Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

04/29/2024 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

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Audio Topic
03:30:08 PM Start
03:32:43 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
04:14:23 PM SB266
05:01:01 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
Board of Education and Early Development:
Bob Griffin
*+ SB 266 CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROG; STUDENT ACCTS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ Presentation on the Federal TELECONFERENCED
"Maintenance of Equity" Requirements
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
              SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 29, 2024                                                                                         
                           3:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Löki Tobin, Chair                                                                                                       
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Jesse Bjorkman                                                                                                          
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
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."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 266                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROG; STUDENT ACCTS                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
04/26/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/26/24       (S)       EDC                                                                                                    
04/29/24       (S)       EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT GRIFFIN, Appointee                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the governor's appointee to the                                                              
State Board of Education and Early Development.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
RAY KREIG, representing self                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of governor appointee                                                                
Mr. Griffin.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID BOYLE, representing self                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of governor appointee                                                                
Mr. Griffin.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LAURA BONNER, representing self                                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition of governor                                                                       
appointee Mr. Griffin.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CAROLINE STORM, Executive Director                                                                                              
Coalition for Education Equity                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition of governor                                                                       
appointee Mr. Griffin.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL MASON, Staff                                                                                                            
Senator Löki Tobin                                                                                                              
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered the sectional analysis for SB 266.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DEBORAH RIDDLE, Operations Manager                                                                                              
Division of Innovation and Education Excellence                                                                                 
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the fiscal note for                                                               
SB 266.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
LARAE SMITH, representing self                                                                                                  
Houston, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MAUREEN CRUMLEY, representing self                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
AMANDA WRAITH, representing self                                                                                                
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
STACEY LANGE, representing self                                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE GARDNER, Deputy Superintendent                                                                                        
Business and Operations                                                                                                         
Matsu Borough School District                                                                                                   
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 266.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
STARLA HALBROOK, representing self                                                                                              
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
JOEL HALBROOK, representing self                                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SARAH GROVER, representing self                                                                                                 
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ERICKA BEERY, representing self                                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HOWARD BEERY, representing self                                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
LON GARRISON, Executive Director                                                                                                
Association of Alaska School Boards                                                                                             
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 266.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
EMILY FERNY, representing self                                                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 266 with                                                                       
concerns.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MADELINE RANCH, representing self                                                                                               
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
KIMBERLY BERGEY, Program Director                                                                                               
Raven Homeschool                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on SB 266.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:30:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR LÖKI  TOBIN called the Senate  Education Standing Committee                                                             
meeting to order  at 3:30 p.m. Present at the  call to order were                                                               
Senators Kiehl,  Stevens, Gray-Jackson, and Chair  Tobin. Senator                                                               
Bjorkman joined thereafter.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
3:32:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN announced  the consideration  of governor  appointee                                                               
Bob  Griffin   to  the  State   Board  of  Education   and  Early                                                               
Development                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:33:13 PM                                                                                                                    
ROBERT GRIFFIN,  Appointee, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  as the                                                               
governor's appointee  to the State  Board of Education  and Early                                                               
Development.  He stated  that public  policy  choices impact  the                                                               
outcomes for  students. He said  this is a reappointment,  and he                                                               
is looking forward to continued  collaboration in areas where he,                                                               
as chair,  saw progress in  reading for early  childhood literacy                                                               
and  tribal   compacting.  He  stated  he   is  optimistic  about                                                               
students'  2022  NAEP  test  scores.   He  listed  various  other                                                               
accomplishments, such as  the AK STAR adaptive  testing model and                                                               
teacher certification pathways.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:34:53 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN spoke  about the rate at which  Alaska's teachers are                                                               
becoming proficient  in the science  of reading and  the positive                                                               
impact it  will have on students.  He said he is  concerned about                                                               
the allocation of resources to  classrooms and achieving positive                                                               
outcomes.  He  compared  Florida,  the  least  adequately  funded                                                               
school system, to Alaska, the  second most adequately funded, and                                                               
provided several  examples of  how Florida's  students outperform                                                               
Alaska's students.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:37:40 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  GRIFFIN  said  the  huge escalation  in  building  costs  is                                                               
robbing  resources from  classrooms.  He  stated that  operations                                                               
recently had  a budget  he voted  against because  building costs                                                               
exceed inflation,  and Alaska's schools have  billions of dollars                                                               
in deferred  maintenance. To  illustrate his  point, he  said one                                                               
facility was listed  at $102 million and serves  170 students. In                                                               
contrast, the Dena'ina  Center cost $111 million.  He opined that                                                               
Alaska has  poor support for  hugely successful  charter schools,                                                               
with sole authority given to  local districts. He spoke about the                                                               
challenges and  opportunities in Alaska associated  with poverty,                                                               
world languages, diversity, and cost of living.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON expressed a  strong appreciation for mission                                                               
statements,  highlighting their  value  in  clearly defining  the                                                               
role  of a  board, commission,  or organization.  She stated  the                                                               
mission  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  as  "an  excellent                                                               
education for  every student every  day." She asked if  the board                                                               
is effectively fulfilling this mission.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN stated that progress  is being made toward fulfilling                                                               
the  mission,  though  not  all students  are  achieving  at  the                                                               
desired  level.   He  highlighted   the  Alaska  Reads   Act  and                                                               
acknowledged Senator Tobin's efforts  in its adoption, noting the                                                               
lengthy  process  since  its initial  introduction  in  2014.  He                                                               
remarked that  if the legislation  had been in place  since 2014,                                                               
Alaska might be closer to  the success seen in Mississippi, which                                                               
