY TONY testified via teleconference in opposition to HB 174.
She told the committee that ACS has experience, knowledge, and
expertise. Alyeska Central School works. She said she knows
this because she and three of her siblings completed elementary
school through ACS when a local school closed due to low class
size in the 1970s. She said that of the three of them, two have
college degrees, one is a lawyer, and one is both a mayor in a
Bush community and a school board member. She pointed out that
with many other programs, the money will be going out of the
state and she feels these funds should be kept in Alaska. She
summarized by asking if the committee was discussing any other
resource would they consider sending state funds outside Alaska.
Ms. Tony urged the committee to look closely at this program and
other programs.
Number 0229
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO commented that Ms. Tony is very well
educated and asked if she did the majority of the teaching. He
asked if she really just uses the curriculum.
MS. TONY responded that she does the majority of the teaching;
however, she calls ACS as a resource, especially when her
daughter needs additional assistance.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if she uses the curriculum and makes
a phone call when needed.
MS. TONY responded that she relies on the teachers and their
expertise.
Number 0184
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if she has met the person on the
other end of the phone.
MS. TONY responded that she has not met the teachers. She said
that the curriculum is Alaska-based. For example, she said
biology deals with Alaskan flora and fauna. She said this is
what makes ACS unique.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO responded that this is not the point of
education; whether it is or is not Alaskan flora and fauna, if
biology is being taught it is important that her daughter get
more than just some information. He commented that what is
important in all of this is that when she makes a call, she gets
a result. He pointed out that it is perfectly within her means
to add some information or adapt the book. Representative Gatto
said he is trying to determine if she likes ACS because she is
used to it or because ACS truly is so much better than any other
school and she can prove that.
CHAIR WILSON explained that the committee was running out of
time and others still want to testify.
Number 0043
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER objected to the question's being asked
without Ms. Tony having an opportunity to answer the question.
Number 0020
MS. TONY summarized her view that with ACS she has the
confidence that she is there teaching her child to meet the
state requirements for her education. The other programs do not
give her that confidence.
TAPE 03-30, SIDE A
Number 0001
SHEILA SYMONS testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
174. She asked the committee to please listen to all of the
testimony that has come before them. Whether the testifiers are
rural or urban, they are all opposed to this bill. She asked
the committee not to pass this bill and pointed out that the
state does not even have a commissioner of education [in the new
administration yet]. Please do not pass this bill, she asked.
CHAIR WILSON announced that she would like to hear from
individuals in the audience who have something to add that the
committee has not already heard.
Number 0126
ALEXANDER DOLITSKY, Ph.D. testified before the committee as a
private citizen, although he is a social studies teacher at
Alyeska Central School. He testified in opposition to HB 174.
He wanted the members to know he is on annual leave and is
speaking only for himself. He said he has been employed with
ACS since 1988 as a summer school teacher and then for twelve
years as a permanent full-time employee. When he was hired in
1990, the enrollment was 800 students, and over the years the
enrollment has fluctuated between 800 and 1,100 students. In
1992 or 1993, when other correspondence programs emerged, ACS's
enrollment decreased. The ACS parents understand what the other
programs offer.
Number 0283
DR. DOLITSKY told the committee he wanted to address information
that was provided by the department. He commented that the
teachers at ACS are not only writing curriculum, but they are
grading lessons, writing comments and commentaries, taking calls
to discuss problems or questions, and writing letters. He said
he grades between 30 and 35 lessons per week. For three years
he taught Russian. He said he is under contract for 230 working
days per year as a senior teacher. Those that are not senior
teachers are under contract for a longer number days of
vacation. Summer school hires 30 additional teachers, and if
they do finish their work during that time, it is the year-round
teachers who do the work. Last year he said he graded 600
lessons in addition to his own work. Any other schoolteachers
in school districts have contracts for 186 days, while his
contract is for 230 days. He pointed out that he works longer
hours for the same pay.
Number 0405
DR. DOLITSKY told the committee that 84 percent of the ACS
student population is in urban areas. He pointed out that that
is consistent with statewide demographics, as 16 percent of the
population in Alaska lives in rural areas. He said 50 percent
of the students live in Anchorage. There are 459 students from
the Anchorage area and nearly 440 students in all other areas.
