SB 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION  10:01:01 AM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 72 "An Act relating to civics education, civics examinations, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date." He asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS). 10:01:12 AM SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the CS for SB 72, work order 32- LS0478\B, as the working document. 10:01:26 AM CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposed of discussion and asked Mr. Lamkin to explain the committee substitute. 10:01:38 AM TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State Legislature, explained the changes in the committee substitute for SB 72: Change #1 The title, Page 1, Line 1 Delete: "examinations" Insert: "assessments" Change #2 Section 1, page 1 of Version A was largely struck and rewritten. The reference to the U.S. Citizenship exam was deleted and replaced in Version B to instead direct the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development (SBOE) to develop curriculum for, and an assessment that aligns with, existing Alaska education standards for Government and Citizenship. The curriculum is to include traditional American government as well as Alaska native tribal government studies. School Districts are to administer the state assessment to graduating seniors in order to receive a diploma. Change #3 Section 2, page 2 The reporting requirement was changed to include a summary of what civics courses are offered at the district level, disaggregated by district, as well as data on student performance on the assessment established in Section 1 MR. LAMKIN said that during the first hearing for the bill, there was reference to insensitivity to high-stakes exams in order to graduate. The bill was rewritten to strike reference to the naturalization test currently administered to immigrants wishing to have citizenship. The bill includes a test but not a passing score. The burden is now shifted to the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), who will speak to this. The department has resources to develop curriculum and assessment that would be available free of charge to school districts, which would report on student performance on the assessment. The bill also wants to show sensitivity to Alaska's unique cultures and Alaska Native tribal governance. 10:03:39 AM CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. There being no further objection, version B was before the committee. SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated the work of his aide in working with DEED. DEED had excellent suggestions. Instead of imposing a national test, DEED will create its own curriculum and assessment. He is pleased to come to that position and anxious to hear from the commissioner. CHAIR HOLLAND called on Ms. Van Wyhe. 10:04:53 AM TAMARA VAN WYHE, Director, Division of Innovation and Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Anchorage, Alaska, said the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has reviewed the committee substitute and is appreciative of the language revision. As DEED Commissioner Johnson shared in his earlier comments to the committee, civics education is tremendously important for Alaskan students. That does not and will not change. The department is in the process of updating its social standards now and is assembling a group to work on that. The work of the department required by the bill is doable and could occur in a timely manner since the department is in the midst of the work. The assembled group of educators will review the College Career and Civic Life (C3) framework, which has a clearly defined focus on civics. The fiscal note has not been updated. There is language in the committee substitute about the development of an assessment. There is cost involved with that. DEED is supportive of the bill and appreciative of the efforts to highlight civics as critical content for students. As Commissioner Johnson said earlier, this bill is not a new coat of paint on the public education system. It is a much needed effort to repair the foundation. SENATOR BEGICH shared that he received a note from Spike Jorgensen, who was the Alaska Gateway superintendent. Mr. Jorgenson comes back to the same point. The legislature could keep working on things like this, and Senator Begich is a cosponsor of the bill, but until the university and its teacher program are in alignment with the things the legislature is asking teachers to do, there will always be a gap. Senator Begich and Senator Stevens have tried to focus on the university's program to make sure it is meeting with the department and doing the work it needs to do to ensure that teachers trained at the university will meet those standards that the department is setting. The legislature will pass a good bill, but the state must find a way to ensure that the teachers being educated in Alaska actually do and abide by and are taught with the curriculum the legislature is asking them to teach when they come to the state system. 10:08:47 AM CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 72. 10:08:54 AM NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School Boards, Juneau, Alaska, said that the Association of Alaska School Boards has a resolution in support of encouraging civics education in school districts. It recognizes the importance of civics. He was prepared to speak in opposition about another high-stakes test. Instead he will express gratitude for removing that portion from the bill in the committee substitute. He thanked Senator Stevens for SB 72. Civics education is important to create citizens. He stated support for the committee substitute for SB 72. 10:10:36 AM CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony and held SB 72 in committee.