HB 236-INCREASE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION  CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 236 "An Act relating to education; increasing the base student allocation; and providing for an effective date." CO-CHAIR STORY recalled that during its 2/26 and 3/4 meetings, the House Education Standing Committee had heard testimony on HB 236 from the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA), and the National Education Association of Alaska (NEA-Alaska). She noted that 43 individuals had testified from 13 communities, and an additional 14 individuals were unable to testify due to time constraints. She stated that the committee had received over 80 letters, emails, and resolutions. She said 260 Anchorage residents had submitted written opposition to budget cuts proposed at the Anchorage School District. She noted that all but two invited, written, and public testimony supported HB 236. 8:05:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX suggested that alternatives to public schools, such as home schools and charter schools, are more cost-effective than public schools, and he asked whether there exists a strategic plan for public schools that includes cost savings. 8:07:02 AM CO-CHAIR STORY indicated that the Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) has developed "Alaska's Education Challenge" as its strategic plan. 8:07:26 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND added that public education funds a significant number of alternative schools, including home schools, and thousands of students. She added that home school students receive nearly the same base student allocation (BSA) as do public school students. 8:08:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX acknowledged the number of alternative schools is increasing, which he said he endorses. 8:08:49 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND shared that her experiences as a school board member and legislator has resulted in significant interaction with members of the public regarding public education and its funding. She recalled her prior experience as a member of the Anchorage School Board as having been required to implement drastic budget cuts over a number of years. She suggested that further cuts are unsustainable. She offered that public education funding is necessary to attract families and an educated workforce to live, stay, and thrive in Alaska. She urged support of HB 236. 8:10:40 AM CO-CHAIR STORY suggested that passage of HB 236 would be a step in the right direction for education policy and an advance toward goals of creating certainty and predictability in public education funding. She noted that HB 236 is a two-year funding mechanism which results in flat funding next year and inflation proofing the following year. She suggested that the proposed increase is modest, and failure to pass HB 236 would result in a net cut of $30 million to education. She indicated there is a perception that education costs are disproportionately high in Alaska. She pointed out that when adjusted for cost of living and other unique attributes of funding education in Alaska, public education funding is within the mean of national spending on education on a per-student basis. She urged support of HB 236 and heralded investment in education as investment in the future of Alaska. 8:12:36 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND moved to report HB 236 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 236 was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.