ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 28, 2018
8:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harriet Drummond, Chair
Representative Justin Parish, Vice Chair
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Jennifer Johnston
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative David Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Lora Reinbold (alternate)
Representative Geran Tarr (alternate)
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 52
"An Act relating to providing a pre-elementary program within a
school district; and providing for the certification of early
childhood education plans."
- MOVED HB 52 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 406
"An Act relating to the calculation of state aid for schools
that consolidate; relating to the determination of the number of
schools in a district; and providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 52
SHORT TITLE: PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI
01/18/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/17 (H) EDC, FIN
02/08/17 (H) EDC AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/08/17 (H) Heard & Held
02/08/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/27/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/27/17 (H) Heard & Held
03/27/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/28/18 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing of HB 52, offered an
overview as prime sponsor of the legislation.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:35 AM
CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Representatives,
Zulkosky, Johnston, Kopp, Spohnholz, Parish, Talerico and
Drummond were present at the call to order.
HB 52-PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS
8:03:09 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 52, "An Act relating to providing a pre-
elementary program within a school district; and providing for
the certification of early childhood education plans."
8:03:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, noted
that joint meetings were held last week with the House Health
and Social Services Standing Committee as it is important look
at early education and how early education is a great return on
investment to the state. The House Education Standing Committee
is the primary policy committee for education and this is
important public policy, while recognizing the "incredible"
fiscal note attached to this bill. He explained that when the
bill moves to the House Finance Committee it will discuss the
fiscal impacts to the state. He pointed out that from a purely
policy driven standpoint, the state can and should join with the
42 other states with some sort of state-level support for early
education. As the committee is aware, a pilot pre-K program was
put in place under Governor Sarah Palin and the results have
shown that children in the first phase advanced faster, had
better math, reading, and science scores, and "tested better in
the spring than they did in the fall." Those, he described, are
proven results for Alaska, and when a pilot program has shown
those results and improved efficacy, it is ready for prime time.
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that her intent is to ensure that the state
continues to provide early childhood services.
8:06:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH commented that "It's a great bill and that
we will realize a substantial saving. If we've got money to
invest in major industry projects, I think we've got money to
invest in our children."
8:06:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARRISH moved to report HB 53, out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 53 moved from the House
Education Standing Committee.
8:07:15 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:07 a.m. to 8:12:10 a.m.
8:13:09 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education meeting was adjourned at 8:13 a.m.