HOUSE BILL NO. 21 "An Act relating to the length of a school week; and providing for an effective date." 3:01:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, shared her sponsor statement: HB21 would allow a pilot program for one rural school district to implement a 4 day school week. There is continued concern of poor student performance in our schools. We should be actively seeking alternative solutions that may improve district results. There are over 22 states in the US that have implemented a 4 day week in rural districts. For most schools this has been a positive achievement - increased morale for students and teachers, reduced absenteeism and allowing teachers and students to have more direct contact time which then leads to better understanding of educational materials. Provisions in HB 21 require the district to show that the majority of the community, students and teachers support the implementation of this program. Additionally, the district will have to prove that the students are receiving the equivalent of a 5 day school week. They will also be required to file quarterly reports to the Department of Education on student and teacher performance and the effect of the program. Specifically an annual report will be required to be submitted to the legislative education committee on the progress and performance ratings from the school district. This report will be due no later than January 15th and must include a comparison of the performance ratings before and after implementation of the 4 day week. This bill is specific for a 3 year pilot program; at the end of that time period, the State Board of Education will evaluate the program and determine if it is beneficial to the district. Representative Wilson added that the bill would help schools to continue to evolve and assist rural districts in achieving academic excellence, while responding to the changing needs of the 21st century. She said the bill would help students work, if necessary, to help their families and to travel for sports and other activities. She asserted that the bill would allow time for people in rural communities to travel for medical procedures and for teachers to receive professional development without the loss of student teacher contact hours. She shared that there were 120 school districts in 22 states across the nation that had implemented a four-day school week. She cited Colorado where the change had resulted in savings on fuel and pupil transportation. She asserted that one of the biggest documented benefits of moving to a four-day week was the drop in absenteeism in both students and teachers. She reiterated that it would be a trial program; an evolving program to gather data to assess its effectiveness in Alaska. 3:05:30 PM Representative Peggy Wilson pointed out to the committee that the state Board of Education met on a quarterly basis and would not be meet again in time to approve the program for the coming school year. She said that the recommendation had been to change the governing body back to the commissioner's office; in this vein, it was also suggested that the timeline for the commissioner to make the decision be short so that the program could be put into effect for the coming school year. She relayed that there would be no comparative data the first year of the program because tests were administered in the spring and the result would not be returned by the end of the school year. She suggested that reports to the legislature be given after the second and third years of the program in order to ensure accurate results. She mentioned that teacher retirements could be jeopardized because they are based on the number of days that a teacher worked. She understood that teachers were required to work 180 days per-year, which could be easily met by using an approved alternative schedule that met the hours necessary and could replace the day requirement. 3:08:46 PM Representative Costello noted that often the state would do a pilot program in order to determine the return on investment. She noted the lack of a fiscal note attached to the legislation and wondered why the bill was limited on one rural school district, rather than allowing all interested parties to participate. Representative Peggy Wilson responded that she would be open to including more than one school district. Co-Chair Stoltze hoped that the commissioner from the Department of Education and Early development would comment on the program. 3:09:33 PM MICHAEL HANLEY, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, replied that under current statute the commissioner could allow for a four day week. He was not concerned about the pilot program. 3:10:34 PM Representative Costello understood that the legislature would receive information on the pilot program which would help to determine the program's success. Representative Peggy Wilson replied yes. She added that one of the school districts that she represented had requested the program in 2012, which the commissioner denied. She said that the parents of those students and the school board approached her to sponsor the legislation. She hoped that positive data would pave the way for the program in other schools. 3:12:29 PM Representative Costello pointed to the report, "Four-Day School Week Report in Montana Public Schools October 2011 (copy on file). She noted that Page 9 listed the some of the states that had gone to a four-day school week. She relayed that the results had shown improved attendance and drop-out rates, but no marked improvement in student achievement. Representative Peggy Wilson hoped the state would see academic improvement. She believed that the program required proper planning and execution in order to be successful. 3:13:41 PM Co-Chair Stoltze stated that time was running short. 3:14:00 PM Representative Costello wondered if community support for the program was limited to the school community, or if it included the voting public. Representative Peggy Wilson replied that the parents, teachers, community, and the school board needed be invested in the program. 3:14:47 PM Representative Thompson wondered about the academic possibilities of a six-day school week. Representative Peggy Wilson replied that she had not researched a six-day school week. 3:15:28 PM Representative Gara wondered if language could be added that allow one or more schools within the district to implement the pilot respective of class levels. Representative Peggy Wilson replied that the bill would work better in rural areas because the rural areas children came home to an adult in the house. 3:16:50 PM Co-Chair Austerman understood that the commissioner already retained the authority to implement the program. Commissioner Hanley replied in the affirmative. He said that the bill allowed for a 30 day window for the school board to make the decision, rather than the commissioner. 3:17:46 PM Co-Chair Austerman queried if Commissioner Hanley had turned down any school district requests for a four day week. Commissioner Hanley responded yes. He relayed that the district's proposal had not met all of the requirements. 3:18:52 PM RON FUHRER, PRESIDENT, NEA-ALASKA, testified in support of HB 21. He provided his background in the state education system. He believed that the pilot program should be implemented in order for the state to assess the probable benefits. 3:21:04 PM Co-Chair Stoltze acknowledged the prime sponsors of the bill. 3:21:26 PM Co-Chair Stoltze queried whether the shorter week could result in over-time or other negotiable issues. Mr. Fuhrer believed that it would be a local control issue and that it would require a collaborative effort for all parties involved. He thought that if people worked together it would return positive results. 3:22:18 PM LAUREN BURCH, SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHEAST ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, THORNE BAY (via teleconference), testified in support of HB 21. He shared that the local school advisory councils that had been set up for the district's nine different schools were set up to allow for public involvement. He said that anyone who attended a meeting could vote on the issues, including students. 3:23:55 PM Representative Wilson inquired whether districts could customize the school year schedule around what worked best for the students in the community. Mr. Burch thought so. He warned that altering days and hours could result in some union pushback. 3:24:36 PM Representative Wilson wondered if more weeks in the school year, rather than longer school day hours, could help the four-day school week concept. 3:24:47 PM Co-Chair Stoltze expressed that the negotiations would be at the local level but the funding would still be a state issue. 3:25:24 PM Representative Wilson believed that a school district could add weeks to the school year in order to maintain the shorter week. 3:25:55 PM Co-Chair Stoltze suggested that the sponsors explore the financial ramifications of contract involving a shift from a four-day work week to a five-day work week for the law enforcement union. 3:26:57 PM BRUCE JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, testified to the council's support of HB 21. He related that the council embraced the idea of school choice. He stated that the council would follow the evolution of the legislation closely. 3:27:53 PM Co-Chair Stoltze probed any trepidation that the council might have in implementing the program. Mr. Johnson replied that problems would be handled at the local level and within the parameters of current law. 3:28:11 PM Co-Chair Stoltze asked if Mr. Johnson, as a representative of school administrators, could speak to any concerns regarding negotiations or bargaining issues. Mr. Johnson replied that all negotiations would have to be in writing. 3:28:57 PM Representative Wilson commented that the four-day school week was still available whether the bill moved forward or not. Mr. Johnson replied that the council had been supportive of the commissioner retaining the ability to establish a four- day school week. He shared that the council had been involved with the district that had made the failed proposal to the commissioner. 3:29:30 PM Representative Gara thought that it was important that the bill would not limit the board of education's ability to allow the program in more than one district. 3:30:29 PM HB 21 was held and was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. 3:30:40 PM Co-Chair Austerman discussed housekeeping. 3:31:14 PM