[Contains discussion of HB 33.] 3:37:01 PM CHAIR SEATON announced that the committee would next discuss the compulsory school age. The committee took an at-ease from 3:38 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. 3:45:56 PM MS. CURRAN said that the compulsory school laws in the nation were quite old and ranged in requirement, but that more and more states were considering an increase of the compulsory school age. She shared that half the states allowed an exemption with certain criteria. MR. JEANS reported that the compulsory school age in Alaska was between seven and sixteen, and that there were twelve exemptions, which made it difficult to enforce attendance. He said that, as a parent, he viewed this as a law. He expressed his opinion that he had more influence on his children if the age was increased, and less if it was decreased. 3:50:34 PM MR. JEANS, in response to Chair Seaton, read the 12 exemptions, which included: comparable education to public schools; attends school operated by the federal government; physical or medical condition which makes attendance impractical; in custody of court or law enforcement; temporarily ill or injured; been suspended or expelled; resides outside of transportation routes provided by school authority; excused by action of the school board; has completed the 12th grade; enrolled in the state boarding school or state funded correspondence program; equally served by an approved educational experience; and, educated at home by parent or legal guardian. SENATOR DAVIS asked if these were regulation or statute. MR. JEANS replied that it was AS 14.30.010, although he admitted to not reading the statute exactly as written. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked what was the penalty for violation. MR. JEANS, in response, relayed that each five days of unlawful absence was a separate violation. He said that he believed this had been enforced, but only on a very limited basis. 3:56:36 PM GEORGE TROXAL, Superintendant, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, stated that the district did give tickets and fines for truancy. He said that enforcement was very time intensive and didn't result in a subsequent increase in attendance, although it was a good policy. He shared that the parents of truants had expressed a wish for compulsory school attendance until 18. He offered support for amending the compulsory age to 18. In response to a question, he said it would be difficult to estimate the attendance increase from such a law, but that it would alleviate "some of the struggle in getting kids to school." 4:00:00 PM JIM HICKERSON, Superintendent, Bering Strait School District, concurred with Superintendent Troxel to raise the age to 18, however, he acknowledged that raising the age won't have any consequence unless enforcement efforts are also increased. He offered his belief that currently for the rural school districts, there was not enough enforcement. 4:02:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked what efforts were taken in dealing with the parents. MR. HICKERSON replied that parents of younger students were encouraged to bring the students to school, but if the parents weren't willing then little can be done. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked at what age students stopped attending school. MR. HICKERSON, in response, said that students as young as ten years stop coming, and although the district followed through, student truancy was not a high priority with support and enforcement agencies. In response to a question, he said that the total number of students not coming at all was small, but the number that missed 50-70 days each school year was very large. CHAIR SEATON surmised that changes in the budget process would have to be made, and resources reallocated from instructional service to enforcement. He emphasized that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) had never included an increment for truancy enforcement, and would not enforce the truancy laws. 4:08:20 PM MR. HICKERSON relayed that districts were now considering a school attendance/resource officer. He opined that DPS and the Office of Children's Services (OCS) were responsible to uphold the law, but because they refused, the school districts no longer asked. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX opined that violators of the current law would not be intimidated by a new law. He said that a law for compulsory attendance until 18 would support the parents trying to keep their children in school, but it would not change those in violation. He opined that it was a crisis when ten year-olds were not going to school, and that needed to be addressed, maybe with different legislation. He stated that there is no means to know how many students there are in Alaska, unless they register for school. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON surmised that truancy enforcement could be less expensive than the cost to society in the long run. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX agreed. He offered his belief that success was the greatest narcotic, and that success would keep students in school. 4:14:14 PM CAROL COMEAU, Superintendant, Anchorage School District, said that the Anchorage School Board had made this a priority because the wrong message was being sent to students that it was acceptable to leave school at 16. She relayed that the school board had expressed that 18 or a high school diploma was acceptable. She detailed the difficulties faced by many parents in keeping their children in school, and she voiced support for amending the compulsory age to 18. She emphasized that, at a minimum, a high school diploma makes it easier to get a job, and be self supportive without resorting to crime. She stated that this sends a message to students that education and a high school diploma is very important. She said that graduation support staff had been hired for every high school, and for some middle schools, to assess student strengths and get them on the proper track. MS. COMEAU, in response to a question, declined to speculate how many more students would attend school if the compulsory age was raised to 18. She relayed that the business community would certainly support the effort. She explained the intense effort being made to contact students who are truant and to educate them on the benefits of school. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON observed that data could illustrate whether such an increase would accomplish the goal of decreasing truancy. 4:25:12 PM CHAIR SEATON questioned how the district expected to enforce compulsory education, especially for 17 year olds who did not want to be there. 4:26:17 PM MS. COMEAU offered her belief that it was the responsibility of the school district to find out why and correct the situation. She stated that it was most important to know the students and their interests. She said that the broad, comprehensive, instructional programs, including the art and music programs, have really contributed toward keeping students in school. She opined that, currently, children are not seeing any value in attending school. She conceded it is a huge issue, and stressed the need to help young people view the school system differently. 4:30:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH expressed concern regarding the sustainability of many programs, including the in-school out reach. He reflected that at one time every high school in Anchorage had a vocational education program, and he suggested a return to this. MS. COMEAU explained that the Anchorage School District, as well as other districts, had added career tech, replacing the vocational education programs, in all the comprehensive high schools. She listed the courses to include drafting, basic construction trades, accounting, and family consumer sciences. She noted that there was also a movement for these classes to be offered in more of the middle schools. MS. COMEAU offered that should the results continue, she will suggest that these programs continue, even if it became necessary to cut in some other areas. She opined that the optimal size class of 15 students would never be attained; instead, it was necessary for teachers to better engage the students.