HCR 2-AK SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK 8:09:13 AM CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2, Designating January 25-31, 2015, as Alaska School Choice Week. 8:09:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HCR 2, and deferred to staff. 8:10:21 AM DREW FORD, Staff, Representative Lynn Gattis, Alaska State Legislature, paraphrasing from the sponsor statement, which read [original punctuation provided]: House Concurrent Resolution No. 2 designates January 25-31, 2015 as Alaska School Choice Week. As state leaders it is incumbent upon the legislature to prepare the youth of Alaska for the future. Recognizing these dates as school choice week simply acknowledges the importance of effective education options for students. Alaska has highly diverse education opportunities through public neighborhood schools, public charter schools, public home schools, independent home schools, as well private schools. School Choice Week is a national celebration recognized by millions of students, parents, educators, schools and community leaders for the purpose of raising public awareness to the importance of effective education options. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS explained that the resolution is a means to acknowledge the legislative embrace for parents to exercise school choice, without invoking statutory action. It is a show of collective, legislative importance being placed on the subject. 8:12:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD stated support for school choice. She opined that, if nationalized standards and assessments are adopted, driving the curriculum, choice will be negated by a "one size fits all" approach to education. She asked where the resolution fits into that picture. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS responded that the resolution celebrates the opportunity for parental choice among educational options, which include: private school, public school, home school, and independent home school. REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD reiterated concern that one curriculum will be imposed regardless of where a student attends, and opined that true choice really needs to be parental choice of the curriculum. 8:13:30 AM CHAIR KELLER questioned the January 25-31, 2015, effective date. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS answered that an amendment to the date would be welcomed. 8:14:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 1, line 7, to paraphrase the language, which read [original punctuation provided]: WHEREAS the state recognizes the critical role that an effective and accountable system of education plays in preparing all children in the state to be successful adults; and REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that accountability has been a legislative concern and noted that some of the educational choices recognized have no means for accountability, such as independent homeschools where parents choose the curriculum. He asked how accountability is addressed in the resolution. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS acknowledged that when government money is not received the accountability rests with the parents; as in the case of independent homeschoolers. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed with the sponsor and expressed support for the resolution. CHAIR KELLER concurred. REPRESENTATIVE COLVER agreed with the sponsor, and suggested the need to amend the resolution to reflect dates for 2016. CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 8:18:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE COLVER moved Conceptual Amendment 1, as follows: Page 1, line 1: Delete: "2015" Insert: "2016" Page 2, line 7: Delete: "2015" Insert: "2016" CHAIR KELLER objected for discussion. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for and received affirmation that the sponsor agrees to the amendment. CHAIR KELLER withdrew objection. 8:19:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS questioned the specified dates, and suggested that it may be customary that a specific week of the month be designated. MR. FORD stated his believe that it falls on the last week in January, beginning on a Sunday and ending on the following Saturday. CHAIR KELLER suggested setting the bill aside in order to confirm the appropriate dates. REPRESENTATIVE COLVER withdrew Conceptual Amendment 1. CHAIR KELLER announced HCR 2 as held.