The proportion is the same. In summary, he said almost anyone
can be a good teacher for a week, but not everyone can be a good
teacher for 25 consecutive years. Every school has a success
story, but not every school has a success story for 60
consecutive years. He asked the committee not to dismantle
something that cannot be replaced easily. He commented that he
does not want his daughter or his students to read Shakespeare
from a [computer], but from a hard-cover book. There is such a
thing as authenticity. Dr. Dolitsky pointed out that some
programs come and go and it is not known what will happen with
these schools. He said he is a teacher with a master's degree
from Brown University and a Ph.D. from Bryn Mahr College. He
said ACS should be proud of the teachers and students it has.
Number 0491
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that she was involved with ACS
over 20 years ago and it was a great program. She said she
helped to create a program for a kid who was told by Capital
School that they did not want him back. She said what she sees
in the letters of support of ACS many things that have changed
and things she has never heard of, like classes on line.
Number 0546
DR. DOLITSKY responded that there are 19 classes that have
recently come on line. He said he does not teach those classes,
but a couple of them are world history and American government.
He said he has recently written three courses. The courses are
updated all the time. Dr. Dolitsky said he often does meet his
students if they go to Close-Up in Washington, D.C. He pointed
out that some of his students were winners in the Alaska History
Day competition. One student from Haines won fourth place in
the nation.
Number 0594
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said she noted that Dr. Dolitsky is a
published author and said few schools can boast that they have
published authors on their staff. She asked how many other
teachers have published books.
DR. DOLITSKY said he has published eight books. He does not
know how many other teachers have published books; however, he
does know other teachers have written articles and that ACS has
a remarkably qualified staff. He said he has taught college for
14 years at the University of Alaska Southeast.
Number 0672
CHAIR WILSON called a recess to the call of the chair at 4:50
p.m. The committee reconvened at 5:00 p.m.
Number 0685
CECILIA MILLER, Alyeska Central School Education Association,
testified in opposition to HB 174. She told the committee she
is a math and technology teacher at ACS, but is testifying today
on behalf of ACS Education Association. As a teacher, she said
she first came to work at ACS as a summer school teacher and
found that the program really addressed at-risk kids' needs.
For these kids, having someone they can call right away when
they have a problem is critical to their success. She said
before she did it, she could not imagine teaching math over the
phone, but found that she is very good at it. Ms. Miller
explained that she teaches a huge range of classes including
business and consumer math, geometry, pre-calculus, and advanced
algebra, both on line and print-based. She said she has
developed some of the courses and can help her students
understand a difficult class easily. Teaching these classes is
a tough job.
Number 0855
CHAIR WILSON commented that whatever happens with ACS, she will
assure that the other correspondence schools become more
accountable.
MS. MILLER responded that ACS would not comment on whether other
correspondence schools are accountable. She said if the other
schools are meeting the needs of students, then she is
supportive of those programs because not every child learns the
same way.
Number 0887
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked what kinds of questions are asked on
the phone.
MS. MILLER responded that most of her day is spent evaluating
student work, but recently she received a call from a student
from Barrow who had a question on advanced algebra about
logarithms.
Number 0945
KEVIN SWEENEY, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Education and Early Development, testified in
support of HB 174 and responded to questions from the committee.
He said he wanted to comment on the two major points the
committee has heard about today. The first point is the money
issue. Many have argued that this will not save money, but in
fact will cost the state money. He said he believes that most
of the students currently enrolled in ACS would enroll in
another correspondence school if ACS were not an option. He
believes that some of the testimony heard today actually
supports that claim. A lot of these students said they tried
their local public school and it did not work for them. It was
not the kind of education they were looking for, and they do
better in a correspondence type of program. Mr. Sweeney said
that it is the department's opinion that most of these kids
would go to other correspondence schools, which costs the same
amount to the state as ACS does.
Number 1017
MR. SWEENEY told the committee there is a significant savings in
the elimination of the summer school. Alyeska Central School is
the only funded summer school in the state. Last year this
school cost $1.2 million. There are also significant facility
leasing savings of $370,000 per year. He said even if some of
these students do not go into another correspondence school, a
majority of them are not in that $10,000-per-year-cost. A
majority of them are in the urban centers, where ADM [average
daily membership] [cost] is $4,200. He said he believes the
comparison of $3,200 to $10,000 is the extreme and not the
normal occurrence.