has significantly narrowed achievement  gaps. He pointed out that                                                               
Mississippi  ranks second  in the  nation  for low-income  fourth                                                               
grade reading  scores on the  National Assessment  of Educational                                                               
Progress (NAEP).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:42:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN joined the meeting.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:42:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN noted  the repeated  references to  NAEP scores  and                                                               
expressed  concern   over  poor   assessment  data   for  certain                                                               
populations   in  public   schools.  She   observed  a   lack  of                                                               
improvement in these numbers during  his five years on the board.                                                               
She  asked  for  his  perspective on  statewide  assessments  and                                                               
questioned why all students are not encouraged to participate.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN replied that he  supports encouraging all students to                                                               
take  statewide   assessments,  emphasizing  the   importance  of                                                               
measuring performance.  He stated that large  statistical samples                                                               
are  beneficial and  expressed agreement  with  the sentiment  of                                                               
broad participation in assessments.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:43:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL referenced  previous  comments about  the cost  of                                                               
school  buildings and  the major  maintenance  backlog. He  asked                                                               
what  proposals the  board has  brought forward  in the  past six                                                               
years   to  address   building   standards   or  reduced   school                                                               
construction costs.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:43:50 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN stated that the  board has discussed the rising costs                                                               
of  school   construction  for  some  time,   with  conversations                                                               
recently becoming  more robust.  He mentioned  that the  board is                                                               
drafting  a  resolution  or  memorandum  to  propose  creating  a                                                               
commission  to   identify  ways  to  redirect   resources  toward                                                               
classroom operations.  He noted  that spending on  K-12 education                                                               
exceeds $22,000  per student for  those in  neighborhood schools,                                                               
equating  to about  $550,000  for  a cohort  of  25 students.  He                                                               
expressed concern that  a significant portion of  this funding is                                                               
not  reaching  classrooms  or directly  benefiting  teachers  and                                                               
students.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:44:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL  expressed appreciation for the  increased focus on                                                               
school  building  costs but  raised  concerns  about reliance  on                                                               
average  figures.  He  asked  Mr. Griffin  to  elaborate  on  his                                                               
understanding  of the  average cost  per student  excluding those                                                               
with an IEP.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN replied [he did not know].                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:45:34 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL  noted an  online reference  to Mr.  Griffin's work                                                               
with  the Alaska  Policy  Forum as  an  education researcher.  He                                                               
asked  him to  elaborate  on  the nature  of  that  role and  its                                                               
responsibilities.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:45:57 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN stated  that he has been a volunteer  with the Alaska                                                               
Policy Forum since its inception  around 2009 and has contributed                                                               
extensively over the years. He  highlighted his ability to travel                                                               
to  education conferences  across  the  United States,  including                                                               
events hosted by  the Foundation for Excellence  in Education and                                                               
the National  Alliance for Public  Charter Schools.  He explained                                                               
that  he  funds   his  own  travel  to   learn  about  successful                                                               
educational practices  and how benchmarking  Alaska's performance                                                               
against  other  places  can   improve  student  outcomes  through                                                               
adopting measures that have proven successful elsewhere.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:47:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   TOBIN  referenced   meeting  minutes   from  the   Family                                                               
Partnership  on  October  10, 2022,  which  noted  Mr.  Griffin's                                                               
attendance  as a  representative of  the Department  of Education                                                               
and Early  Development (DEED). She expressed  curiosity about his                                                               
authorization  as a  spokesperson for  the department.  She asked                                                               
him to  clarify why he attended  the meeting and to  elaborate on                                                               
his  comments regarding  using public  funds  for private  school                                                               
funding, particularly  any discussion  of misuse of  public funds                                                               
for private purposes.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:47:48 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN  stated he did  not recall claiming to  represent the                                                               
Department of  Education and Early  Development (DEED)  and noted                                                               
he is  careful to present his  own opinions in such  contexts. He                                                               
explained  that   the  Family  Partnership  Charter   School  was                                                               
experiencing turmoil with its Academic  Policy Committee (APC) at                                                               
the time. He said he did  not remember the exact circumstances of                                                               
what  was   discussed  but   expressed  consistent   support  for                                                               
correspondence allotment  programs, which serve about  70 percent                                                               
of  Alaska's students.  He emphasized  that parents  choose these                                                               
programs  for various  reasons.  He contrasted  these parents  to                                                               
those that  drop their children  at a bus  stop and pick  them up                                                               
later.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:48:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  responded that her question  focused specifically on                                                               
his participation  in the public  meeting as a  representative of                                                               
the  Department of  Education and  Early Development  (DEED). She                                                               
stated that  she understands the  reasons families  choose public                                                               
charter schools  and correspondence  programs but  sought further                                                               
explanation about his role in the meeting.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN  stated his believe that  he was invited to  speak at                                                               
the meeting by  an APC member. He emphasized that  he was careful                                                               
to clarify he  was expressing his own  opinions, not representing                                                               
DEED  or  the  State  Board   of  Education.  He  noted  that  he                                                               
consistently ensures in both his  writings and public engagements                                                               
that his views  are personal and not on behalf  of the department                                                               
or board.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TOBIN  stated  that  the  public  meeting  minutes  stated                                                               
multiple times that  Mr. Griffin attended as  a representative of                                                               
DEED. She said that as part  of the executive branch he swore and                                                               
oath to  uphold the Alaska  Constitution including art  VII, sec.                                                               
2,  which  governs  the  appropriate  use  of  public  funds  for                                                               
education.  She asked  whether,  in his  private engagements,  he                                                               
advocates for the misuse of public funds.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:49:42 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN replied  he never advocates for the  misuse of public                                                               
funds.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TOBIN  responded that it  is curious that he  had expressed                                                               
support    for   allotments,    which    were   recently    ruled                                                               
unconstitutional by  a superior  court judge. She  commented that                                                               
it is difficult for her to marry his two statements.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:50:10 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  noted Mr. Griffin's previous  opposition to                                                               
increasing education funding and  acknowledged what she perceived                                                               
as his change of heart in  supporting a $680 increase to the Base                                                               
Student  Allocation  (BSA).  She  asked  how  he  envisions  this                                                               
increase impacting Alaska schools  and expressed appreciation for                                                               
his shift in perspective.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GRIFFIN stated  that per-student  spending in  state formula                                                               
