HB 352-SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REPORTS  DR. MARK LEAL, Department of Education and Early Development (DOEED), reminded members that Senator Wilken requested more information about reporting requirements at a prior meeting. Senator Wilken was concerned about the number of asterisks on the school report card because DOEED did not report student results if fewer than 10 students were tested. As a result, he worked with Dr. Nick Stayrook from Fairbanks and Gary Wiley (ph) from Kenai to resolve that problem and brought an example of a format for the committee's review. DOEED would, through department regulation, report the results of student testing at very small schools by the percent proficient for the entire school. Therefore, if a school had two or three students in each grade level, the total number of students of all grade levels would be added for each subject - reading, writing and math, and the percent proficient in that subject across all grade levels would be published. CHAIRWOMAN GREEN informed members that their packets contain a list of Alaska schools and their student populations. The smaller schools range from 11 schools with 10 students to six schools with one student. DOEED will aggregate the scores of all students from the small schools and determine the percentage proficient in each subject so that no student can be identified. She asked Dr. Leal if her understanding is correct. DR. LEAL said it is and that this approach will get at the frustration that nothing is reported about particular schools. The information will not be as precise as the grade level information, but that information cannot be reported because of the a possible breach of confidentiality when dealing with a small number of students. One of DOEED's concerns about reporting the small numbers, even on an aggregate basis, is that very small numbers tend to fluctuate dramatically from year to year. One student's scores could skew the results and make it look like the school is improving while, in reality, the change is the result of one new student with high scores. He said DOEED will caution against making wild claims about improvements for very small groups of students tested. CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if this method will be used until the full report card is published or whether this method will continue after the designator committee is in place. DR. LEAL said this method will be the protocol for how DOEED reports data in the school report cards in the future. CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked Senator Wilken if he is satisfied that in the meantime the information provided to the legislature will be adequate. SENATOR WILKEN said he is. He commented that he thought using the method would be a simple fix but he has since been shown it is much more complex. He is pleased with DOEED's attempt to make it understandable to most people. He feels the most important thing is to get as much detail as possible without violating privacy rules but that should be dealt with in regulation, not legislation. He said he appreciates the work that Dr. Leal has done. CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that all members were present. She then noted the Senate version of this legislation already moved from this committee but she requested that it be returned. She feels this legislation is now something everyone can be proud of. SENATOR WARD moved CSHB 352(HES)am from committee with individual recommendations and its accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried. CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced the committee would take up HB 209.