Number 1044
MR. SWEENEY said the second issue discussed today was the issue
of curriculum, the question as to whether the other
correspondence schools offer the same curricula that are offered
at ACS. He said if this bill passes, the department's exit plan
for ACS is to gather up all the curricula that are currently
offered at ACS and take that curricula and make it available to
all the other districts by putting it in "our" library so it is
accessible. The department wants to work with these other
districts to assure they are offering different types of
curricula. Other districts who offer correspondence classes
have indicated that should the curricula be available, they
would offer these classes and adapt to the students' needs. Mr.
Sweeney pointed out that it is hard to compare at the moment
what is going to happen at another correspondence school when
ACS is not around. These other correspondence schools are
really in competition for students, and it is apparent in their
enrollment. He compared the enrollment of ACS and the IDEA
School out of Galena. While ACS's enrollment has fluctuated,
the department believes that it is on the decline, whereas
Galena and other correspondence programs have been growing.
Number 1080
MR. SWEENEY said the department believes as a policy decision it
is time to end the centralized correspondence program run by the
state. The department would rather offer assistance to the
districts that have seen their correspondence programs grow, and
offer them the curricula that have been developed in the
statewide correspondence program and meet the student's needs in
that way.
Number 1129
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked Mr. Sweeney, if the department has
a program that is growing, why the state would want to cut the
rug out from under it.
MR. SWEENEY responded that the department is not asking the
other correspondence schools to change what they are doing now.
What the other programs are saying is that they will expand
their curricula to meet the needs of the students they have now
- some schools have 3,500 to 3,600 students - but also meet the
needs of the students coming in. He summarized by saying that
the department is not asking these programs to do a wholesale
change. The schools have expressed an interest in making sure
they develop the type of program that meets the needs of the
students who would have chosen ACS, had it been available.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said she is confused by this policy. She
used the example of a private business where the most popular
business in town is shutdown so the other stores will get a
share of the business. She pointed out that the most popular
store is popular for a reason, so why close it down for the
benefit of stores that are not doing as well.
CHAIR WILSON commented that if it were the most popular, then it
would have the most clients. In the case of ACS, it does not.
Number 1215
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked what happens to the students that
the committee heard from who this year really depend upon this
program because of accreditation. She said her understanding is
that ACS is the only accredited correspondence school in the
state.
Number 1240
MR. SWEENEY responded that if a student were to transfer to
Galena School, where an accreditation is in process and the
school has been given a temporary accreditation, the student
would in fact be graduating from an accredited school. He also
suggested that if accreditation is extremely important to the
student, there is always the option of going back to the local
district to finish the last year.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA pointed out that the committee heard
testimony that attending public school was totally impossible
for some students. She said these students have a really good
reason for not being in public school. It is not something that
is casually done.
Number 1285
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked how many of the schools that are
doing correspondence programs now are just Internet-based and
how many are U.S. mail-based.
Number 1309
MR. JEANS responded that the only school that is 100 percent
Internet-based is the Delta/Greely School.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if there are any others that use
the mail system. [No response was given to this question.]
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked how many schools provide books for
students to read.
Number 1350
DEBBIE CHALMERS, Teacher, Alyeska Central School, testified in
opposition to HB 174 and responded to questions from the
committee. She explained that ACS provides books to students.
It is her understanding that the other programs provide parents
with stipends; with those funds, the parents can obtain
educational materials, educational opportunities, or learning
experiences. In response to Representative Gatto's question as
to whether ACS offers the same choices to students, she
responded that ACS does offer the same choices.
Number 1372
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON commented that when the Delta/Greely
superintendent testified before the committee, he said the
school could accommodate 200 students, but that they really only
serviced college-preparatory classes or advanced-placement
students. He asked if there is an effectiveness rating for
those students who are not in those groups, for instance, groups
who would be labeled as at-risk or special-needs students.
