Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/12/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB180 | |
| HB190 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 12, 2013
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 180
"An Act relating to the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 180 OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 190(EDC)
"An Act providing for course credit in secondary school based on
demonstrated mastery of the subject."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 180
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) T.WILSON
03/20/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/20/13 (H) MLV
03/26/13 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/26/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/26/13 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/27/13 (H) MLV RPT 7DP
03/27/13 (H) DP: REINBOLD, HUGHES, HIGGINS,
GRUENBERG, SADDLER, LEDOUX, FOSTER
04/01/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/01/13 (H) VERSION: HB 180
04/02/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/13 (S) STA
04/03/13 (S) STA REFERRAL WAIVED
04/03/13 (S) EDC REFERRAL ADDED
04/05/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/05/13 (S) Heard & Held
04/05/13 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/12/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 190
SHORT TITLE: CREDIT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SEATON
03/28/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/28/13 (H) EDC
04/03/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/03/13 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/05/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/05/13 (H) Heard & Held
04/05/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/08/13 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 4DP 1NR 1AM
04/08/13 (H) DP: LEDOUX, SEATON, DRUMMOND, GATTIS
04/08/13 (H) NR: SADDLER
04/08/13 (H) AM: P.WILSON
04/08/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/08/13 (H) Moved CSHB 190(EDC) Out of Committee
04/08/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/11/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/11/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 190(EDC)
04/11/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/11/13 (S) EDC
04/12/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 180.
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 180.
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 190.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to HB 190.
DR. HERB SCHROEDER, Executive Director
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 190.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director
Alaska Association of School Administrators
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 190.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:00:25 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner, Stedman, Huggins, Dunleavy, and
Chair Stevens.
HB 180-MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
8:00:48 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 180.
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, sponsor of HB 180, said this is
the only program that she is aware of that works to put the
students back into their community with a mentor to ensure they
finish high school or help them go into the military. She
stressed the importance of funding a successful program.
CHAIR STEVENS asked about the results seen from tracking
graduates of the Academy.
8:02:38 AM
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of
Military & Veterans Affairs, noted that a cadet is tracked after
graduation for one year and then the success of that student is
determined. Cadets are required to check in a minimum of once a
month for a year. He noted there is a 95 to 97 percent success
rate. Graduates are placed in jobs of 30 hours or more, or go to
college and take 12 or more credits, or are in the military. He
said the bill will allow the Academy to go to the next level.
CHAIR STEVENS commented that it is nice to hear how graduates
are doing.
SENATOR GARDNER asked about the student-to-adult ratio at the
Academy.
MR. PIERRE replied that the ratio was 25 students to 1 teacher;
however there are 90 employees. There are 202 cadets, so the
ratio is 2.2 students to every adult. He explained that the
training was very "hands on."
8:05:36 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY spoke highly of the program and said it should
be expanded. He stated he believes in multiple education models.
He stressed that the students deserved the opportunity for
success.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if expansion of the program is a
possibility.
MR. PIERRE said yes. He added that HB 180 would allow a
discussion about expansion. The way the budget works now would
not make expansion possible.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if expansion might occur in Fairbanks.
MR. PIERRE answered yes. Expansion was considered in 2005-2006
for Galena and for Fairbanks. There were National Guard Bureau
facility requirements that did not allow that to happen. He
pointed out that there might be space at Eielson Air Force Base
in the future, if the need arises.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what the male-female ratio is.
MR. PIERRE said it is roughly 70 males to 30 females.
8:09:14 AM
SENATOR GARDNER noted her experience as a guardian ad litem of
children in state custody. She recalled that several parents of
these children enrolled in the Academy and were very successful.
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony.
8:10:11 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report HB 180 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There
being no objection, HB 180 was reported from the Senate
Education Committee.
8:10:30 AM
At ease
HB 190-CREDIT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES
8:12:11 AM
CHAIR STEVENS called the committee back to order and stated that
the next order of business would be HB 190. [CSHB 90(EDC) was
before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, sponsor, introduced HB 190. He
related that the need for the legislation became obvious when
the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
testified before the House Education Committee. Students who
took calculus in college, which is equivalent to a full year of
high school math, were given only one semester credit due to the
lack of seat time according to school district policy. He said
that HB 190 allows students who demonstrate mastery of a subject
to challenge and test out of high school courses and receive
academic credit. Each school district can determine criteria for
demonstrating mastery. It requires that school districts have an
assessment tool for challenging the courses.
He said the credits in the bill would apply to the requirements
of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, but would not necessarily
factor into the GPA. The bill does not attempt to offer credit
for pre-requisite courses.
He noted it varies by district as to whether they currently
offer such an opportunity to challenge credits. The bill
provides a unified, statewide approach toward keeping students
engaged in learning challenging materials and receiving due
credit.
He referred to an example of the "Credit by Choice" program from
the Anchorage School District. He noted that some classes cannot
be exempted.
