HB 157-LANG. IMMERSION SCHOOLS/TEACHER CERTS.  8:37:17 AM CHAIR KELLER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 157, "An Act relating to language immersion charter schools; relating to teacher certification; and relating to standards-based assessments in language immersion charter schools and language immersion programs." 8:39:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said the information from the previous hearing was incorporated into a new committee substitute and every section of the bill has been revised. The goal of the bill is to encourage and streamline immersion schools in Alaska. 8:41:49 AM CHAIR KELLER noted that the legislation appears to create a particular type of charter school model that is new to the state and establish new educational policies. He stated his understanding that charter schools are an effort to return local control to districts; however, this legislation appears to involve the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) in the specific area of language schools. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said that language schools are quite different from other facilities, requiring that subject teachers also be fluent in the immersion language. He pointed out that these teachers may have difficulty in attaining a state teaching certificate. The bill is a vehicle to address the unique character of immersion schools and enhance the ability for teachers to meet the certification demands. It is important to understand that a qualified teacher, who has English as a second language, may find it difficult to achieve a state teaching certification. 8:44:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE COLVER expressed concerns for injecting burdensome bureaucracy into the charter school system. CHAIR KELLER said the proposed legislation may create a template containing a new policy that will extend beyond the linguistic programs. 8:45:40 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the main thrust of HB 157 applies to a type M permit. The M permit is generally issued to someone with a specialized skill to allow them to lead a class, such as an expert welder. The immersion teacher doesn't necessarily fall under the M permit, as they must provide a wider expanse of topics, he noted, and asked for clarity regarding the intent of the bill. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS concurred and opined that the current state certification process is not accommodating to language specialists. 8:46:58 AM CHAIR KELLER established that the original HB 157 labeled, 29- LS03234\S was before the committee, and asked for a review of changes that might affect the current charter school statutes. He referred to the committee packet document, titled, "Sectional Analysis, HB 157 - Language Immersion Schools/Teacher Certifications (version S)," and the Section 1 entry, which read: Section 1 requires the charter contract between a school board and a language immersion charter school established under section 2 of the bill to contain provisions requiring compliance with section 2. CHAIR KELLER asked to whom the compliance language refers. REID MAGDANZ, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Alaska State Legislature, responded that immersion institutions would have a contract indicating compliance and ensuring that the requirement to provide 50 percent of instructional hours in a non-English language was being met. 8:48:35 AM CHAIR KELLER noted that Sec. 2 represents a new section, and expressed concern that it may contain restrictions to district programs. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS assured the committee that the intent is to eliminate the cumbersome process currently in place and address the specialized field of language immersion. However, he stressed, the expectation is for the bill to be complimentary, and additive without displacing existing charter school statutes. 8:50:20 AM CHAIR KELLER asked if the 50 percent instructional requirement could cause Fronteras to make significant curriculum changes to remain in compliance, and whether the proposed bill provide any benefits over current statute. 8:50:50 AM JENNIFER HUTCHINS, Principal, Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School, stated support for HB 157, and emphasized the need for the legislation, as a means to bolster other programs and alleviate the stress involved in staffing. She explained the difficulty in recruiting language/culture holders, who can also qualify for a state teaching certificate. The existing statutes include specifications that ensures adherence to the established standards and evaluation processes for all teachers. CHAIR KELLER surmised that the certification portion of the bill is the priority aspect. MS. HUTCHINS concurred. 8:54:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that the bill doesn't prevent a school from using a 40 or 60 percent language practice, only if a request is being made for this type of teacher certification. MR. MAGDANZ said correct. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS added that many immersion programs have a blend of curriculum to provide more than 50 percent target language instruction, which is the minimum that the bill establishes. CHAIR KELLER theorized that a school offering 40 percent would not qualify for the proposed certification changes. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS clarified that the 50 percent represents an aspirational benchmark. A school would submit a proposal to EED to indicate how the benchmark would be reached, and the agency would make the determination for compliance. 8:58:07 AM MR. MAGDANZ turned to the bill Sec. 2, page 3, and lines 22-25, which read: (f) Notwithstanding (e) of this section, a person who possesses a teacher certificate issued under AS 14.20.015, 14.20.017, AS 14.20.020, or 14.20.022, but does not possess a language immersion endorsement issued under AS 14.20.021, may teach classes in English at a language immersion charter school. MR. MAGDANZ pointed out that subsection (f) is specific to an immersion language charter school, and no other charter schools. 8:59:05 AM CHAIR KELLER referred to the bill requirements indicated on page 2, lines 9-11, and expressed interest in knowing whether the language indicates a need for EED to write new regulation. 