01/21/2022 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB53 | |
| HB19 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 53 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 21, 2022
9:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Roger Holland, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Shelley Hughes
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Tom Begich
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(MLV) AM(EFD ADD)
"An Act relating to residency requirements for public school
enrollment for certain children of active duty military and
National Guard members; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC)
"An Act relating to instruction in a language other than
English; and establishing limited language immersion teacher
certificates."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 53
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MCCARTY
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) MLV, EDC
03/04/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/04/21 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/09/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/09/21 (H) Moved CSHB 53(MLV) Out of Committee
03/09/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/10/21 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) 6DP
03/10/21 (H) DP: CLAMAN, TARR, SHAW, STORY, NELSON,
TUCK
04/28/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/28/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/28/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
05/03/21 (H) EDC RPT CS(MLV) 4DP 1NR
05/03/21 (H) DP: CRONK, GILLHAM, STORY, DRUMMOND
05/03/21 (H) NR: ZULKOSKY
05/03/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
05/03/21 (H) Moved CSHB 53(MLV) Out of Committee
05/03/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
05/12/21 (H) DIVIDE AM NO 3 UC
05/12/21 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/12/21 (H) VERSION: CSHB 53(MLV) AM(EFD ADD)
05/14/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/14/21 (S) EDC
01/21/22 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 19
SHORT TITLE: LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KREISS-TOMKINS
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) EDC, L&C
04/09/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/09/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/09/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/12/21 (H) FIN REPLACES L&C REFERRAL
04/12/21 (H) BILL REPRINTED
04/12/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/12/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/14/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/14/21 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/16/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/16/21 (H) Moved CSHB 19(EDC) Out of Committee
04/16/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/19/21 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 5DP 2NR
04/19/21 (H) DP: ZULKOSKY, CRONK, PRAX, STORY,
DRUMMOND
04/19/21 (H) NR: HOPKINS, GILLHAM
05/03/21 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM ADAMS 519
05/03/21 (H) Heard & Held
05/03/21 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
05/06/21 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM ADAMS 519
05/06/21 (H) Moved CSHB 19(EDC) Out of Committee
05/06/21 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
05/07/21 (H) FIN RPT CS(EDC) 5DP 4NR
05/07/21 (H) DP: EDGMON, LEBON, CARPENTER, THOMPSON,
MERRICK
05/07/21 (H) NR: RASMUSSEN, JOSEPHSON, WOOL, ORTIZ
05/14/21 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/14/21 (H) VERSION: CSHB 19(EDC)
05/17/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/17/21 (S) EDC, L&C, FIN
01/21/22 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE KEN MCCARTY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 53.
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison
U.S. Department of Defense
Lewis McCord Air Force Base, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Invited to testify on HB 53.
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 19.
BRANDON LOCKE, Director
World Languages and Immersion Programs
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 19.
SONDRA MEREDITH, Teacher Certification Administrator
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions and provided information
on HB 19.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:04:22 AM
CHAIR ROGER HOLLAND called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Begich, Hughes, and Chair Wilson. Senator
Stevens and Micciche arrived shortly thereafter.
HB 53-MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER
9:05:23 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 53(MLV) am(efd add) "An Act relating to residency
requirements for public school enrollment for certain children
of active duty military and National Guard members; and
providing for an effective date."
9:05:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KEN MCCARTY, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, introduced himself.
9:06:03 AM
At ease
9:06:38 AM
SENATOR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting.
9:06:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY paraphrased the sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
House Bill 53 seeks to allow military children with
residency outside of the state, but with documentation
of a pending military relocation to the state, access
to preliminary registration, enrollment, or
application to a school district at the time that the
process is open to the general student population.
Proof of residency is temporarily waived until the
student begins school. Once the student begins school
their parent or guardian has ten (10) days to provide
proof of residency in the school district.
This is important to military school children,
especially those in high school. Often classes are
filled during the preliminary registration of the
students already registered in that school district.
For military students who are high school juniors or
seniors, and are transferring to a new school
district, they may need to take a specific class to
complete their requirements. This bill is also
important to those students wishing to attend a
Charter School through lottery or otherwise, as these
schools often fill up quickly and there are deadlines
for entering the lottery.
9:07:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY provided the sectional analysis for HB
53.
Section 1 addresses children coming to the state with their
guardian and the definition of a guardian as given in statute.
It also defines military installation as it pertains to students
moving to Alaska.
Section 2 provides the effective date of HB 53 as its date of
passage.
CHAIR HOLLAND explained that PCS is an acronym for permanent
change of station.
9:08:46 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND acknowledged Senator Stevens joined the meeting.
9:09:20 AM
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison, U.S. Department of
Defense, Lewis McCord Air Force Base, Washington, stated that HB
53 would allow Alaska to join thirty-two other states in
offering early enrollment for the children of military families.
The Department of Defense (DOD) supports the policy.
