HB 18-TEACHERS: NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION  9:01:52 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 18, "An Act relating to national board certification for public school teachers." 9:01:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, paraphrased the sponsor statement for HB 18, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: HB 18 represents a commitment from the legislature to elevate the prestige of the teaching profession in Alaska. National Board certification is reserved for educators who voluntarily undertake, and successfully complete, a rigorous certification process administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The certification process is recognized as an invaluable learning experience for educators that also results in improved student outcomes. In Alaska and across the country, National Board certification is considered the gold standard of professional development for teachers. Certification by the National Board is an indicator of teacher quality. Many studies have concluded that National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) are more effective in the classroom and that students of NBCTs have better academic achievement. By displaying in public schools the name of each NBCT who teaches at that school, HB 18 creates a halo around this superlative certification, imparts upon the community and school the value of NBCTs, and celebrates the hard-earned accomplishments of NBCTs. HB 18 also sets the goal that four percent of public school teachers in Alaska will be National Board certified by 2026 which would nearly double the current number of NBCTs in Alaska and nearly increase by a factor of six the number of NBCTs in classrooms. 9:06:20 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked for the remainder of the text of the proposed legislation. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS replied that approximately 35 pages were eliminated during hearings in the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 9:06:42 AM NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School Boards, presented a PowerPoint titled, "HB 18 - Teachers: National Board Certification." He presented slide 2, "AASB's Mission," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: To advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance. MR. WOOTEN stressed the focus on student achievement in the mission statement, and said the organization is not focused on protecting school boards. He then presented slide 3, "AASB's BOD Goals," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Goal 4: Support school boards and districts to collaborate and implement creative solutions to deliver personalized learning, and prepare Alaska's children and youth for their future. MR. WOOTEN presented slide 4, "AASB Belief Statement B.20," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: QUALITY STAFF IMPROVES STUDENT LEARNING High-quality, highly motivated, culturally responsive and innovative teachers, administrators and other staff are essential for successful student learning. MR. WOOTEN presented slide 5, "AASB Belief Statement B.22," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT AASB believes the elements of a quality educational improvement effort should address the following key areas: Professional Standards: Should include the highest standards of professionalism that exemplifies high moral and ethical standards by school employees throughout the district. MR. WOOTEN presented slide 6, "AASB Resolution 4.1," subtitled, "SUPPORTS FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: AASB supports funded opportunities and sufficient resources for quality and relevant staff preparation and demonstrably effective continuing development in both urban and rural settings for those educating Alaska's public school students. This includes, but is not limited to: ? Professional development for teachers to implement the Alaska State Standards; ? Pre-service: State training programs through postsecondary and other institutions; ? Expanding Department of Education & Early Development packaged training programs for all school districts to use in providing consistent mandated training to employees and in meeting the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; ? Developing resources to allow the sharing and implementation of best educational practices; ? Quality in-service programs at the local district level; ? Necessary training for paraprofessionals and special needs educators. ? Promote local mentors to foster the enculturation of teachers and administrators. ? Cultural orientation and ongoing training in local language, culture and history. 9:11:24 AM MR. WOOTEN presented slide 7, "AASB Resolution 5.23," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: SUPPORTING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL ALASKAN STUDENTS AASB urges stakeholders to be innovative in their thinking and to support efforts to collaboratively change practices and address barriers to implement new ways of teaching and learning in culturally responsive ways. MR. WOOTEN presented slide 8, "Why Do AASB's Foundational Documents Matter?", which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: .notdef Classroom teachers ensure success for Alaska's students. .notdef A good teacher can make a difference in whether a student succeeds or fails .notdef So what makes a good teacher? .notdef Continual professional development .notdef Mentorship for new and low performing teachers .notdef Professional Learning Communities that offer opportunities for sharing best practices .notdef Leadership for implementing student achievement strategies MR. WOOTEN presented slide 9, "How does this pertain to National Board Certification?", which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: .notdef NBC teaches and promotes classroom creativity .notdef NBC requires continual self-evaluation and self- improvement .notdef NBC builds leadership within classrooms, school buildings, and school districts .notdef NBC is about improving instruction = increased student achievement 9:14:51 AM MR. WOOTEN presented slide 10, "Finally - Let's Circle Back," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Why would AASB support National Board Certification? To advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance. NBC is "focused on student achievement"  9:15:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether school districts incentivize board certification, and whether AASB honors teachers in any other way. MR. WOOTEN answered he does not know whether school districts incentivize board certification, but teachers who have attained NBC certification should be honored in some way. REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed the desire to support teachers who achieve NBC, and she noted the cost of certification and suggested that there could be compensation. MR. WOOTEN responded that AASB would be eager to collaborate with the National Education Association-Alaska to look at avenues of NBC promotion. 9:18:39 AM MATT MOSER, Government Relations Director, National Education Association-Alaska, on behalf of Tom Klaameyer, president of NEA-Alaska, offered comments in support of HB 18. In response to Representative Story's question regarding school districts and board certification, he said approximately six school districts include contract language for NBC teachers. He explained that NBC is an advanced certification that goes beyond Alaska's licensure, considered by many to be a true mark of excellent and recognized as the teaching profession's highest credential. He said NBC has been described by educators as one of the most difficult things they've done, with intensive self- reflection on the teacher's part. He said a 2017 study in Mississippi found that students of NBC teachers are significantly more likely to score proficiently on literacy assessments; kindergarten students are 31 percent more likely to receive a score of "proficient" on their readiness assessment compared to other students; and third-grade students are 11 percent more likely to receive a "proficient" score on math and English/language arts assessments. 9:22:17 AM MR. WOOTEN shared a multi-year study in Washington State that found that being taught by NBC teachers equated to an additional 1.5 months of learning, and Harvard University's Strategic Data Project found that students of NBC teachers in the Los Angeles County School District gained roughly the equivalent of two additional months of math instruction and one month of English/language arts. The learning community in general, he said, is also impacted; in Florida, Ohio, and South Carolina, NBC has been a tool utilized to keep excellent educators in the profession, with studies showing that attrition among NBC teachers is three times lower than teacher attrition statewide. Teachers with NBC become leaders, mentoring other teachers, and transforming isolated pockets of excellence into systemwide improvements. MR. MOSER stressed NEA-Alaska's wholehearted support of efforts to increase the number of NBC teachers, and suggested financial incentives, noting that it costs approximately $2,000 to earn the initial certification, which must be renewed every five years. Teachers in up to 25 other states often earn an annual stipend of $5,000, with additional stipends for teachers who work as an NBC teacher in a high-needs school. He said NEA- Alaska offers an intensive, one-week preparation course for teachers to prepare for NBC. He said Alaska currently has 202 NBC teachers, with 24 candidates in the process, so it could be a modest investment in education to incentivize teachers to achieve NBC. 9:27:10 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked which organization runs the certification process. MR. MOSER responded that the governing body is an independent group. 9:28:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS answered that NBC is run by an independent nonprofit composed of a variety of education professionals. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX suggested Googling it. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said there is a website that describes the process and standards, including the peer review process. 9:29:32 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated HB 18 was held over.