HB 171-ALASKA HISTORY CURRICULUM CHAIR BUNDE announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 171, "An Act relating to a curriculum for Alaska history; and providing for an effective date." Number 1341 CHAIR BUNDE stated that Representative Kapsner, sponsor, had an amendment she would like to offer. He made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, 22-LS0070\P.1, Ford, 4/21/01, which read: Page 3, line 19: Delete "school board" Insert "governing body" Page 3, following line 22: Insert a new subsection to read: "(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a governing body may waive completion of the curriculum described under (a) of this section as a requirement for graduation for a student who transfers into the district after completion of the student's junior year or for a student who receives special education services." Reletter the following subsection accordingly. Page 3, line 26: Delete "." Insert "; (3) "special education" has the meaning given in AS 14.30.350." CHAIR BUNDE objected to allow Representative Kapsner to speak to the amendment. REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, Alaska State Legislature, came forth as sponsor of HB 171. She stated that individual school districts can choose that [the Alaska history class] be a stand- alone class or be integrated into current curricula. She said she thinks this is one of the things that makes school districts most comfortable with the bill. She added that the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) has been very cooperative in creating "modulars." REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER explained that the first portion of her amendment deletes "school board" on page 3, line 19, and inserts "governing body". She said it was unclear to some people whether school board meant regional school board or the state school board; inserting "governing body" clarifies that it is the local school board. She explained that on page 3, following line 22, a [new sub section (6)] will be inserted: Finally, she said, "special education" will be defined in statute. Number 1457 CHAIR BUNDE asked why special-education students would be excluded from taking Alaska history. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that the intent of this language is for the school district to determine who can finish the course and who may not be able to. She stated that the EED thought that different school districts would have different standards, and since this would be a requirement, she said she didn't want some special-education students not to be able to graduate because they couldn't finish this course. CHAIR BUNDE stated that a "regular" student who did not pass this course would be denied a diploma, but a person who had an IEP (Individual Education Plan) would basically be guaranteed a diploma. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER replied that it is at the discretion of the local school district. Number 1579 A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wilson, Stevens, Joule, and Guess voted for Amendment 1. Representatives Green and Bunde voted against it. (Representative Porter was absent) Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 4-2. Number 1600 REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS moved to report HB 171, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. He commented that there is so much misunderstanding about Alaska's history among students, but he knows of districts that do attempt to include the curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade. He added that there was a discussion during the last hearing about how many teachers that come to [Alaska's] schools without training in Alaska history are required to study it. Therefore, he said he thinks there is a tremendous amount of knowledge [among educators]. CHAIR BUNDE announced that there being no objection, CSHB 171(EDU) was moved from the House Special Committee on Education.