8:16:57 AM
He clarified on page 1, line 10, of the bill that "it's within a
reasonable time" and on line 11, "courses provided by the
district that are likely to be, or have been, the subject of
challenge requested under this section." He summarized that when
students are ready to have mastery of the subject, they can
challenge.
8:17:31 AM
CHAIR STEVENS clarified that the standards would not be reduced
or be made easier.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed. He explained that success should
not be measured by seat time. An alternative must be provided
for students who have demonstrated mastery of a subject.
CHAIR STEVENS asked how small districts would handle this.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that the bill applies to courses
that a district offers.
8:19:40 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY stated that the two bills before the committee
will help students. He discussed College Level Examination
Placement (CLEP), as it applied to foreign exchange students in
the Mat-Su School District. He spoke positively about
performance-based outcome programs.
SENATOR HUGGINS voiced support for the idea behind the bill. He
addressed various levels of educational control and asked why
legislation is required.
8:22:47 AM
SENATOR GARDNER noted the concept of adverse incentives,
comparing the student's and the district's incentives. She
pointed out that some students could pass a course without
having taken it, such as composition; however, she suggested
there would be benefits to taking the course. She noted she has
mixed feelings about students testing out of many of their
classes because she prefers that students excel, rather than
meet standards.
8:24:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that he understood what Senator
Gardner was addressing. He explained that the intent was to see
students excel and to test out of classes they have already
mastered. He suggested that the bill would encourage mastery
rather than a pass/fail grade. It is up to the districts to
decide the level of mastery.
8:27:02 AM
SENATOR GARDNER summarized that a district could set the level
of mastery.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that is correct.
8:27:31 AM
CHAIR STEVENS clarified that districts would be encouraged to
solve the issue, not mandate it. He suggested that CLEP might be
the solution for some districts.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY commended Representative Seaton for the bill.
He encouraged districts to move toward performance-based
learning as a means of saving money.
8:29:33 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, offered to answer questions. He stated that the
issue is a district responsibility.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if the smaller districts should work with
the larger districts to find solutions.
MR. MORSE said yes. He noted that the department could help
facilitate that communication.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how widespread CLEP is used in Alaska. He
recalled how the Army used CLEP.
8:32:03 AM
MR. MORSE replied that he was unable to comment on CLEP usage.
He said he has heard that students use it primarily for language
credits.
DR. HERB SCHROEDER, Executive Director, Alaska Native Science
and Engineering Program (ANSEP), thanked the committee for its
work and for the citation honoring ANSEP. He related that ANSEP
allows students from anywhere in the state to complete courses
necessary to earn the Alaska Performance Scholarship by bringing
students into Anchorage where they complete university classes.
The problem for many students was that they were not given
equivalent high school credit for the university credits they
earned.
DR. SCHROEDER gave an example of a student who completed
numerous college math courses that were not recognized by the
student's high school. He said that HB 190 provides a mechanism
for students to earn the correct number of high school credits
for completing a university course. He noted that, over time,
many students will be able to graduate from high school early.
8:35:22 AM
CHAIR STEVENS summarized that there is antipathy between high
school educators and college courses.
DR. SCHROEDER agreed. He said it appears to be a "seat time"
issue.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY noted he has difficulty with the logic behind
seat time.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Association of School
Administrators, testified in support of continuous progress in
moving kids forward on a level that is appropriate for them. He
said that since the mid-nineties the Lower Kuskokwim School
District has had a continuous improvement model where kids could
take an assessment delivered at the district level to determine
their placement in coursework. From that point forward, the
students could challenge courses. Standards have pushed school
districts in this direction. He noted that standards are going
to become more rigorous with the implementation of Common Core.
He suggested that school districts would not be resistant to HB
190. Many schools are already teaching multiple level courses.
8:39:12 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if Common Core standards are being
adopted in Alaska.
DR. JOHNSON said yes. He added that the state plans to adopt
assessments that test the Common Core.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about binding state policies.
DR. JOHNSON replied that he suspected that this proposal could
be done through regulation at the department level or each
district could assume the responsibility at the local level.
8:41:14 AM
CHAIR STEVENS concluded that HB 190 would not be a burden to
school districts.
DR. JOHNSON agreed. He noted that schools could share
information and adopt an assessment as the need arises.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY suggested the CLEPS program could also be used.
He asked where NEA stands on the bill.
CHAIR STEVENS acknowledged a "thumbs up" from NEA.
8:42:48 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held HB 190 in committee.
8:42:59 AM
There being no further business to come before the Senate
Education Standing Committee, Chair Stevens adjourned the
hearing at 8:42 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 04120213_HB190_BillText_VersionA.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_Explanation of Changes - CS House EDC.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_BillText_VersionU.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_FiscalNote_DEED1.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_PolicyExample_Anchorage SD Credit By Choice.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_SupportLetter_Gene Stone MSBSD.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_SupportLetter_Herb Schroeder ANSEP.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |
| 04122013_HB190_SupportLetter_Steve Atwater KPBSD.pdf |
SEDC 4/12/2013 8:00:00 AM |
HB 190 |