HB 80-REPEAL COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS ASSESS.  8:02:25 AM CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 80, "An Act repealing the requirement for secondary students to take college and career readiness assessments." 8:02:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 80, paraphrasing from the sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Repeal of College and Career Readiness Assessment Requirement With the passage of HB278 in 2014, all secondary students must take the ACT, SAT or WorkKeys Assessment exam to receive a high school diploma, at the States expense. The change in the States fiscal situation provides an opportunity to take a second look at this funding, without impacting the classroom. Students that wish to be eligible for the Performance Scholarship or college admissions can still do so, but must pay for the testing themselves. HB80 removes the mandate for student college and career readiness assessment, and in turn allows State spending for education to be targeted toward the classroom where the greatest return on investment can be realized. It also takes an unfunded mandate away from the local districts. 8:04:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON recalled that previous to [HB] 278 the WorkKeys Assessment exam was a requirement for 11th grade students with the score listed on the transcript. He acknowledged that the curriculum was established to support students not choosing to attend college, which represents approximately 70 percent of Alaska's students. He inquired how removing the WorkKeys Assessment exam helps in the classroom as it removes the high score obtained by a student that assists employers in the competitive work force. 8:05:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS responded that the curriculum is not necessarily aligned with the WorkKeys Assessment exam as different school districts have different curriculum. She opined that the Department of Labor was primarily served by administering the unfunded mandate test as a high school exit exam and a certain score was not required in order to exit. She argued that the test scores are not on the transcripts and businesses are not using it at this time. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked how eliminating the comparative assessment will gain an employer the ability to evaluate a prospective employee. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS suggested that an employer speak with the Department of Labor should it require the information, and reiterated that reports do not indicate any usage. 8:08:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD reminded the committee that the ACT/SAT assessments are common core aligned, which she opined is an "expensive experiment." Ten percent of Alaskan youth graduate with a four year college degree and, she opined, it is not necessary for all students to take this test. She stated that ACT/SAT should be privately funded and the parents or students be responsible for taking these tests as in the past. She pointed out this is an approximate $600,000 fiscal note, and described the time for preparation and tests taken during school hours as a burden to the schools. 8:09:51 AM CHAIR KELLER asked whether the districts would have option to make the ACT/SAT and WorkKeys Assessment exam available should this bill pass. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS replied that with the state's budgetary constraints she would be surprised school districts would offer the tests and would instead revert back to how tests have been offered in the past. It costs [the state] money and the test is being given through the Department of Labor, and time would be used wisely in classroom instruction, she noted. 8:10:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE COLVER asked the date the WorkKeys Assessment exam program was introduced into schools. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS deferred to Representative Seaton. CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony. 8:11:15 AM JAMES HARVEY, Director, Employment Security Division, Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), [Available to answer questions questions.] 8:11:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to WorkKeys Assessment exams and levels recorded, asked whether it is being utilized in the workforce. MR. HARVEY responded that the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD) has a listing of employers recognizing the WorkKeys Assessment Certificate or the National Career Readiness Certificate that the [assessment exam] produces. He pointed out that the certificate is used for entrance into employment and into the several apprentice programs throughout the state as this particular assessment identifies the "work ready skill set" the applicants require to be successful in employment. MR. HARVEY, in response to Representative Seaton, stated he will forward the list of employers recognizing the WorkKeys Assessment Certificate across Alaska momentarily. 8:13:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ quiered whether the Department of Labor & Workforce (DLWD) offers a student the test. MR. HARVEY answered in the affirmative, and pointed out that the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) operates in urban and rural environments throughout school districts. Whereas, DLWD operates a job center presence within urban or sub-urban areas and, therefore, the rural areas become difficult to impossible for DLWD to accomplish, he explained. 8:14:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked [technical difficulties] that individuals can take at the DLWD. MR. HARVEY advised this is the only work readiness assessment in terms of the broad base of employers and the uses it is meant for through ACT. He commented that job centers offer assessments for the Transportation Security Administration and other governmental entities. 