SENATE BILL NO. 104 "An Act relating to the duties of the state Board of Education and Early Development; and relating to school curriculum." 1:40:41 PM Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED Conceptual Amendment 1 (copy on file): Page 1, line 6, following "review" Delete "test" Page 1, line 9, following "curricula" Insert the word "currently". Page 2, Lines 3-5, following "state" Delete "The department shall implement a program to test the curricula during the two immediately succeeding school years in the five largest school districts based on the district ADM for the 2015-2016 school year." Page 2, lines 6-7, following "if" Delete "after testing under (c) of this section." Page 2, following line Insert a new section to read "* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: "REPORT ON CURRICULUM. The Department of Education and Early Development 20 shall submit to the legislature an electronic report, and make the report publically available on the department's website. The report will provide information on the curriculum that each school district has adopted. On or before July 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, the department shall submit the report required under this section to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available." Co-Chair MacKinnon OBJECTED for discussion. 1:41:03 PM BRITTANY HUTCHISON, STAFF, SENATOR MACKINNON, explained the amendment. Vice-Chair Bishop queried the deletion of the word "test." MICHAEL JOHNSON, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, responded that the testing of students and curriculum were two different things. He stated that the vetting of curriculum would still occur within the districts without the use of the word "test." Co-Chair MacKinnon WITHDREW her OBJECTION. Co-Chair MacKinnon queried comments. Commissioner Johnson thanked the committee for the legislation. He stressed that effective curriculum was one of the fundamental components of teaching students. He remarked that assisting districts by providing flexibility in the curriculum review process was helpful during the time of necessary efficiencies, and was helpful for families to have more information about curriculum materials adopted by the local school boards. Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that there would be a forthcoming fiscal note. 1:48:05 PM Senator von Imhof noted that the bill stated that the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) would be required to review curricula used in other states and countries, and by 2019 identify the best practices for teaching math and language arts at each grade level. She queried the challenges that may occur in the process outlined in the fiscal note. Commissioner Johnson replied that the fiscal note reflected the need for additional staff to accomplish the intent of the bill. Senator von Imhof noted the line item, "Program Administration and Operations" with 83 individuals for FY 18. She queried the details of that line item. 1:50:08 PM HEIDI TESHNER, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, stated that the line item was the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, which was a corporation to handle loans and grants within DEED. Senator von Imhof surmised that cutting budgets for curriculum was wrong. 1:51:38 PM PAUL PRUSSING, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF STUDENT LEARNING, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, stated that the intent was to assist districts in aligning to the new curriculum standards. Co-Chair MacKinnon requested a new fiscal note. Mr. Prussing replied he would provide the fiscal note in the afternoon. Vice-Chair Bishop hoped that DEED would work with the University to align curriculum standards. Senator Hughes remarked that there was confusion about DEED making the curriculum available to all school districts and the costs related to materials. She wondered whether the state was purchasing all the materials for the schools. Co-Chair MacKinnon replied in the negative. Ms. Hutchison announced that the state would not purchase the curriculum. Senator Hughes felt that DEED may have had incorrect information in a previous committee. Ms. Hutchison stated that DEED had been helpful, and communication had enhanced throughout the committee process. SB 104 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. 1:56:11 PM AT EASE 1:58:16 PM RECONVENED SENATE BILL NO. 104 "An Act relating to the duties of the state Board of Education and Early Development; and relating to school curriculum." 3:45:45 PM PAUL PRUSSING, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF STUDENT LEARNING, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT (via teleconference), explained the fiscal note. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for further information about the $1 million for contract services. Mr. Prussing replied that education consultants "were not cheap." He stated that there was a difference in the curriculum based on the education level. Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the number was for "Alaska Challenge" or the bill. Mr. Prussing replied that it referenced the bill. 3:48:42 PM AT EASE 3:50:50 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that DEED could not suggest using the Higher Education Fund. She felt that DEED should have assigned the request at UGF 1004. Co-Chair MacKinnon changed the fiscal note to $500,0000 3:53:28 PM Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to REPORT CSSB 104(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 104(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal note from the Department of Education and Early Development. [Note: Action to report CSSB 104(FIN) from committee was later rescinded on February 22, 2018 for further consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.] Co-Chair MacKinnon announced the following day's schedule. Co-Chair Hoffman queried a schedule for the following Sunday. Co-Chair MacKinnon announced that she hoped that there would be "light load" on Sunday, based on floor session.