funding increased  by approximately  91 percent between  2003 and                                                               
2023, compared  to an inflation  rate of 60.3 percent  during the                                                               
same  period.  He  acknowledged that  more  recent  spending  has                                                               
remained relatively flat. He expressed  that he is not opposed to                                                               
the current proposal of a $680 increase in the BSA.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:51:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL noted that his  office has requested charter school                                                               
waitlists from the Department of  Education and Early Development                                                               
(DEED) multiple  times but  has not received  them. He  asked how                                                               
many  unique  Alaska children  are  currently  on charter  school                                                               
waitlists.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN replied  that the most recent number  he recalled was                                                               
approximately  800  children  on  charter  school  waitlists.  He                                                               
stated  the  waitlists  were  longer   but  thinks  that  parents                                                               
frustrated by  waiting enrolled  their children  in micro-schools                                                               
or learning  pods. He  argued that  any number  of children  on a                                                               
waiting list demonstrates a market demand that exceeds supply.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:52:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS stated  that he is confused  about the difference                                                               
between direct  and indirect contributions to  public and private                                                               
schools. He asked for an explanation of the distinction.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN said in the case  of charter allotment programs a lot                                                               
of indirect  money goes to  content providers and  contract work.                                                               
He said he doesn't really  find a distinction between private and                                                               
public  sector content  providers when  there  are not  a lot  of                                                               
public sector  providers offering  the materials used  to educate                                                               
charter school  kids. He  said the  underlying principle  is that                                                               
very  good  outcomes are  occurring  at  a reasonable  price.  He                                                               
opined if  correspondence allotment program students  all entered                                                               
brick and mortar  programs it would trigger  $190 million dollars                                                               
a year in formula funding.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:54:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BJORKMAN  asked  if  Mr. Griffin  now  supports  a  $680                                                               
increase to the BSA.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN  confirmed his support  for the $680 increase  to the                                                               
BSA and stated  that he does not recall opposing  it in the past.                                                               
He noted that  K-12 education funding has been  generous over the                                                               
last 20 years  but has remained relatively flat  in recent years.                                                               
He added that  the $680 figure seems to be  the consensus, and he                                                               
does not disagree with it.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:54:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BJORKMAN asked  whether Mr.  Griffin lobbied  members of                                                               
the legislature regarding the veto override vote for SB 140.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN  acknowledged lobbying members of  the legislature to                                                               
override the veto  for SB 140. He stated that  he agreed with the                                                               
governor's  assessment   that  the  package   lacked  significant                                                               
reforms.  He added  that  the current  proposal in  HB  392 is  a                                                               
minimal request for essentially the same objectives.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:55:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   BJORKMAN  asked   Mr.  Griffin   to  clarify   what  he                                                               
specifically urged members to do regarding the veto.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN clarified that he  urged members to sustain the veto,                                                               
agreeing with  the governor's  position that  increasing spending                                                               
without  meaningful  reforms  has  been a  persistent  issue.  He                                                               
emphasized  the importance  of  incorporating  reforms that  have                                                               
proven  successful in  states like  Florida  and Mississippi.  He                                                               
highlighted  a  significant  issue  in  Alaska's  charter  school                                                               
program:  the lack  of secondary  authorizers. He  explained that                                                               
without   secondary   authorizers,   charter  schools   face   an                                                               
asymmetric power  dynamic when negotiating charter  contracts, as                                                               
Alaska  is one  of only  five states  where this  authority rests                                                               
solely with local school districts.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:56:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BJORKMAN  said  he understands.  He  asked  whether  the                                                               
slides and information  Mr. Griffin presented as a  member of the                                                               
State  Board of  Education at  last year's  joint meeting  of the                                                               
Senate Education  and House Education Committees  had been vetted                                                               
or  approved, noting  that the  materials included  numerous DEED                                                               
logos.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:57:41 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN stated  that he assumes the slides  were approved, as                                                               
he submitted them to the board, and they were forwarded.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BJORKMAN  replied he  was clarifying  the vetting  of the                                                               
slides because  of Mr. Griffin's recounting  of earlier testimony                                                               
regarding  his official  role on  the State  Board of  Education.                                                               
Following the  joint hearing, he  raised concerns with  the chair                                                               
of the board,  stating his belief that  the information presented                                                               
by Mr.  Griffin appeared  to be  of his own  work and  making. He                                                               
said the  chair of the  board agreed, validating the  concern. He                                                               
expressed continued concern about  blurring the line between DEED                                                               
and State  Board of Education  approval when  sharing information                                                               
in public settings.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:58:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL  said that in the  last couple of years,  the State                                                               
Board  of  Education  has  written  regulations  in  areas  where                                                               
legislation  was  before  the legislature.  He  stated  that,  in                                                               
general, the legislature writes  laws, while boards or regulatory                                                               
bodies  implement  them  or  make them  specific.  He  asked  Mr.                                                               
Griffin for  his philosophy  on the  board's appropriate  use and                                                               
limits  of  power  when  legislators   or  the  governor  believe                                                               
statutory changes are necessary.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GRIFFIN  responded  that  if   he  understood  the  question                                                               
correctly, it pertained  to the limits of what the  board can do.                                                               
He  stated  his  understanding  that the  board  can  only  write                                                               
regulations based  on statute and  does not have any  role beyond                                                               
that.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KIEHL  asked  whether,  he   would  say  the  board  has                                                               
appropriately limited  itself to  its statutory  authority, given                                                               
some of the actions taken by  the board through regulation in the                                                               
last  year  or  two,  particularly  in  areas  where  legislators                                                               
believe statutory changes are necessary.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:00:19 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. GRIFFIN replied yes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:00:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN expressed appreciation  for Mr. Griffin's willingness                                                               
to serve another  term on the State Board  of Education. However,                                                               
she   stated   that  she   has   deep   reservations  about   his                                                               
reappointment. She  raised concerns  about his  lobbying efforts,                                                               
which she  believes may verge  on violating the  Executive Branch                                                               
Ethics Act  and criticized his  statements about the  adequacy of                                                               
the  foundation formula.  She referenced  the  dismay of  Florida                                                               
researchers  at  his  misuse  of their  data  stating  they  have                                                               
decided  to exclude  Alaska from  future  studies. She  expressed                                                               
confusion over  his continued propagation  of what  she considers                                                               
misinformation  and noted  that  during his  tenure, millions  of                                                               
public  dollars have  gone into  private  hands. She  highlighted                                                               