Approximately 185,000 U.S. military children move between
schools annually. Moves usually occur during the summer, making
it easy to miss registration and other school-related deadlines.
Late registration impacts course selection, resulting in late
graduation or needing to attend summer school. There are 10,000
active-duty military school-age children in Alaska. The intent
of HB 53 is to provide military students with the same timely
access to programs and courses as their in-state peers. HB 53
does not require the development of new online systems, and it
helps schools project student enrollment.
9:11:34 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE joined the meeting.
9:11:41 AM
SENATOR BEGICH asked if HB 53 would affect other state programs
with residency requirements, such as the permanent fund
dividend.
9:12:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY responded there would be no impact to
agencies that have residency requirements because a family must
be physically present in the state for residency. HB 53 only
permits students to enroll in classes.
9:12:32 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for a formal response from the Alaska
Permanent Fund Dividend Division.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY stated he would follow up with the
request.
9:13:18 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if HB 53 would make it possible to double
count students. For example, would a child at Eielson Air Force
Base who relocates to Elmendorf Air Force Base be counted twice.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY responded that out-of-state students who
come to Alaska are not double-counted, and therefore it would
not be an issue for students who transfer in-state.
SENATOR HUGHES requested a formal response from the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED).
9:15:05 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND held HB 53 in committee.
HB 19-LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES
9:15:43 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 19(EDC) "An Act relating to instruction in a language other
than English; and establishing limited language immersion
teacher certificates." He acknowledged that Sondra Meredith from
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) was
available online to answer questions.
9:16:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced HB 19 by speaking to the
sponsor statement that read as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Language immersion education is an increasingly
popular educational model that also produces
impressive academic outcomes. In an immersion program,
some of the academic subject matter is delivered in a
language other than English. HB 19 provides needed
flexibility to school districts operating language
immersion programs.
HB 19 gives the State Board of Education and Early
Development the tools necessary to tackle one of the
biggest challenges facing Alaska's immersion programs:
finding fully certified teachers also fluent in an
Alaska Native or foreign language. Under HB 19, the
state board could provide school districts case-by-
case flexibility to hire language immersion teachers
they know are qualified to lead a classroom but who
for reasons such as limited English proficiency,
advanced age, or familial responsibilities are
unable at the time to get a full teacher
certification. To do so, the state board would have to
create a new certificate along the lines of the
existing "Type M" or "Type I" limited certificates.
Alaska already has a variety of successful and popular
immersion programs, including Wasilla's Fronteras
Spanish Immersion Program, Anchorage's Rilke Schule
German School of Arts and Sciences, and Anchorage
School District's highly regarded World Languages and
Immersion Program.
Immersion is also central to Alaska Native language
revitalization efforts. In Israel, New Zealand, and
Hawaii, immersion education was at the core of
indigenous language revival. At Ayaprun Elitnaurvik in
Bethel, instruction is done in Yup'ik, and interest in
Alaska Native language immersion education is growing
elsewhere in the state.
HB 19 will help Alaska's language immersion programs
continue to provide high-quality dual-language
education.
9:18:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that the process for a
school's immersion program to obtain a language instructor
entails a vote of approval by the school board before requesting
a limited language immersion teacher certificate from the State
Board of Education and Early Development. Language immersion
programs are increasing in popularity in the Anchorage area and
produce students fluent in world languages with impressive
academic performance by seventh grade. Past testimony from
Jennifer Schmidt-Hutchins, a school administrator for Fronteras
Spanish Immersion Charter School in the Mat-Su Borough School
District, expounded on the difficulties of operating an
immersion language program in Alaska. HB 19 was crafted to
provide a solution to practitioners' problems.
9:20:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated the sectional analysis for
HB 19 includes the following:
Section 1 has a title change that gives the department the
elective authority to issue a limited language immersion teacher
certificate.
Subsection(b) sets the criteria for an applicant to be
certified. An applicant must meet the minimum requisite
instructional skills and subject matter expertise to assure the
public that the person is competent as a teacher.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS noted that the State Board of
Education and Early Development was given the regulation-making
authority to govern and administer the certificates. It is
important to provide the agency with that discretion from a
legislative perspective instead of writing it into statute.
Subsection(c) provides that the department may issue a limited
language immersion teacher certificate but that a district's
school board must be an accenting party to the certificate.
Local support from the school board and superintendent is a
vital aspect of the process as it establishes accountability.
Subsection(d) gives authorization for promulgating regulations
to the State Board of Education and Early Development.
Subsection(e) establishes the initial validity of the immersion
teacher certificate as one year with a renewal process that will
be regulated and administered by the agency.
9:24:32 AM
SENATOR BEGICH referred to subsection(b), page 1, lines 13-15,
and asked how competence and teaching skills are demonstrated by
applicants.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS deferred the question to DEED but
commented that it is helpful to hear situations that immersion
language programs encounter. He recalled a situation where
Fronteras Charter School was unable to hire a Columbian
certified teacher for its immersion program.