8:14:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked the cost of taking exams at DLWD. MR. HARVEY answered that the Workkeys Assessment exams were approximately $235,000 for FY2014. MR. HARVEY, in response to Representative Vazquez, advised that assessments were provided to 4,837 individuals, and 1,275 National Career Readiness Certificates were issued in FY2014. 8:16:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ requested the purpose of the certificates. MR. HARVEY responded that the certificates assist in creating a qualified resident workforce and offers career and technical education opportunities to students necessary for them to move forward in the workforce in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ restated her question and asked how future employers used the National Career Readiness Certificates in FY2014. MR. HARVEY replied that the three key areas of the applicant's assessment are: reading for information, applied mathematics, and locating information. He pointed out that employers can use the scores within its hiring pool for placement into employment. 8:18:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ inquired as to the distribution of individuals, geographically, taking the WorkKeys Assessment exam. MR. HARVEY advised he will provide the data which is tied to geographic job centers across the state. REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked the cost of taking the WorkKeys Assessment exam at DLWD. MR. HARVEY answered that the cost of the exam for the participant is zero as DLWD is utilizing federal funds to connect and provide individuals assistance in applying for work. REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ requested the amount of federal funds for FY2014. MR. HARVEY advised that in FY2014 DLWD utilized approximately $235,560 for the application of this particular assessment. REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked whether it was all federal money. MR. HARVEY answered in the affirmative, and stated it is for this purpose and connecting individuals for specific training opportunities to overcome training as a barrier to direct employment. 8:20:47 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked the date the WorkKeys Assessment exam was put in place by the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development. 8:21:34 AM BARBARA HANEY, testified in support of HB 80, and knows the test of adult basic education is distributed throughout the state which is comparable to the WorkKeys Assessment exam. She opined there is no need for college career ready assessment to be offered by the Alaska school districts in that DLWD offers testing to 16-year olds thereby allowing two years for corrective action if continuing in the education setting as opposed to a GED or work career track. She described this as an expense for the [school] system and individuals can take the WorkKeys Assessment exam through DLWD where an employer can request a referral. She stated she did not envision the ACT/SAT replacing the exit exam. 8:24:18 AM LORIE KOPPENBERG, testified in support of HB 80, and urged committee support as parents should provide for the ACT/SAT. CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 8:25:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS inquired of Mr. Harvey whether the $235,000 in federal funds is available to be repurposed to other DLWD programs. MR. HARVEY responded that the funding is the Department's Federal Wagner-Peyser Act funding that is utilized for the base operation of the majority of the job centers throughout the state. The repurposing of these funds could be performed if the DLWD chose to discontinue the WorkKeys Assessment itself. 8:27:09 AM PEGGY COWAN, Superintendent, North Slope Borough School District, testified she is personally in favor of HB 80, but that the North Slope Borough School District has no official position as it has not met regarding HB 80. Conceptually, she pointed out, providing tests at schools is an excellent opportunity for those not close to job centers where they can take the tests. She suggested that taking college and career ready tests plus the requirement of an additional test for graduation is another burden and perhaps a barrier for students to get a diploma. 8:28:15 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked when the district began administering WorkKeys Assessment to all 11th graders. MS. COWAN estimated seven years. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON questioned why the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development implemented the mandate that the WorkKeys Assessment exam be given in the 11th grade. MS. COWAN opined it was to provide a measure and an entrance so students would have [the score] on their record with a ticket to assist in obtaining jobs. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the program in place to determine whether the 70 percent of youth not going to college were adequately trained, and inquired how eliminating that program would be helpful in training and offering rural residents access to the workforce in Alaska. MS. COWAN opined that this bill eliminates the requirement of a student to take one of the tests in order to receive a diploma in that the requirement was on the district and not on the student to graduate. She opined the bill is a better approach than requiring an individual accountability approach by the student and pulling back on that issue would remove a burden on the student. She indicated the school could continue to audit the test and she would appreciate the state's support in offering the WorkKeys Assessment exam. 8:30:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON surmised that the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development could continue to require that the WorkKeys Assessment exam is given to every 11th grader and have the money come out of the school district 's own budget instead of one of the assessments being taken [for graduation]. MS. COWAN replied that if the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development is going to require it, she expects that without adding on further band aids it will support it. Her understanding, she expressed, is that HB 80 removes the requirement for ACT/SAT and Workkeys Assessment for the diploma and suggested the WorkKeys Assessment exam could be given as it was many years prior to the 2014 House Bill 278, without the diploma requirement. 8:32:39 AM CONNIE NEWMAN, Superintendent, Pribilof Island School District, testified in support of HB 80 as the information collected from WorkKeys Assessment is not used to the best advantage for her small and remote village. In that regard, she and her staff decided to not implement the ACT and WorkKeys Assessment option for the piece required for a student's assessment. [Technical difficulties between 8:33:40 and 8:33:52.] 8:33:52 AM JACK WALSH, Superintendent, Craig School District, testified his school district supports of HB 80, and expressed concerns as a former special education teacher [technical difficulties] of the residents and students. [Technical difficulties] estimates that approximately seven years ago people debated whether the graduation exam accomplished its goals and how prepared students were at graduation. He described the exams as important tools, yet at times the right test was not used for its intended purpose and great errors were made in judgement. For example, he remarked, Alaska does not require an ACT/SAT to attend college yet requires that every youth graduating from high school take the exams. He expressed surprise with the five pages of employers interested in Workkeys Assessment scores and noted that his opposition to the tests [technical difficulties] as the opposition to continuing the tests has more to do with unintended consequences. 8:37:41 AM DEENA PARAMO, Superintendent, Matanuska-Susitna School District, testified in support of HB 80, and echoed Ms. Cowan in that it is a need versus a want. She pointed out that she personally has a high school student and did not have to pay for an SAT exam this year which was a gift from the state, but the state is in a difficult time of revenue. Unfortunately, she commented, youth did not take the test seriously unless they saw the outcome as necessary. However, in Matanuska-Susitna assistance will be offered to students that require assistance in paying the $82.00 ACT/SAT or Workkeys Assessment tests, she said. 8:39:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ praised the low income support and asked how that will occur should this bill pass. MS. PARAMO replied that prior to this year it was a choice if the student was going to college. She offered that within her school district counselors know the students and there are avenues and waivers to cover fees privately with no equity for students, which includes sports fees and lunches. CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony after ascertaining no one further wished to testify. 8:41:02 AM CHAIR KELLER commented "this was not a set up" as the sponsor was not aware the superintendents would be in town [technical difficulties]. CHAIR KELLER re-opened public testimony. 8:41:48 AM LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner's Office, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), clarified that HB 80 removes funding and it depends upon the amount dollars left in the budget at the end of session whether testing in schools could continue. The Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development seeks funding for initiatives from the legislature and the WorkKeys Assessment program started as a statewide requirement in FY2009. Last year 49 high schools were considered national test sites to offer the SAT, however, a statewide contract offering the SAT to students across the state opened up the ability for more high schools to test. Therefore, this year the state is testing at 93 high schools. Last year 40 high schools served as national test sites for ACT and the in- school testing program increased that amount to 255 schools. He pointed out that in-school testing would go away because it is only available with a statewide contract. He commented that 89 high schools offer both, in that a district has a choice of offering the SAT, ACT, or both, and students are able to choose either test. 8:45:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE COLVER pointed out that the fiscal note indicates a cost of $52.50 per student, for a savings $525,000, yet individually the cost is $82.00. He asked whether testing companies could provide the bundled cost rate versus the higher direct individual rate. MR. MORSE opined that the cost of the SAT is $52.50 regardless of a state contract. In the event that is not the case the EED would advocate to the vendor for those costs. 