research  indicating  parents  are  opting  out  of  neighborhood                                                               
schools due to non-competitive teacher  salaries, lack of defined                                                               
benefits, and cuts to arts, science, and PE programs.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:02:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN said she will  share her reservations with colleagues                                                               
because she wants  board members who care about  and advocate for                                                               
public schools.  She expressed concern that  Mr. Griffin believes                                                               
decisions should be  made by the State Board  of Education rather                                                               
than at the  local level and questioned his push  to change local                                                               
control,  especially when  Alaska has  some of  the best  charter                                                               
schools in  the nation. She  encouraged him to  continue engaging                                                               
with others during  the reappointment process but  said she would                                                               
not vote for his reconfirmation.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:02:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  opened public  testimony on  the appointment  of Mr.                                                               
Griffin to the State Board of Education and Early Development.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:02:58 PM                                                                                                                    
RAY  KREIG, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support  of governor  appointee and  read his  following prepared                                                               
testimony:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Bob  Griffin  has  been   a  tireless  and  outstanding                                                                    
     advocate  for improving  K-12  education  in Alaska.  I                                                                    
     strongly support  his confirmation for another  term on                                                                    
     the State  Board of Education.  The kind of  reforms we                                                                    
     need  in Alaska  are those  recognized in  the June  1,                                                                    
     2023   NY  Times   editorial   page  column   attached,                                                                    
     "Mississippi  is   Offering  Lessons  for   America  on                                                                    
     Education"  by Nicholas  Kristoff.  Quote "The  refrain                                                                    
     across much  of the Deep  South for decades  was "Thank                                                                    
     God for  Mississippi". End quote. That's  because other                                                                    
     southern states  believed that no matter  how bad their                                                                    
     education systems were, Mississippi  would always be at                                                                    
     the bottom.  Part of  my youth  was spent  in Arkansas,                                                                    
     and I can attest that  was said! Mississippi decided to                                                                    
     take  control of  its educational  system. In  the last                                                                    
     ten years, all its energy  has been placed into getting                                                                    
     all children to read at the  3rd grade level by the end                                                                    
     of 3rd  grade. Results?  On the NAEP  test, Mississippi                                                                    
     is soaring in national  rankings  Was this accomplished                                                                    
     by lower  classroom sizes?  By social  promotion? After                                                                    
     all,  Mississippi had  a lot  to overcome.  Mississippi                                                                    
     ranks dead last in child  poverty and second highest in                                                                    
     teen births. It  was near the bottom of  the NAEP tests                                                                    
     too.  No.  It  placed   its  energy  into  getting  all                                                                    
     children  to  read.   Now  among  low-income  students,                                                                    
     Mississippi 4th  graders are tied  for best  in reading                                                                    
     and rank second in math!                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Bob  Griffin is  an  expert on  exactly these  reforms.                                                                    
     I've  known Bob  for  14  years and  he  is an  Alaskan                                                                    
     treasure and patriot. Losing  his experience and wisdom                                                                    
     would  be a  disaster for  education progress  and must                                                                    
     not happen. Because education is  critical, this is one                                                                    
     of  the most  important votes  in the  legislature this                                                                    
     session and  a spotlight  will be on  each vote  for or                                                                    
     against  Bob. We  can't continue  to turn  out students                                                                    
     that  can't  adequately read  or  do  math. This  is  a                                                                    
     continuing  human   rights  abuse!  I  hope   that  the                                                                    
     Committee can  consider what Mississippi has  been able                                                                    
     to do  and keep Bob  Griffin on  the State Board  so we                                                                    
     can achieve  results like this  in Alaska. I  thank you                                                                    
     for your careful consideration and attention.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:05:44 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID BOYLE,  representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support of governor appointee Mr.  Griffin. He stated he has been                                                               
acquainted  with him  for nearly  20 years  as a  fellow veteran,                                                               
describing him  as a man of  integrity. He said Mr.  Griffin is a                                                               
top-notch   K-12  education   researcher   who  prioritizes   the                                                               
interests  of all  children.  He noted  that  Mr. Griffin  shares                                                               
data, not opinions  or anecdotes, earning him  the nickname "Data                                                               
Man."  He  commended  his  contributions   to  the  State  Board,                                                               
including  providing   comparative  research  on   Alaska's  K-12                                                               
performance relative  to all  other states  and credited  him for                                                               
leading efforts  to improve reading proficiency  through research                                                               
on the science  of reading, which culminated in  the Alaska Reads                                                               
Act.  He addressed  criticisms that  Mr.  Griffin opposes  public                                                               
education,  asserting  they  are  unfounded. He  lauded  him  for                                                               
identifying  wasteful spending  to prioritize  classroom learning                                                               
and   for   bringing   a  data-driven   perspective   to   policy                                                               
discussions.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:08:23 PM                                                                                                                    
LAURA BONNER, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition of governor appointee  Mr. Griffin. She criticized the                                                               
State Board of  Education for failing to steer  the Department of                                                               
Education  and   Early  Development  (DEED)   towards  measurable                                                               
improvements  or  adequate  district  oversight.  She  cited  the                                                               
board's lack  of oversight and fiscal  responsibility to maintain                                                               
equity  requirements  to comply  with  the  American Rescue  Plan                                                               
funds  paid to  the state  in  2022 and  2023, despite  districts                                                               
needing  the  funds.  She  expressed  concern  about  his  resume                                                               
submitted  to the  House hearing,  which  omitted his  role as  a                                                               
Senior  Education Research  Fellow  and member  of  the Board  of                                                               
Directors  for the  Alaska Policy  Forum, a  private organization                                                               
advocating  for vouchers  and other  methods  to redirect  public                                                               
education funds to private and  religious schools. She referenced                                                               
a  2014  article  he  wrote  for  the  forum,  where  he  stated,                                                               
"Alaska's public  schools are not  underfunded. They are  not run                                                               
efficiently  because  they are  a  monopoly."  She also  cited  a                                                               
February  2023 article  where he  wrote, "Alaska  schools do  not                                                               
need  an increase  in  funding." In  another  article he  stated,                                                               
"Alaska does not have a K-12  funding program; we have a resource                                                               
allocation  program."  She  pointed   out  discrepancies  in  Mr.                                                               
Griffin's  statements, noting  that  during  the House  committee                                                               
hearing, he claimed  to support local control  of charter schools                                                               
by locally elected school boards  while also supporting the State                                                               
Board's authorization  of schools.  She emphasized that  while he                                                               
is  entitled to  his opinions,  the Alaska  Constitution mandates                                                               
the maintenance of a public school system open to all children.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:11:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CAROLINE  STORM,  Executive  Director,  Coalition  for  Education                                                               
Equity, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  in opposition  of governor                                                               