9:27:37 AM
SENATOR BEGICH asked if one-year limited immersion certified
teachers are required to be mandatory reporters. He also asked
if they would be required to join a school district's
professional organization.
SENATOR STEVENS asked what a limited certificate means. He
stated it takes many years to become an accredited teacher and
wants to be certain that a limited certificate is not a back
door to certification.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if there is data to show how well immersion
students perform compared to non-immersion students when
instructed in their non-native language She also asked for the
typical age range for immersion learning.
9:30:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated he would defer to Mr. Locke
for data on immersion student performance. The age range of
students in immersion programs begins in the lower grades with a
gradual diminution into middle school.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS responded that the certificate is
limited to one year and the terms of the certificate are set by
the Board of Education and Early Development. However, there are
some statute limitations. He deferred the topic of mandatory
reporting to Ms. Meredith. He stated he would investigate
whether limited certificate teachers would be required to join a
district's professional organization. He said that immersion
language programs must be pragmatic and are hiring long-term
substitutes to deliver world languages. HB 19 will change the
status quo and assist in getting certified teachers in the
classroom.
9:35:29 AM
BRANDON LOCKE, Director of World Languages and Immersion
Programs, Anchorage School District, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
his credentials and said immersion language programs have
existed since the 1960s. Anchorage has had immersion programs
since the late 1980s, starting with Japanese and being the first
state in the county to offer Russian. The National Security
Agency at Elmendorf Air Force recently sought out three Russian
immersion high school students to work with Russian linguists in
a work-study program. This has led to a new partnership between
the agency and school district.
9:37:14 AM
MR. LOCKE stated Anchorage has 8,000 students enrolled in
language study classes. Twenty-six hundred are immersion
language students enrolled in one of eight programs. The
immersion languages offered are: Japanese, German, French,
Spanish (2), Yupik, Chinese, and Russian. He stated that HB 19
would be a saving grace for emergency situations, and
superintendent Deena Bishop and the Anchorage School Board
endorse it because there is a teacher shortage in Alaska and
across the county.
9:39:05 AM
MR. LOCKE said that most available immersion teacher positions
are at the elementary school level. These positions are being
staffed with long-term substitutes who may not have education
degrees. He opined that better education results occur using a
50/50 model of instruction where language arts, reading,
writing, and math are taught by the classroom teacher and social
studies, science, and world language are taught by the immersion
teacher. Science and social studies are rich in vocabulary and
topics students discuss daily, making them ideal for immersion
learning.
MR. LOCKE stated that he was asked to provide data on immersion
teachers' performance in teaching other subjects several years
ago. He compared state science assessment scores of immersion
students and non-immersion students from the Anchorage School
District and found that scores of immersion students were
considerably higher. He noted that students were taught science
in a world language but were tested in English. He concluded
that dedicated time to teaching science will improve science
scores and that students make connections when taught in an
immersion language.
9:41:54 AM
MR. LOCKE mentioned that immersion teachers are assisted by
partner teachers upon their arrival, are vetted, and are often
hired after working in another state. It is difficult for Alaska
schools to find teachers who are eligible to work in the United
States because the federal government requires a state-issued
teaching certificate before a candidate can apply for a visa. He
explained that asking a foreign teacher to complete a Praxis
test not available in their country makes obtaining
certification extremely difficult and is an example of how HB 19
will be of assistance. The one-year certificate would allow for
training and evaluation. Immersion teachers would be mandated
reporters and eligible for participation in teacher
organizations. He mentioned that another hardship for immersion
teachers is needing to enroll in teaching programs taught in
English while they work. The programs require courses and
student teaching that do not benefit an immersion teacher.
9:46:00 AM
SONDRA MEREDITH, Teacher Certification Administrator, Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska,
stated Alaska Native Language or Culture, Military Science, and
Vocational/Technical are three limited teaching certificates
that DEED offers. She foresees immersion certificates having
similar qualifications and regulations as other limited
certificates, such as letters of recommendation, experience,
district evaluations, and portfolios.
9:48:18 AM
SENATOR BEGICH asked if immersion certification would make the
teacher a mandatory reporter.
MS. MEREDITH replied yes, language immersion teachers would be
mandatory reporters and would be required to complete the
training.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated he appreciated the
assistance from Mr. Locke and Ms. Meredith and that he is
available to provide any additional information that would be
helpful.
9:49:16 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND held HB 19 in committee.
9:49:33 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Holland adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 9:49 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Letters of Support HB 19.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| Sectional Analysis HB 19.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM SFIN 4/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 53 Talking Points.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 53 |
| HB53 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 53 |
| HB53 Summary of Changes.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 53 |
| HB53 DOD Letter of Support 2.22.21.pdf |
SEDC 1/21/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 53 |