8:59:52 AM MR. MAGDANZ said Sec. 3 includes language for implementation of higher standards and specific training for teachers at immersion schools. The section is modeled after one Utah has in place, called a world languages endorsement, which attaches to a standard certificate and verifies a fitness for teaching other subject matter in a foreign language. 9:00:44 AM CHAIR KELLER directed attention to the bill Sec. 4, page 4, line 2, which read: (3) demonstrates the ability to conduct classroom activities entirely in the indigenous or foreign language; and CHAIR KELLER surmised that this would require additional departmental regulation to ensure compliance. MR. MAGDANZ concurred, and to a follow-up question, responded that the department will not be required to approve the course or program of study that the immersion teacher attends. 9:02:20 AM CHAIR KELLER questioned the deletion of the language on page 4, line 11, which reads: ... expertise for which it is issued, to teach Alaska Native [LANGUAGE OR] culture, ... MR. MAGDANZ responded that in creating a new limited teacher's certificate, specific to language, the deletion is appropriate from this section and the intent is recaptured in Section 6. CHAIR KELLER noted deletion of language from Sec. 4, page 4, lines 19-22, which read: ... competent as a teacher [. THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE A PERSON ISSUED A LIMITED CERTIFICATE TO UNDERTAKE ACADEMIC TRAINING AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE BOARD BY REGULATION AND MAKE SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN THE ACADEMIC TRAINING]. MR. MAGDANZ clarified that it is being removed as it applies to someone teaching a specific skill, such as carpentry, and the requirement was deemed unnecessary for the purposes of the language endorsement being proposed. 9:04:59 AM CHAIR KELLER directed attention to Sec. 5, page 4, line 31, and page 5, lines 1-2, which read: (c) The board may not require, as a condition for extending or renewing a limited certificate under (b) of this section, that a person complete additional academic training. CHAIR KELLER noted that the wordage is in keeping with the preceding language adjustments. MR. MAGDANZ concurred. 9:05:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS moved to Sec. 6, beginning on page 5, to comment that it represents the vital organs of the bill in order to provide a pathway for language speakers to be in the classroom. CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony. 9:07:48 AM SUSAN SCHMIDT, Recruiting and Operations, stated support for HB 157, and said that all of the immersion classes are very popular and have waiting lists. Recently a Spanish speaking teacher was out of the classroom, and finding a substitute was difficult. The person finally located has indicated interested in continuing in the classroom, however, he would be required to enroll in a class at the university. 9:10:51 AM DR. BARBARA AMAROK, PhD, provided a brief history of the depression of the Native languages and erosion of the culture, during the last century in Alaska. Fortunately, the generational change has seen a turn of events and refocused the importance for acceptance and preservation of the Native's authentic history and culture. She provided personal anecdotes illustrating her families' experiences of the initial cultural divide and the recent reunion. 9:13:12 AM SHAWN ARNOLD, Superintendent, Nome Public Schools, stated support for HB 157, noting the importance for having a method in place that will help to recruit language speakers. Some people are unable to attain certification until they have been hired, due to financial constraints. 9:15:51 AM LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), pointed out that a limited certificate is currently allowed, as shown in Sec. 4, page 4, line 7, specific to teaching Alaska Native language or culture. He suggested the language proposed for removal be retained and the term "world" inserted. Thus, the concerns addressed by the previous two witnesses might be satisfied. The Sec. 4 language, proposed for removal, lines 19-22, were adopted to ensure that a skilled worker, such as a carpenter, could not be required to attend college classes in carpentry in order to receive a type M certificate, but could be required to take classes specific to teaching and assessing students. 9:19:10 AM MR. MORSE moved to Sec.6, beginning on page 5, line 3, and said the proposed language would allow a limited certificate teacher to instruct any subject class, with allowance for the board to impose content testing of an instructor's knowledge. However, the concern is that although a teacher may be capable of teaching a subject, such as math in a foreign language due to having passed a content examination, they may not have a full, extended knowledge of math. Additionally, a teacher not holding a bachelor's degree, is not qualified to be enrolled in the teacher retirement system (TRS). It is the teaching of the other content areas that raises concern, he stressed. The proposed language is appropriate to describe a paraprofessional position, or teacher's aide. He added that the forthcoming bill version may alter these concerns, as well as change the fiscal note. 9:23:05 AM CHAIR KELLER inquired about the status of immersion schools in Alaska and whether they are all charter schools. MR. MORSE said there is no charter requirement for an immersion school, and he conjectured that some exist which aren't charter facilities. CHAIR KELLER asked about immersion school status in other states. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND offered that Anchorage School District (ASD) has had language immersion classes available, within the neighborhood schools, since the 1990's. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS confirmed that ASD, as well as other states, have immersion programs in public schools. CHAIR KELLER noted that the limited certification applies to all schools not only the charter school. 9:26:34 AM KEVIN ALLEN, Student Representative, Thunder Mountain High School, stated support for HB 157, suggesting that it may be the best way to preserve Alaskan Native languages. 9:28:39 AM CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony and announced HB 157 as held.