MR. SWEENEY asked Representative Seaton if he would clarify the
question.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that he is trying to make a
comparison among different correspondence schools. He said he
knows that correspondence schools are not equivalent. His
concern is for children in his district that are special-needs
students. For example, he had a student who is autistic and was
not able to function well in some of these correspondence
schools, but was able to do well at ACS. He said he is trying
to figure out if there is any kind of Department of Education
and Early Development rating of how well the correspondence
schools do in providing services to special-needs students.
MR. SWEENEY said he does not know if the department has ever
done a rating system on all correspondence schools. He said he
does not believe the department has ever even done a rating on
ACS's ability to provide that service. He said he would have to
look into what the other correspondence programs have to offer
special-needs students. The district programs would have to be
looked at also to see what they might offer. Mr. Sweeney
clarified that there has been discussion of only 11 statewide
correspondence programs and that number does not include the
districts' correspondence programs that only serve students who
live in their districts. He pointed out that there are more
choices than just the 11 mentioned. For example, in Kenai for
the last four or five years, the district's correspondence
program went from less than 100 students up to 400 students in
its program.
Number 1500
CHAIR WILSON commented to Representative Seaton that some
families use out-of-state correspondence programs as well.
There are a large variety of correspondence programs to choose
from and a huge number of students that are enrolled in
correspondence programs.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON responded that his purpose in bringing
this issue up is that he has received a number a letters and
testimony from families whose children would be considered
special-needs students, whether it was because of autism or
whether the students needed to be in school year-round so that
they would not fall behind. He said the comparisons are not the
same; this is not dealing with apples and apples, but apples and
oranges. He said he is trying to find out the impact on at-risk
students. He wants to know if there is something special about
ACS. He asked if there is any empirical data for that.
Number 1565
MR. SWEENEY commented on an earlier point that Delta/Greely had
said that it is prepared to absorb about 200 students. He said
that full-time enrollment at ACS is approaching 700
[approximately 670] students. In a Juneau Empire article,
Galena said that it can absorb 1,000 to 1,500 more students and
that it also is ready to develop a program that has the same
amount of teacher involvement to accommodate the students.
MR. SWEENEY also commented with regard to curriculum development
that there is a consortium of school districts through Alaska
On-Line, which includes the Mat-Su, Kenai, and Delta/Greely
[districts] that are in the process of developing their own
curriculum. Alyeska Central School is a part of that program
and other districts may join on. They have been in the process
of developing curricula and will continue to develop curricula
that are focused on the idea of correspondence study. It is not
fair to say that ACS holds the market on developing curricula.
There are other districts that are doing it as well.
Number 1659
JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director, NEA-Alaska,
testified in opposition to HB 174 and responded to questions
from the committee. He pointed out to the members of the
committee that ACS has a highly qualified faculty in place in
the core content areas that meet the requirements of NCLB [No
Child Left Behind]. Another important fact that has not been
mentioned is that ACS could provide supplemental services for
the NCLB that other correspondence programs could not provide.
Alyeska Central School can also provide high school programs for
teacher's aides and educational support professionals that will
have to meet the qualifications of President Bush's No Child
Left Behind Act. Some aides have to complete their high school
diplomas, and some need additional course work, up to 60 college
credits beyond that, in order to keep their jobs as educational
support professionals.
CHAIR WILSON questioned that none of the other correspondence
schools could do that.
MR. ALCANTRA replied that is correct. None of the other
programs can do that.
CHAIR WILSON asked if that is because of the accreditation
issue.
MR. ALCANTRA responded that it is partly because of
accreditation and partly because ACS has been in place for 60
years, compared with a school that has been in place five years.
These other schools just have not gotten there yet.
MR. ALCANTRA said that ACS existed before statehood, before oil
pipelines, and before the first Alaska State Legislature. He
said ACS needs to exist after the Twenty-Third Alaska State
Legislature. Mr. Alcantra asked that the committee hold the
bill because, as has been seen in the overwhelming testimony,
this idea has not been thought through. Please do not rush to
judgment on this, he urged.
Number 1777
CHAIR WILSON asked what the age requirement is for enrolling in
ACS. She commented that most high schools do not permit someone
over 21 years of age to attend.
MR. ALCANTRA responded that age would not be a factor under a
program created for program providers. He said he is not sure.
