HB 21-FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK  8:02:49 AM CHAIR GATTIS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to the length of a school week; and providing for an effective date." 8:03:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as one of the joint prime sponsors, recapped the intent of HB 21, which is to allow a four-day school week opportunity to a specific district. Provisions in HB 21 require the district to show that the majority of the community, students and teachers support the implementation of this program. Additionally, the district will have to prove that the students are receiving the equivalent of a five-day school week. They will also be required to file quarterly reports to the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) on student and teacher performance and the effectiveness of the program. An individual school within the district may elect to maintain a five-day week rather than exercise the option. She stressed that the intent is to extend local control to school districts. 8:04:32 AM MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), said that currently statute allows the department to approve an acceptable plan, as submitted by a district, to operate on a four-day per week school calendar or a flexible/alternate schedule. The proposed bill will change the approval authority for a 30-day period, transferring approval to the office of the Alaska State School Board and Early Learning. The authority is redirected but the process is not altered, he pointed out. Further, it does not prevent the commissioner from approving a school schedule change, during the same 30-day period. 8:05:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for the difference in criteria required for permit approval through the commissioner's office versus the proposed 30-day application period. COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that there are additional items in the bill, which requires progress reporting, once the proposal has been accepted. Existing statute allows the education commissioner to approve an acceptable plan that provides the equivalent of a five-day school week; the same as the bill requires. However, the bill stipulates that the board consider additional criteria, such as community involvement, and he paraphrased from the bill, Sec. 1 paragraphs (2) and (3); which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: (2) has involved affected students, teachers, and the community in requesting a four-day school week; (3) submits public comment to the board that demonstrates majority community support for the request 8:06:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated his understanding that the department's denial of the Craig School District's original application was due to the lack of focus on student improvement; a condition not stipulated in the bill. He asked if the current authorizing criteria will require a focus on student improvement. COMMISSIONER HANLEY pointed out that statute must be interpreted for academic purposes. The Craig district's request was submitted indicating an interest for a three-day weekend, and the academic program plan was not presented. Hence, approval was withheld pending an academic plan, which the district was hesitant in preparing prior to gaining approval. He suggested that if the information the district is offering in support of HB 21, had been submitted with the initial request, the department would have been in a better position to offer approval. He said his office will always focus on the student and many questions remain unanswered, such as: how will an hour longer day be structured for young children; will special needs children be able to handle an extended day; and a student missing an extended day will have one and one-quarter days to makeup - how will that be addressed. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON followed-up to note that the conditions for approval proposed in HB 21 encompass criteria such as flexibility and community desires, and asked whether it needs to include academic achievement requirements. He expressed interest in understanding the exact difference between the current authority, in statute, and what is proposed, for the single district, in HB 21. COMMISSIONER HANLEY stated his belief that there is no perceptible difference in the criteria established under current statute from what is proposed in HB 21, and added that statute does not speak to academic achievement. 8:12:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX hypothesized whether approval of the district's request would have been approved if HB 21 had been in effect when the initial application was under consideration. COMMISSIONER HANLEY conjectured that the board would have considered the request and the department would have expressed concern. 8:13:08 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON commented that the bill sponsors have noted concerns and the bill will be altered based on comments from the previous hearings. She said that Craig is one of the top rated, rural school districts and may have an advantage over other rural districts that are struggling academically. The plan that the school district is now submitting has been crafted better than the previous request, she opined, and agreed that the commissioner took the appropriate action on the initial application. 8:14:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked the commissioner for a general opinion on an altered school week. COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that student outcomes are paramount and Alaska has a number of flexible programs in place to meet individual needs. In reviewing the effectiveness of how four-day weeks perform in other states, he said many are implemented for financial purposes, not because of a remote life style. However, he said reports are indicative of successful programs and he stated support for the pilot program. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER clarified that the programs are reported as successful with regard to academic achievement or financial economy. COMMISSIONER HANLEY said the financial aspect has not been studied, but it would stand to reason that without having to dispatch buses or provide food, among other services not being provided one day per week, an economic benefit would result. The academic outcomes appear to vary, with first year gains typically being the highest, and as the program continues results appear to remain relatively positive. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the department has had frequent requests for four-day programs. COMMISSIONER HANLEY answered that Craig district has been the only one. To a follow-up question, he said the reported results of four-day programs are based on case studies, not data base, critical analysis. 8:18:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON offered that financial savings can be substantial, especially where bussing of children is routine, and added that a pilot program could be helpful, as a four-day schedule has not yet been tried in Alaska. 