HOUSE BILL NO. 155 "An Act relating to eligibility for the Alaska performance scholarship program." 11:17:44 AM Co-Chair Johnston invited the presenters to the table. REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR, read the prepared sponsor statement: The goal of HB 155 is to allow Career Technical Education (CTE) courses to count towards eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). All too often students who desire CTE classes do not have room in their schedule to simultaneously pursue a CTE track and meet APS eligibility. HB 155 recognizes the importance of CTE for all students, whether they are headed to college, apprenticeships, postsecondary training or entering the workforce. National research tells us that graduation rates are higher for students who take CTE courses, particularly those who take two or more courses as part of a coordinated program of study. These students are often referred to as "concentrators". In Alaska, data shows that students who are CTE concentrators are 19 percent more likely to graduate than their counterparts. HB 155 offers three avenues for a student to incorporate CTE courses in their APS application. Under both the math/science and social studies/language curriculum options a student may replace one credit of social studies with one credit of CTE. (Note - A credit is equivalent to one year, or two semesters of course work.) For students pursuing a more rigorous CTE track, HB155 allows a student to replace two years of world language with two years of CTE, with one year required to be in a sequence of increasing rigor within a career cluster. Financial assistance provided by APS is vital to many young Alaskans and it is important that students who choose a path that includes CTE have access to these resources. Career and Technical Education offers students the opportunity to apply knowledge in a real-world context, develop practices that enrich their lives, and attain skills that can lead to skilled jobs and future occupations. Representative Story continued that the bill had 2 zero fiscal notes, and stressed that the bill was important to students 11:22:56 AM MARY HAKALA, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, read from the Sponsor Statement (copy on file): The goal of HB 155 is to allow Career Technical Education (CTE) courses to count towards eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). All too often students who desire CTE classes do not have room in their schedule to simultaneously pursue a CTE track and meet APS eligibility. HB 155 recognizes the importance of CTE for all students, whether they are headed to college, apprenticeships, postsecondary training or entering the workforce. National research tells us that graduation rates are higher for students who take CTE courses, particularly those who take two or more courses as part of a coordinated program of study. These students are often referred to as "concentrators". In Alaska, data shows that students who are CTE concentrators are 19 percent more likely to graduate than their counterparts. HB 155 offers three avenues for a student to incorporate CTE courses in their APS application. Under both the math/science and social studies/language curriculum options a student may replace one credit of social studies with one credit of CTE. (Note - A credit is equivalent to one year, or two semesters of course work.) For students pursuing a more rigorous CTE track, HB155 allows a student to replace two years of world language with two years of CTE, with one year required to be in a sequence of increasing rigor within a career cluster. Financial assistance provided by APS is vital to many young Alaskans and it is important that students who choose a path that includes CTE have access to these resources. Career and Technical Education offers students the opportunity to apply knowledge in a real world context, develop practices that enrich their lives, and attain skills that can lead to skilled jobs and future occupations. 11:24:39 AM Ms. Hakala directed attention to the scholarship checklist (copy on file): CS HB155 (EDC) offers three options for students to apply CTE credits to Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) eligibility: A) A student may replace one credit social studies with one credit CTE; or B) A student my replace two credits world language with two credits CTE, one year of which is sequentially more rigorous within a career cluster; or C) A student may replace one credit social studies with one credit CTE One credit is equivalent to one year, or two semesters (or semester equivalents) of course work. 11:28:04 AM Ms. Hakala pointed out that there was an addendum to the collaboration, which reflected the collaborative process for advanced career technical education. Co-Chair Johnston asked for a sectional review. Ms. Hakala was happy to provide one. Co-Chair Johnston invited Stephanie Butler to the table to review the fiscal notes. 11:30:02 AM STEPHANIE BUTLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, discussed the fiscal notes. Representative Josephson thought the representative had made a good case about graduation rates, economic benefit, and capturing student interest. He had concerns about his certificate in History. He had worries about the country following the rule of law. Ms. Hakala spoke of struggling in looking at the various requirements. Social Studies offered some wiggle room. Social Studies covered a diverse set of courses compared to Math. Representative Wool thought the bill would bump foreign languages which the committee had just been discussing in the previous bill. He did not think wood shop was as difficult as English. He queried a list of CTE courses. Representative Story deferred to DEED. She remarked that there was an attempt to get more rigorous career technical options for students, but those courses were not listed on the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Representative Wool wondered if some credits would still be required for graduation. Representative Story responded that it would be important to consult a career counselor regarding the specific career requirements. 11:37:14 AM DEB RIDDLE, DIVISION OPERATIONS MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, indicated there was a website to refer to that listed the required courses. Representative Carpenter asked for a refresher of Math and Science requirements. Ms. Hakala responded that under Science, the state requirement were two credits and one health or physical education credit. The math had three credits, social studies had three credits, and language arts had three credits. Representative Carpenter wondered if the class level mattered in the required credits. Ms. Hakala replied that the class level was not specified in statute. 11:40:13 AM Representative Sullivan-Leonard noted the current vocational schools, and wondered whether they were recipients of the scholarship. Ms. Hakala responded that a CTE track existed, but also stressed that it was not in existence. She remarked that the current Alaska Performance Scholarship statute specifically supported a CTE award after graduation, but did not provide a pathway to receive that award. She stated that the legislation would resolve that disconnect by ensuring high school students had a pathway that maintained rigor, and also provided for a CTE focus. She stated that the only difference for a CTE student was that they take the Work Keys test, and those students were still held to the same academic and course work standards as any other student applying for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Representative Sullivan-Leonard wondered how many additional students were anticipated to receive the scholarship funds. Representative Story reported that there was not an anticipated increase in number of students to receive the funds. 11:45:54 AM Representative Wool wondered how useful the math requirements might be to the career education. He felt that the math requirement could be reexamined, and possibly replaced with a CTE course to increase graduation rates. Representative Josephson asked Ms. Hakala to provide the list of CTE courses. Ms. Hakala noted that she had provided the checklist for the current program. Co-Chair Johnston would be setting the bill aside. HB 155 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the afternoon meeting.