appointee.  She expressed  agreement with  Chair Tobin's  earlier                                                               
reservations about  Mr. Griffin's reconfirmation. She  noted that                                                               
while  serving  on the  board  of  the  Alaska Policy  Forum,  he                                                               
consistently  advocated  for vouchers,  a  stance  she argued  is                                                               
counter  to  the Alaska  Constitution.  She  also criticized  his                                                               
reliance  on the  Rutgers study,  highlighting  that its  authors                                                               
have stated  they will  exclude Alaska in  future studies  due to                                                               
inaccuracies  in  the data.  She  expressed  perplexity over  his                                                               
comments  on  the  high  costs of  school  construction  and  his                                                               
suggestion  to  limit  capital  investments  in  public  schools.                                                               
Drawing  from   her  prior  experience   as  an   architect,  she                                                               
emphasized  that   remote  construction   costs  in   Alaska  are                                                               
inherently   high   and   unavoidable.  She   stressed   Alaska's                                                               
constitutional  and  legal  obligations  under  Molly  Hootch  to                                                               
provide public education facilities  in every village, advocating                                                               
for full  support of these  efforts. She also addressed  the push                                                               
for  correspondence   schools,  referencing   a  superintendent's                                                               
observation that  a key  lesson from  COVID-19 was  that children                                                               
need to be in classrooms with their peers.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:13:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  closed public  testimony on  the appointment  of Mr.                                                               
Griffin to the State Board of Education and Early Development.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:13:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:13:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS stated that in  accordance with AS 39.05.080, the                                                               
Senate Education  Standing Committee  reviewed the  following and                                                               
recommends the appointments  be forwarded to a  joint session for                                                               
consideration:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Board of Education and Early Development                                                                                    
Bob Griffin - Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS  reminded  members that  signing  the  report(s)                                                               
regarding  appointments  to  boards  and commissions  in  no  way                                                               
reflects  individual  members'  approval or  disapproval  of  the                                                               
appointees;  the nominations  are  merely forwarded  to the  full                                                               
legislature for confirmation or rejection.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:14:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  stated Mr.  Griffin's name would  be forwarded  to a                                                               
joint session of the Alaska Legislature.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        SB 266-CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROG; STUDENT ACCTS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:14:23 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."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:14:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN explained  that SB 266 was drafted in  response to an                                                               
Alaska  Superior  Court  decision,  issued  two  weeks  ago.  The                                                               
decision found  that two sections  of state law  regarding Public                                                               
Correspondence  Programsspecifically   related to  Individualized                                                               
Education Plans (IEPs)  and allotmentsunconstitutional.  She said                                                               
that to ensure these programs  remain available to correspondence                                                               
families, the Alaska  legislature acted quickly to  draft SB 266.                                                               
She highlighted the following key components of SB 266:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
   • SB 266 reinstates statewide assessments for all public-                                                                    
     school   students.   Parents   will   receive   a   two-week                                                               
     notification  of testing  dates,  and  students observing  a                                                               
     religious  holiday may  opt  out.  Accommodations under  the                                                               
     Individuals   with   Disabilities   Education   Act   remain                                                               
     unaffected. This  provision addresses a conflict  with House                                                               
     Bill  146  (2016),  which  allowed parents  to  opt  out  of                                                               
     statewide assessments.  She noted that this  violates a 2007                                                               
     Superior Court  ruling that  requires the  state to  have an                                                               
     adequate  method of  assessing whether  students meet  state                                                               
     standards.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
   • SB 266 reinstates the 2008 Department of Education and                                                                     
     Early Development  (DEED) correspondence  program regulatory                                                               
     package, originally enacted  under the Palin administration.                                                               
     This  package  best  aligns with  requirements  in  Alaska's                                                               
     Constitution. It  allows DEED or local  districts to provide                                                               
     correspondence programs  and student fund  accounts (renamed                                                               
     from  allotments),  designed   for  individualized  academic                                                               
     instruction.  The State  Board of  Education is  required to                                                               
     establish regulations for student  fund accounts, which must                                                               
     comply  with SB  266  prohibitions against  using funds  for                                                               
     partisan, sectarian, or denominational materials.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
   • Unspent student fund account balances must be returned at                                                                  
     the  end of  each year,  with detailed  annual reporting  on                                                               
     expenditures.   These  stipulations   align  with   existing                                                               
     requirements for brick-and-mortar schools.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
   • SB    266    strengthens    reporting    requirements    for                                                               
     correspondence  programs.  DEED  must annually  provide  the                                                               
     legislature with data  on student demographics, expenditures                                                               
     from   student    fund   accounts,    statewide   assessment                                                               
     performance, and administrative costs.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TOBIN concluded that the SB 266 aims to prevent recurrence                                                                
of the legal issues addressed in the court's decision.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:18:03 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHAEL   MASON,  Staff,   Senator  Löki   Tobin,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  said  the  goal of  SB  266 is  to                                                               
provide  clear  guidance  and   guardrails  for  Alaska's  public                                                               
correspondence programs. He delivered  the sectional analysis for                                                               
SB 266:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
         Senate Bill 266  Correspondence Study Programs                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
                 Version B  Sectional Analysis                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section  1     Amends  AS 14.03.016  by  repealing  the                                                                    
     blanket withdrawal provisions  of statewide assessments                                                                    
     for students in K-12.  The statutory requirement for at                                                                    
     least  two-week notification  of statewide  assessments                                                                    
     remains unchanged.  Parents may still  withdrawal their                                                                    
     public-school   participating   child  from   statewide                                                                    
     assessments  when  testing   dates  fall  on  religious                                                                    
     holidays.  Accommodations for  students covered  by the                                                                    
     Individuals with  Disabilities Education Act,  who have                                                                    
     a 504 or Transition  Impairment Plan, or are identified                                                                    
     as English Learners are not affected by this repeal.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2    Adds  a new  subsection  to AS  14.03.300                                                                    
     requiring  the  Alaska  Department of  Education  or  a                                                                    
     local  school  district   report  annually  on  student                                                                    
     participation  in their  correspondence study  program.                                                                    
     The  report   must  include   demographic  information,                                                                    
     expenditures   made   by   a  student   fund   account,                                                                    
     appropriately  aggregated  performance on  a  statewide                                                                    
     assessment,  and administrative  costs associated  with                                                                    
     operation of the correspondence study program.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3    Repeals  and  reenacts  AS 14.03.310  and                                                                    
     reinstates  components of  a 2008  correspondence study                                                                    