8:47:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD recalled that her amendment to House Bill 278 removed the ACT/SAT due to the common core alignment and the costs. Further, she commented, that when the Alaska Performance Scholarship are evaluated privately funded scores are received, and asked whether the state would continue to receive those scores. MR. MORSE advised that EED has been receiving those scores for APS verification and would continue to receive those scores to determine the student's qualifications for the scholarship. REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD opined that that students should give their permission for the scores. She quiered as to whether there is any impact to the No Child Left Behind waiver in repealing the ACT/SAT or WorkKeys Assessment. MR. MORSE responded that this legislation would have no impact on the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) at this point. The number of students participating in the assessment is used in the Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI). In the event this was removed, EED would have to make a change as it is used as a college career readiness indicator that the students are thinking about college and careers. However, no dollars are attached to it as it is part of the school rating system. The Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development would have look at the rating system and remove that particular indicator for college career readiness. 8:50:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON questioned whether passage of HB 80 negates the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development requirement that 11th grade students take the WorkKeys Assessment. MR. MORSE answered that it would depend upon the agency budget at the end of the legislative session. He added that this bill does remove the associated funding and he does not know whether money would be available to support the test. 8:51:07 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked for clarification as to whether the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development could proceed with the requirement through passage of HB 80. MR. MORSE replied in the negative as it is not the same requirement in that the bill repeals the mandate that a student must take the test in order to graduate. Prior to the legislation last year, the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development required all 11th graders to take the WorkKeys Assessment exam with funding attached, but it wasn't a requirement for graduation. His understanding of Rep Seaton's question was whether the board reinitiate that requirement, which has been removed, and the answer is they could "it could be a high stakes in terms of requiring students to participate to graduate and the other question would be a funding question." 8:52:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ inquired what provisions are made for students of low economic means should a student voluntarily choose to take the exam. MR. MORSE answered there is nothing on a statewide level. Although, there are some provision EED helps administer through vendors for certain students to receive a fee waiver. He does not know the number of students as it is primarily performed through the vendor offering fee waivers. It is important to understand, he explained, that the bill removes the school testing requirement from 205 schools and, thereby, students have no access for assessments. CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony after ascertaining no one further wished to testify. 8:54:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE COLVER offered support for HB 80 and noted this is the time to access these mandates as far as cost and effectiveness. To get results, classroom time should be supported, and removal of this assessment will provide that opportunity, he opined. 8:55:41 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reminded the committee this is not the House Finance Committee and to approach this bill from the educational aspect. He remarked that 70 percent of Alaskan students do not attend college and enter the workforce but their needs of an education was not being addressed. He pointed to today's testimony wherein a speaker stated they are not offering the WorkKeys Assessment and instead are going to the ACT/SAT which are not career readiness exams. He is not opposed to removing the focus from college bound students but he objects to the bill removing the WorkKeys Assessment portion which the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development determined would assist the 70 percent of workforce bound students and, he opined, the prior system targeted educating everyone. Passage of this bill causes the state to lose the initiative for employable students at graduation and, he pointed out, the state is stepping backwards in education without a WorkKeys Assessment track. He said he is not against eliminating the idea of ACT/SAT funding, but previously there was a better target on the majority of Alaskan students, and he is not voting for this bill. 8:59:46 AM CHAIR KELLER pointed out that the Finance Committee specifically requested that standing committees consider the fiscal consequences of policy decisions. He opined that a vote for HB 80 does not equate to a vote against WorkKeys Assessment, and will be voting in favor of the bill. 9:01:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS testified in support of HB 80, acknowledging Representative Seaton's concerns. Downstream effects do need to be considered, and further hopes that considerations will be brought regarding regulations and the 70/30 rule, waivers, and mandating training the legislature instituted over the years on streamlining school maintenance requirements. 9:02:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD moved to report HB 80, labeled 29- LS0184\H, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected. 9:02:59 AM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Reinbold, Vasquez, Colver, Kreiss-Tomkins and Keller voted in favor of passing HB 80 out of committee. Representatives Seaton and Drummond voted against it. Therefore, HB 80 was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee by a vote of 5-2.