SB 283-LEGAL AGE FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE  8:02:32 AM CO-CHAIR MEYER announced consideration of SB 283. CO-CHAIR THOMAS read the following sponsor statement: A good ending is made by a good beginning. If we are going to assure that our students finish school successfully, we need to assure that they have a strong beginning. Studies show that early involvement in education is crucial to the success of a child. Waiting until a child is seven before starting the education process may hinder a child's academic success. Involvement in Head Start, Pre-kindergarten programs, or other "brain smart" programs for children enhances their chances for later success in school and work. Under our current law, children do not have to enter the school system until they are seven years old. SB 283 changes the mandatory enrollment age to six. The trend is to start children off at younger ages, rather than waiting. The majority of Alaskan children are already in school by age six. The state funds kindergarten for students as young as five, as well as a pilot program for pre-kindergarten children. SB 283 brings statute closer to the reality of educational practice in the state. Currently 32 states have a minimum school age of five or six. Of those 32 states the overwhelming majority, 24, have established age six as the mandatory starting point. Only sixteen states have a starting point of age seven. Originally the minimum age in Alaska was eight, and was lowered to seven by 1929. The minimum age has remained a constant since then, even as society and educational practice has gone through major changes. Education--early education--is very important. Senate Bill 283 helps give our children the beginning they deserve. CO-CHAIR THOMAS offered himself up for questions the committee might have. He pointed out the information packet he had provided the committee which included some of the studies that have been done on early childhood development. He also referred to the presentations that have been given by Bright Beginnings in which they discuss the dramatic growth of the brain from birth until the age of seven. They explain that after the age of seven the growth of the brain slows down. Senator Thomas continued that early childhood education can be a good time to pinpoint any learning disabilities early on and correct or at least give the child the opportunity to rise to their highest potential. He asserted that the children that most need the schooling are the ones that are not put in school early enough. 8:05:41 AM SENATOR HUGGINS asked if the bill would impact Head Start's parameters. MURRAY RICHMOND, aide to Senator Thomas, said no, most children are in school by that time. It would not affect Head Start. CO-CHAIR THOMAS expanded further by explaining that the children affected the most are those who are in no formal early educational training for a variety of reasons. He explained that, for this reason, the bill would bring those children into the system that most need it. SENATOR STEVENS asked if they had received any response from school boards or school districts. MR. RICHMOND answered that the only response that they had received was from the Literacy Council who was in favor of SB 283. 8:07:21 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS said the response from the Anchorage and Fairbanks School Districts was positive. SENATOR HUGGINS asked how much exposure the bill has received. He questioned whether they were really accomplishing something in looking into SB 283 or were they facilitating actions that are already taking place. MR. RICHMOND answered that SB 283 brings the statute into what they are doing now. By having the age seven they have made a statement that they do not believe that early education is important. By changing the age to six he believed they would be recognizing this importance. Also, in regard to opposition, 12 exemptions exist in the current statute for not placing a child in school (for example, homeschooling or an absence due to illness). None of the exemptions would be affected by the bill. SENATOR DAVIS agreed with the Mr. Richmond's statement and pointed out that the bill has been introduced in similar forms in the past and would not come as a surprise to the public. In the past, she believed that the reason there was opposition in trying to pass the bill was because they had tried to move the age to five. She asserted that parents that are in opposition to SB 283 would be able to choose from the 12 exemptions that already exist. CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if the reason the bill had not passed before was because they attempted to move the age to five. SENATOR DAVIS answered that in the past it did not receive enough attention to be heard. However, for the past four years the bill had received more attention, but the age was five instead of six. CO-CHAIR MEYER agreed with Senator Davis and recognized that the public has been made aware of this bill for some time. SENATOR STEVENS asked when a child would be required to attend school if they turn six during the school year. MR. RICHMOND said to his understanding there is a cutoff date that is established and if the child is six before that established date they would be required to attend school that school year. If the child turns six after the cutoff date they are not be required to attend school that year. CO-CHAIR THOMAS agreed with the Mr. Richmond's statement. 8:12:55 AM LARRY LEDOUX, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), commented that SB 283 is a good thing. It is important that young children have some early education so that they can learn to read. SB 283 would allow DEED to intervene if necessary in a circumstance where a child is not receiving the needed instruction at home. SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the waiver to start children earlier than the mandatory age. He asked if this would lower that age. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX responded that the statute currently allows children who are five by September 15 to begin school. He does not believe it is good to start any earlier than they should. He has not seen a lot of good come from starting a child really early and he supports this state law. SB 283 would not affect that statute. 8:15:04 AM CO-CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony. He asked if the committee had any other questions or comments about the bill and confirmed that SB 283 had a 0 fiscal note. 8:15:28 AM SENATOR DAVIS moved to report SB 283, version R from the committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 283 was moved from committee. 8:18:22 AM SENATOR OLSON joined the meeting.