     program  regulatory package  promulgated by  the Alaska                                                                    
     Department  of Education  and Early  Development. Under                                                                    
     AS  14.03.310,   the  department  or  a   local  school                                                                    
     district  may  provide  a correspondent  study  program                                                                    
     enrollee  a  fund  account  to   meet  the  purpose  of                                                                    
     providing  individualized   academic  instruction.  The                                                                    
     department  or a  local school  district is  prohibited                                                                    
     from  supplanting federally  required  services with  a                                                                    
     student fund  account. AS  14.03.310 directs  the State                                                                    
     Board  of  Education  and Early  Development  to  adopt                                                                    
     regulations   pertaining   to  student   fund   account                                                                    
     expenditures    and     outlines    stipulations    for                                                                    
     regulations.  The 2  regulations  must  comply with  AS                                                                    
     14.03.090,  which prohibits  educators or  schools from                                                                    
     advocating for  partisan, sectarian,  or denominational                                                                    
     doctrines  and   AS  14.18.060,  which   prohibits  the                                                                    
     selection of textbook  and instructional materials that                                                                    
     are  biased  toward  one  sex.  Regulations  propagated                                                                    
     under   this   section   also  must   meet   additional                                                                    
     requirements  outlined under  new sections  (e) through                                                                    
     (g) of AS 14.03.310. The  new AS 14.03.310 also directs                                                                    
     the  department  or  local public  school  district  to                                                                    
     return  the  unexpended  student fund  balance  to  the                                                                    
     budget  of the  department  or  district including  any                                                                    
     funds  that remain  when a  student  disenrolls from  a                                                                    
     correspondence study program.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:21:12 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. MASON continued the sectional analysis of SB 266:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4   Amends  AS 14.07.168 to include information                                                                    
     collected  under the  new subsection  established under                                                                    
     AS  14.03.300 in  the annual  report  submitted by  the                                                                    
     State Board  of Education and Early  Development to the                                                                    
     Alaska State Legislature.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5    Amends AS  14.07.158, sec. 23, ch.  40 SLA                                                                    
     2022, which repeals AS 14.07.168  (4) on June 30, 2034,                                                                    
     to include in the annual  report provided to the Alaska                                                                    
     Legislature by the Alaska Board  of Education and Early                                                                    
     Development that  includes the  information established                                                                    
     under   the  new   subsection   established  under   AS                                                                    
     14.03.300. Section  4 and 5  relate to the  2034 repeal                                                                    
     of the  Alaska Reads Act, ensuring  continued reporting                                                                    
     of the information collected under AS 14.03.300.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6  Repeals AS 14.03.300 (b).                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section  7    Stipulates  that Section  5  of this  Act                                                                    
     takes effect on the effective  date of sec. 23, ch. 40,                                                                    
     SLA 2022.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
      Section 8  Sets an immediate effective date for the                                                                       
     Act, except for Section 7.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:24:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN asked for a review of the fiscal note for SB 266.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:24:42 PM                                                                                                                    
DEBORAH RIDDLE,  Operations Manager,  Division of  Innovation and                                                               
Education   Excellence,  Department   of   Education  and   Early                                                               
Development (DEED), Juneau,  Alaska, said the fiscal  note for SB
266, from the Department of  Education and Early Development, OMB                                                               
component 2796, dated  April 26, 2024, is  a one-time expenditure                                                               
of $6,000 for the development  of regulations with the Department                                                               
of Law.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:25:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL shared  that when he and his  wife homeschooled one                                                               
of  their   children,  program  funding  partially   assisted  in                                                               
purchasing a  computer for schoolwork.  He noted  the prohibition                                                               
on  items  purchased  with   homeschool  support  funds  becoming                                                               
personal  property and  asked whether,  under the  current rules,                                                               
his daughter  could have retained  the computer she used  for six                                                               
years.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:26:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  asked him to  clarify if  he meant in  perpetuity or                                                               
for the full six years.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KIEHL  replied that  he meant in  perpetuity. He  said he                                                               
recalled  language  in  SB   266  prohibiting  keeping  textbooks                                                               
indefinitely and attaching items to a home.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:26:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  stated her belief  that currently in  regulation the                                                               
value of the computer would  be depreciated over time and parents                                                               
may  have the  option to  purchase  the item  at the  depreciated                                                               
value.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:27:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL asked  about the  boundaries for  purchasing items                                                               
like  curriculum and  noted that  defining what  qualifies as  an                                                               
educational   institution  will   likely   be   central  to   the                                                               
committee's  considerations.  He  used McGraw  Hill,  a  textbook                                                               
publisher, as an  example, suggesting it presumably  would not be                                                               
considered an educational institution.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:27:46 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. MASON  stated his  understanding that  textbooks would  be an                                                               
authorized expense  under SB 266,  provided they are  approved by                                                               
the  correspondence program.  He  clarified that  if McGraw  Hill                                                               
produced textbooks  approved by the program,  those would qualify                                                               
as an allowable expense.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:28:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  referred to  SB 266, page  three, lines  3-13, which                                                               
directs  the  State  Board  of  Education  to  adopt  regulations                                                               
requiring the  department and  districts to  approve expenditures                                                               
for  correspondence  study  programs. She  explained  that  these                                                               
regulations  would  define  allowable expenses  and  be  outlined                                                               
through the regulation process.  Additionally, she highlighted SB
266,   page   four,   lines    24-25,   which   provides   school                                                               
administrators   with  some   flexibility  to   approve  specific                                                               
expenditures if  they align with a  student's Individual Learning                                                               
Plan.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:29:29 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KIEHL  noted prohibitions in  SB 266 on  purchasing items                                                               
like  clothing  and PE  equipment.  He  explained that  while  an                                                               
allotment could  be used for part  of the cost of  a computer, it                                                               
could not  be used  to purchase  a bicycle  for PE.  He mentioned                                                               
receiving  questions  via email  about  using  allotments for  PE                                                               
classes or instruction,  such as a dance class or  ski lesson, to                                                               
fulfill   a  physical   education  requirement.   He  asked   for                                                               
clarification on the restrictions for such expenditures.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:30:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN  referred to SB  266, pages 4-5, lines  26-2, which                                                               
provide guidance  on allowable  expenditures. She  explained that                                                               
the  2008 regulations,  chosen over  the 2005  version, are  more                                                               
permissive and  allow students  using a  student fund  account to                                                               
contract  with  private  individuals  for  tutoring,  fine  arts,                                                               
music, and  physical education as  part of their  learning plans.                                                               