8:19:41 AM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX stated support for HB 21 and expressed concern for a possible rise in latchkey attendance if parents have a five-day work week. REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON suggested that the local areas will be able to directly address the latchkey situation and it would be part of the community decision, when considering a four-day school week. 8:21:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he does not oppose HB 21, but questions the purpose and usefulness of superseding current statute. He voiced support for districts to work with the commissioner's office to attain an alternative, flexible schedule, and suggested it may place an unintentional and undue burden on the board or the department. COMMISSIONER HANLEY acknowledged that the steps for approving an application through the board process may be cumbersome, but not overwhelmingly so. 8:22:42 AM CHAIR GATTIS expressed support for the Craig district's community interest to operate a four-day pilot program. She then turned to public testimony. 8:23:52 AM CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), stated support for HB 21 and said the mission of the association is to support student achievement through effective local governance. The program may not work for all districts, and he predicted that it would not be requested universally; however, it is a good option to have for areas where it fits community needs. He stressed the importance of allowing and honoring local governance in a district. 8:25:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated support for local control and reiterated that Craig is one of the best performing rural districts in the state. He theorized that a lower performing district might desire to adopt the program, and asked if AASB believes that the state is in a position to make assessments to determine the viability and effectiveness of a four-day week. MR. ROSE said the association does not adjudicate these matters, but the department and local school boards will make determinations regarding program effectiveness. CHAIR GATTIS commented that in a low performing school district, whatever program a community embraces and becomes engaged around, should be considered a viable possibility for improvement. 8:27:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about the performance of the existing alternative schedules in Alaska. MR. ROSE reported that the block schedule has been one of the most effective methods districts have implemented, and although a four-day week has not been tried in Alaska, the plan is interesting to consider. Rather than requesting a teaching day off, proposals for the fifth day have included a number of options, such as: staff development, additional tutorial time for students, or an alternative program that is not counted as an official school day but which provides enrichment activities. To a follow-up question he explained that the block scheduling allows focus and compression of one subject into a longer class period, such as 90 minutes versus 40 minutes. Absenteeism presents a significant problem in a block schedule, as the concentrated time on a subject is difficult to make up. Attendance policies need to be tightened when a district chooses to implement block studies. A four-day school week would present a similar issue, as each day would represent 25 percent of the week's studies. 8:31:28 AM ELAINE PRICE, Member, School Board, Southeast Island School District, stated support for HB 21 and reported that the parents have led the initiative for a four-day school week, and stressed that the school board neither proposed the idea nor proffered it as a cost saving program. Regarding the question for latchkey participants, she said the parents are a vocal group and the district will know if a problem arises. The teachers are also in favor of the four-day week and look forward to having more contact time with their students, and expect to be available on the fifth day, Friday, for special programs. The superintendent appreciates the flexibility the schedule will allow, especially in the area of vocational training. She said the standards and test scores in the district are high, and this proposal has been approached with concern to maintain, not compromise, the district's academic standings. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what criteria will be applied to ensure a high level of academic performance is maintained over the duration of the pilot plan period, and in deciding whether or not to continue the four-day schedule. MS. PRICE said test scores will be reviewed, as well as the minutes of the ASC meetings. The meetings are well attended by the community and provide a clear understanding of what is occurring in each school. A number of variables affect test scores, which include: teacher effectiveness, special need students, class size, and attendance. She stressed that academic oversight is a district priority and a close eye is maintained on the achievements in the nine schools; steps would be taken to rectify any backsliding. 8:36:34 AM BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators, stated support for HB 21. The plan has been well thought out and represents a serious endeavor, with little risk. He said it may not suit many communities, but Craig district seems to be a fit and he said it would be helpful to have a pilot program; the information gained can only become useful for future reference or application. The local control aspect is important to respect and support, he finished. 8:37:57 AM CHAIR GATTIS closed public testimony. REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON reported that the sponsors will be incorporating comments from the bill hearings and some changes can be anticipated when it arrives at the next committee of referral. 8:38:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON commented that the committee has supported a policy for districts to take a variety of educational approaches and he said this bill provides potential in the same vein. He stated support for four extended school days with the fifth day used for a variety of enrichment opportunities. The pilot program will be interesting to follow, and if successful, the schedule could prove helpful in other areas of the state. Additionally, the new assessments that will be implemented based on intellectual integration versus the current rote fact learning method, may be better served by this schedule. 8:40:46 AM CHAIR GATTIS underscored the importance for acknowledging community support through legislative action. 8:41:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 21 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 21 was reported from the House Standing Committee on Education. 8:41:50 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:41 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.