Number 1805
MS. MILLER told the committee that statute says any Alaskan can
go to ACS as a tuition-program student who wants to obtain a
high school diploma.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked how many teachers will no longer be
employed with ACS if this legislation passes.
MR. ALCANTRA said the number of teachers at ACS is 26.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if these teachers are all certified
and if there is a demand for certified teachers elsewhere in the
state.
MR. ALCANTRA said he does not know specifically if there is a
demand for the 26 teachers at ACS.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO inquired if the 26 teachers were under
contract for the FY 04 public school year.
MR. ALCANTRA replied that is correct. These teachers' contracts
will be ending at the end of the school year. In some places,
that will be just about the same time the legislative session
ends.
Number 1881
MS. CHALMERS told the committee she is a fifth- and sixth-grade
teacher at ACS and wanted to offer her perspective as an
educator. She said she has been a teacher since 1992 and did
not even know the program existed until she walked through the
door. Since she has been at ACS, she has gained a great deal in
working with parents. When she started teaching in 1976, she
had heard a lot about the home school partnership. She said she
does not think she has seen that partnership more actively
engaged than through the ACS program. Alyeska Central School
works directly with students and parents, and does it well.
Number 1941
MS. CHALMERS said ACS curricula are not stagnant. If these
programs are distributed to districts, the teachers would not
use the print-based lesson plan to teach. It is like using the
same lesson plan book every year. She said she updates her
curriculum continually and integrates a variety of supplemental
materials with her teaching. She provides online opportunities
for students through the Jason Project, which is a science-
oriented curriculum, and through National Geographic
Experiential and Adventures in On-Line Quests, as the student is
learning about the world around them. There are also online
book discussions and book clubs. Ms. Chalmers said she connects
her students through these opportunities, some through online
and some through the print-based curriculum. This results in a
level of expertise and enthusiasm, as a teacher does not travel
with the curriculum.
Number 2037
MS. CHALMERS shared an experience she recently had with a home
schoolteacher in Karluk. She said he is not a paraprofessional
yet, but hopes to be and he is very concerned about his
students. He said he really appreciates the teacher support ACS
provides, because the stand-alone curriculum does not do that.
CHAIR WILSON commented that Ms. Chalmers has the qualities of a
very good teacher.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said he thinks Ms. Chalmers is bright,
educated, and obviously experienced. He asked, if ACS is
eliminated, what will happen to her students and what will
happen to her.
MS. CHALMERS said that in Karluk the parents did not feel it
would be an option to go to the district correspondence program.
She said she does not know what will happen to all the students.
Because of declining numbers of students, the state has had to
close schools and there will be a need for correspondence
education. One ninth grader in Karluk is considering Mount
Edgecumbe as an option or possibly going back to Kodiak High
School. He is not considering going to another correspondence
program.
Number 2099
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL commented that this discussion could go
on and on. He believes the point has already been made.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO disagreed.
CHAIR WILSON announced that she would close testimony on the
bill at this time.
Number 2106
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to report HB 174 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
Number 2112
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER objected.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he believes this is a policy call
and is not intended to show any disrespect to the teachers or
the history of ACS. He said he believes there has been some
wonderful work and good curriculum development, and that the
students have educational needs. He does not disagree with the
testimony that has been given. Representative Coghill said that
getting the students' needs met has been an issue the committee
has struggled with for many years. The policy call he sees is
whether the legislature should give the districts the
responsibility of meeting these needs. There are a group of
people who are getting special help from the state outside of
the districts they live in.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he believes the districts need to
take the responsibility. There are 135,000 students in Alaska,
and this represents 1,080 students. The districts are stepping
up with cyber schools. This is a way to get those districts
reconnected to the students, whether it is excellence in
education, teacher certification, or culturally relevant issues
that are important to those areas. The policy call has been
made by the governor, and Representative Coghill stated he is
going to support him. He said this is a tough decision because
he likes educational choices, but he believes it is a good
policy decision.
Number 2243
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wilson, Gatto,
Wolf, and Coghill voted in favor of reporting HB 174 from
committee. Representatives Seaton, Cissna, and Kapsner voted
against it. Therefore, HB 174 was reported from the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee by a
vote of 4-3.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
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