She clarified that  for other subjects, such as  advanced math or                                                               
geophysics,    a   certificated    teacher   employed    by   the                                                               
correspondence  program  and  qualified   in  those  subjects  is                                                               
required. However,  private individuals may provide  services for                                                               
fine arts, music, and physical education.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:32:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 266.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:32:18 PM                                                                                                                    
LARAE SMITH,  representing self, Houston, Alaska,  testified with                                                               
concerns  on SB  266. She  said  she is  a graduate  of the  IDEA                                                               
correspondence program and a private  music teacher. She said she                                                               
was confused  over vague language  in SB 266  regarding tutoring,                                                               
specifically the prohibition on  private or religious educational                                                               
institutions, and questioned what  qualifies as an "institution."                                                               
She also sought clarification on  restrictions in SB 266, Section                                                               
3(b)  regarding student  fund accounts  and Individual  Education                                                               
Program (IEP)  services, worried it might  exclude music lessons.                                                               
Additionally, she  opposed the prohibition  in SB 266  on funding                                                               
for  field   trips  and  memberships,  arguing   that  homeschool                                                               
students  should have  the  same  opportunities as  public-school                                                               
students.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:34:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN clarified that the  language on supplanting in SB 266                                                               
prohibits  using district  funds to  replace federally  obligated                                                               
funding required  for a  student's Individualized  Education Plan                                                               
(IEP) under  the federal Individuals with  Disabilities Education                                                               
Act.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:35:05 PM                                                                                                                    
MAUREEN CRUMLEY, representing  self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition to SB 266. She  stated that parents should have the                                                               
ability  to  use  funding  for   tutors  in  all  core  subjects,                                                               
equipment for physical education,  and services from religious or                                                               
private educational institutions to  best educate their children.                                                               
She  stated that  her community  has  excellent opportunities  in                                                               
these  areas, which  should be  accessible to  all families.  She                                                               
argued that  the changes proposed  in SB 266 appear  to undermine                                                               
the current correspondence  school program, potentially affecting                                                               
over  22,000 students.  She concluded  by asserting  that SB  266                                                               
limits Alaska parents' ability to  provide the best education for                                                               
their children.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:36:35 PM                                                                                                                    
AMANDA WRAITH,  representing self, Wasilla, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266. She  expressed her commitment  to ensuring                                                               
all  Alaskan  children  receive an  education  that  meets  their                                                               
unique needs and develops their  individual gifts. She shared her                                                               
recent   experiences  supporting   IDEA   students  at   national                                                               
competitions,  highlighting the  valuable opportunities  provided                                                               
by  the  correspondence  program.  She emphasized  the  need  for                                                               
equitable  funding, asserting  that public  funding available  to                                                               
public  schools  should  also  be  available  for  correspondence                                                               
programs.  She   criticized  SB  266  for   limiting  educational                                                               
opportunities for students  and described it as  a harmful threat                                                               
to parents' rights and Alaska's education system.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:39:09 PM                                                                                                                    
STACEY LANGE, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266  arguing that  it violates  her fundamental                                                               
right  as  a   parent  to  direct  her   child's  upbringing  and                                                               
education.  She  emphasized  the  importance  of  school  choice,                                                               
stating that parents, not bureaucrats,  are best suited to decide                                                               
what educational  path is  best for  their children.  Citing poor                                                               
educational  outcomes  in  the   Anchorage  School  District  and                                                               
Alaska's low  national rankings,  she argued  that SB  266, along                                                               
with recent  correspondence school regulations,  appears designed                                                               
to force families  back into public schools.  She referenced U.S.                                                               
Supreme  Court rulings,  including Pierce  v. Society  of Sisters                                                               
(1925),  Espinosa v.  Montana Department  of Revenue  (2020), and                                                               
Carson v. Makin (2022), which  affirmed parents' rights to choose                                                               
religious schools under school  choice programs without violating                                                               
the Free  Exercise Clause  of the First  Amendment of  the United                                                               
States. She asserted  that SB 266 violates this  clause and urged                                                               
its rejection.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:41:31 PM                                                                                                                    
KATHERINE   GARDNER,   Deputy    Superintendent,   Business   and                                                               
Operations,  Matsu  Borough   School  District,  Palmer,  Alaska,                                                               
testified  on SB  266. She  thanked the  committee for  reviewing                                                               
correspondence programs  and allotments,  noting that  16 percent                                                               
of  Mat-Su   School  District   students  participate   in  these                                                               
programs.  She   shared  that  Mat-Su   Central  School   is  the                                                               
district's  largest  school  and   will  move  into  a  permanent                                                               
facility  next year.  She  expressed  support for  correspondence                                                               
families and  appreciation to the Senate  Education Committee for                                                               
addressing this  topic. She  added that  the Mat-Su  School Board                                                               
will review the legislation and provide feedback in the future.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:43:09 PM                                                                                                                    
STARLA HALBROOK, representing  self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified                                                               
in  opposition  to SB  266  highlighting  the value  of  Alaska's                                                               
current  homeschool laws,  which  she described  as generous  and                                                               
supportive  of hands-on  learning  experiences  that benefit  her                                                               
children's education  and health. She expressed  concern over the                                                               
potential  elimination of  the rollover  of unused  funds, noting                                                               
that  many  families rely  on  these  for high  school  education                                                               
expenses.  She  suggested  increasing  funding  for  high  school                                                               
students to  ensure adequate resources  for graduation.  She also                                                               
appealed  to  the  Senate to  keep  mandatory  testing  optional,                                                               
emphasizing  the   role  of   advisory  teachers   in  supporting                                                               
families.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:45:41 PM                                                                                                                    
JOEL  HALBROOK, representing  self, Fairbanks,  Alaska, testified                                                               
with concerns  on SB 266. He  stated that the allotment  has made                                                               
schooling  enjoyable and  beneficial  for his  family. He  shared                                                               
that it helps  with purchasing resources like  Legos for learning                                                               
robotics and  science, as well  as canvases and art  supplies for                                                               
art and  writing. He  highlighted the ability  to pay  small fees                                                               
for IDEA  clubs and access  educational opportunities  at museums                                                               
and zoos to learn about history, geology, and biology.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:46:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SARAH  GROVER, representing  self,  Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified                                                               
with  concerns  on  SB  266. She  emphasized  the  importance  of                                                               
maintaining the current funding  structure and increasing funding                                                               
for   high   school   students  to   expand   their   educational                                                               
opportunities. She noted  the value of allowing  access to tutors                                                               
and  private  education  for  subjects  where  parents  may  lack                                                               
expertise. She thanked the committee for supporting the program.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:47:13 PM                                                                                                                    
ERICKA  BEERY, representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to SB 266 arguing  that allotments are already subject                                                               
to strict  oversight, including receipts and  Individual Learning                                                               
Plan  (ILP)   alignment,  and  cannot   be  used   for  religious                                                               
materials. She described SB 266  as restrictive, likening it to a                                                               
vice   pushing   children   back   into   neighborhood   schools,                                                               
particularly by  removing the option  to opt out  of standardized                                                               
tests, which  she said yield  delayed and unhelpful  results. She                                                               
criticized  SB  266  for restricting  allotments  for  PE-related                                                               
expenses  despite rising  childhood obesity  and diabetes  rates.                                                               
She also  opposed the prohibition on  allotments covering parents                                                               
accompanying  students  to   museums,  noting  that  neighborhood                                                               
schoolteachers are  not required  to pay for  field trips  out of                                                               
pocket. She  questioned who  SB 266  benefits, asserting  that it                                                               
does not serve the best interests of children.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:49:58 PM                                                                                                                    
HOWARD  BEERY, representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 266.  He stated that  the lawsuit  prompting SB
266 arose from a single  correspondence school misusing funds for                                                               
religious    education,   emphasizing    that   this    was   not                                                               
representative of all correspondence  schools. He argued that one                                                               
incident should  not lead  to overhauling  the entire  system. He                                                               
also opposed the  prohibition on rolling over  funds, noting that                                                               
saving  for  costly  endeavors  like  a  pilot's  license,  which                                                               
supports trades  needed in Alaska,  would no longer  be possible.                                                               
He questioned  whether the  National Education  Association (NEA)                                                               
had  any  role  in  drafting  SB 266  and  urged  legislators  to                                                               
prioritize students over organizations like the NEA.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:51:18 PM                                                                                                                    
LON GARRISON,  Executive Director,  Association of  Alaska School                                                               
Boards,  Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  on  SB  266.  He  expressed                                                               
support  for  SB   266  as  a  starting  point   to  address  the                                                               
constitutional violation  identified by  a superior  court judge,                                                               
ensuring  that  correspondence  programs can  continue  operating                                                               
within legal boundaries.  He acknowledged that SB  266 would make                                                               
some changes to how correspondence  programs are administered but                                                               
emphasized   ASB's  strong   support   for   these  schools.   He                                                               
highlighted  the 85-year  history of  correspondence programs  in                                                               
Alaska, dating  back to 1936,  and their importance  in providing                                                               
educational options in  a geographically vast state.  He said the                                                               
ASB  looks  forward  to  working  on SB  266  to  support  public                                                               
education options like correspondence programs.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:53:46 PM                                                                                                                    
EMILY  FERRY, representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of SB  266 emphasizing the need  for homeschool families,                                                               
neighborhood schools,  charter schools, teachers,  and principals                                                               
to  have support  and certainty.  She stated  that resolving  the                                                               
issues identified  in the Superior  Court decision  quickly would                                                               
provide  stability   and  allow   focus  to  return   to  broader                                                               
challenges, such  as underfunding and  lack of investment  in the                                                               
education  system. She  noted that  her  family values  religious                                                               
education  and skiing,  which they  personally  fund, and  argued                                                               
that it is  reasonable to treat homeschool  families equitably in                                                               
similar situations.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:55:08 PM                                                                                                                    
MADELINE RANCH,  representing self, Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition  to SB  266.  She expressed  concern  as a  homeschool                                                               
student about  the potential  impact of SB  266 on  students like                                                               
her who rely on  correspondence programs to advance academically.                                                               
She shared her efforts to get  ahead in her studies by completing                                                               
geometry  over  the summer  and  emphasized  that many  students,                                                               
including   those    struggling   academically,    benefit   from                                                               
opportunities to improve through  extra effort. She described her                                                               
family's  financial  challenges,   including  limited  access  to                                                               
technology,  such  as  a computer,  and  stated  that  purchasing                                                               
necessary tools  would be a  significant burden. She  shared that                                                               
her sister,  after facing personal challenges,  might need access                                                               
to homeschooling  in the future,  which SB 266 could  hinder. She                                                               
concluded  that SB  266 would  negatively affect  her and  others                                                               
seeking a proper education.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:57:45 PM                                                                                                                    
KIMBERLY  BERGEY, Program  Director, Raven  Homeschool, testified                                                               
with concerns  on SB 266. She  stated that although she  is based                                                               
in the  Palmer-Wasilla area, she supervises  the Raven Homeschool                                                               
program statewide.  She emphasized the need  to consider Alaska's                                                               
vast geography and dispersed families  when reviewing SB 266. She                                                               
urged  the  committee to  avoid  creating  equity issues  between                                                               
urban and  rural areas, highlighting that  many rural communities                                                               
lack access  to physical  education facilities  and must  rely on                                                               
purchasing PE equipment for their  children. She also pointed out                                                               
that  some language  in SB  266,  such as  the term  "educational                                                               
institution,"   needs   clarification    to   ensure   consistent                                                               
interpretation.  She cited  past  state  purchases from  entities                                                               
like North Dakota  and Calvert Education and  questioned how such                                                               
providers fit the definitions in SB 266.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:00:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN left public testimony open on SB 266.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:00:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 266 in committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:01:01 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Tobin adjourned  the Senate  Education Standing  Committee                                                               
meeting at 5:01 p.m.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Bob Griffin resume 04.24.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
Education
Bob Griffin - Confirmation Testimony - Received as of 04.30.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
Education
Bob Griffin Supporting Document - Handout 1 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
Education
Bob Griffin Supporting Document - 2022 NAEP and 2023 AK Star Bar Charts 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
Education
SB 266 Version B 04.26.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Sponsor Statement 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Version B Sectional Analysis 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 04.26.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Testimony Part 1 - Received as of 04.29.2029.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Testimony Part 2 - Received as of 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - April 12 Superior Court Ruling 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - Legal Services Memo Requested by Sen. Tobin 04.24.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - 2005 Alaska Correspondence Program Regulations 04.20.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - 2008 Alaska Correspondence Program Regulations 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - 2016 Alaska Correspondence Program Regulations 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - NAEP 2022 Math Grade 4 Snapshot 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - NAEP 2022 Reading Grade 4 Snapshot 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - NAEP 2022 Math Grade 8 Snapshot 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - NAEP 2022 Reading Grade 8 Snapshot 04.29.2024.pdf SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 266
SB 266 Supporting Document - 2023 Alaska Assessment Policy and Test Security Handbook 04.29.2024.PDF SEDC 4/29/2024 3:30:00 PM
Education
SB1237