The last order of business was SB 61 (IMPLEMENT ALASKA 2000 RECOMMENDATIONS). CHAIRMAN RIEGER said at the last meeting on the bill there were three proposed amendments before the committee by Senators Ellis, Salo, and Leman. The amendment they first addressed was by Senator Ellis. SENATOR ELLIS moved Amendment #15. SENATOR MILLER objected for the purpose of discussion. Amendment #15 follows: Page 1, lines 1 - 2: Delete all material. Insert "An Act relating to the length of the school year, to goals for public education and student performance, to teacher tenure rights, and to establishment of charter schools; and providing for an effective date."" Page 1, after line 6: Insert a new paragraph to read: "(2) establish goals for public education in the state; it is not the purpose of this Act to recommend a specific curriculum or to diminish the right of each school district to establish a curriculum in that school district;" Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Page 2, after line 2: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.015 is repealed and reenacted to read: Sec. 14.03.015. MISSION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. The mission of the public school system is to help ensure that all students succeed in their education and work, shape worthwhile and satisfying lives, exemplify the best values of society and their respective cultures, and be effective in improving the character and quality of the world about them. It is the joint responsibility of students, parents, schools, and the community to achieve the mission described in this section. * Sec. 3. AS 14.03 is amended by adding a new section to read: Sec. 14.03.017. GOALS FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE. The public school system shall be operated with the recognition that all students can learn. The goal of the system is to develop successful students. A successful student will graduate and the process of learning should include the following: (1) a working knowledge of science, language arts, social studies, mathematics, physical education and health, and fine arts; (2) the ability to think logically and critically including the ability to (A) think clearly about new information and ideas; (B) solve problems through different ways of questioning and analysis; (C) be open to new ideas and be curious about the world and self; (D) demonstrate the skills needed to make good decisions; (E) understand and use mathematical and scientific ideas; (F) demonstrate good study skills and habits; (G) access, process, and integrate information; (H) evaluate and improve ideas through discussions with other people; (I) read, understand, and apply written information faced in daily life; (3) an acceptance of personal responsibility for sustaining a person economically including the critical skills, competencies, values, and attitudes to be successful in work, whether of a cash or subsistence nature, including the ability to (A) be confident, able, and prepared for opportunities in the local, national, and international workplace; (B) understand the value of and necessity for lifelong learning, including the ability to teach oneself new skills to adjust to a changing workplace; (C) show initiative, dependability, punctuality, and to strive for accuracy and efficiency on the job; (D) willingly accept advice, supervision, and criticism and to be a good team member in the workplace; (E) be safety conscious; (F) be a critical consumer with skills for making informed choices; (G) recognize how success in school relates to a person's future; (4) the ability to communicate effectively including the ability to (A) talk about feelings, ideas, and concepts with clarity; (B) be a good listener; (C) read, understand, and respond to written information faced in daily life; (D) appreciate the value of reading as a lifelong activity; (E) write well for a variety of purposes and audiences; (F) demonstrate understanding and openness in group settings; (5) the ability to discover and nurture creative talents including the ability to (A) appreciate the world around us; (B) take part in activities that cut across fields of study; (C) understand our world and its past, present, and future and be able to express this understanding in a variety of ways and with different media; (D) respect and encourage the creative talents of individuals and groups; (E) demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to express ideas in literature, visual arts, music, dance, and drama; (6) knowledge of how to develop positive self-esteem including the ability to (A) know how to set and achieve personal goals; (B) be confident, assertive, and flexible; (C) demonstrate an appreciation for one's own personal talents and strengths; (D) form satisfying relationships with others based on respect, trust, cooperation, mutual understanding, compassion, and appreciation of cultural differences; (7) the ability to master essential vocational technological skills including the ability to (A) communicate and compete in the global market with computers, video, audio, and other technologies; (B) use technology to gather, analyze, and evaluate information and opinions; (C) critically evaluate information presented in the mass media; (D) use computers to process and organize information; (E) understand the overall purpose of equipment and the proper procedures for setup and operation; (8) the ability to understand the values of health and fitness including the ability to (A) understand the skills and apply the knowledge needed to promote physical and mental health; (B) respond constructively to life's social, environmental, and physical changes; (9) knowledge of the values of responsible citizenship including the ability to (A) understand and participate in the democratic process; (B) achieve the values, knowledge, and ethical behaviors needed to participate in a democratic society; (C) learn to recognize and appreciate the contribution of peoples from other countries and cultures; (D) be aware of and appreciate languages other than English; (E) achieve skills in leadership, cooperation, communication, and social responsibility; (F) understand one's relationship to the environment and be committed to the wise use of resources; (G) know effective parenting skills to nurture healthy growth and development in others; (H) understand the past." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 6, line 30: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 7, line 6: Delete "13(e)" Insert "15(e)" Page 10, line 5: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 10, line 7: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 10, line 8: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 10, line 9: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 10, line 20: Delete "12 - 19" Insert "14 - 21" Page 10, line 21: Delete "23 - 25" Insert "25 - 27" Page 10, line 25: Delete "21" Insert "23" Page 10, line 26: Delete "and 4 - 19" Insert ", 2, 3, and 6 - 21" Page 10, line 27: Delete "2 and 3" Insert "4 and 5" Page 10, line 28: Delete "20" Insert "22" SENATOR ELLIS said the amendment represents legislation that was before the 17th Legislature, and it relates to education goals. The first part of the amendment requires a title change to add the words "to goals for public education and student performance." It was voted on last year and everyone voted for it. People, at that time, agreed with the argument that we spend close to $1 billion in public funds on education. It is by far the biggest component in the operating budget and sometimes in the capital budget. Senator Ellis said many states have moved forward to set goals for education in their statutes. He continued to discuss the language in the amendment relating to the positive features. Number 248 SENATOR LEMAN referred to the middle of page four of the amendment: "(B) respond constructively to life's social, environmental, and physical changes;" He suggested replacing the word "changes" with the word "challenges." SENATOR ELLIS said he wouldn't have a problem with changing the word. Senator Leman moved the amendment to the amendment. Hearing no objection, the motion carried. CHAIRMAN RIEGER referred to the title and said it doesn't have the recognition of PTAs as a local advisory committee. He suggested not changing the title until there is a final form of the bill. Senator Ellis agreed. Number 302 VINCE BARRY, Director, Education Program Support, Department of Education, spoke against Senator Ellis' amendment. He said the department has concerns regarding the amendment. He gave the committee members the amendment with highlighted sections of concern. Mr. Barry said the other concern is the statement concerning the standards. He said the reason he is in opposition is it seems that the timing is wrong. A lot of the standards are currently incorporated into district policy. He said the subsets of statements would be counter productive. If it is predetermined in law what the teachers must consider, it may be counter productive. SENATOR ELLIS said last year the governor's office told him that the legislature shouldn't set public goals for education at that time because the Alaska 2000 Committee would work on it. The governor's office said when the education reform bill comes before the legislature next year it will include the goals for education. He said the bill doesn't include goals. SB 61 is the major education reform bill and that is where the goals should be. He said he doesn't believe that anyone will be constrained by the broad general goal oriented language contained in the subsets. Senator Ellis said he doesn't believe that teachers will be constrained by the language. Senator Ellis said it seems that every time there is a change on the Board of Education, there is a whole new planning process, effort, and commitment to setting goals, standards, student outcomes, etc. He said he would like something that is in statute that outlives an administration or appointments to the State Board of Education. Number 384 SENATOR MILLER removed his objection to adopting the amendment. CHAIRMAN RIEGER numbered Senator Ellis' amendment as Amendment #15. He asked if there was an objection to adopting Amendment #15. Hearing no objection, Amendment #15 was adopted. Number 409 The next amendment to come before the committee was Amendment #3, by Senator Salo, which had been offered and then withdrawn at a previous meeting on the bill. SENATOR SALO said Senator Leman had a proposed amendment that deals with the section she has concern about. She withdrew Amendment #3. Number 415 SENATOR LEMAN moved Amendment #16 be adopted. Amendment #16 follows: Page 2, lines 3-28: Delete all material. Senator Leman said the amendment deletes everything dealing with school terms. CHAIRMAN RIEGER objected. He said he believes we are in a world of increasing information. There is more to know now than there used to be. He said there needs to be some kind of a collaborated effort so that extra time in a school year isn't being taking up by administrators and teachers. He said he is for increasing the contact time per day. We also need to allow more days to deliver what needs to be delivered SENATOR SALO said she is going to support the amendment. She said she agrees with the arguments about the value of an increased school year, but doesn't think there is a willingness to accept the fiscal note that would need to go with it if the school term is increased. Number 450 A roll call vote was taken on Amendment #16. Senators Sharp, Duncan, Leman, Miller, and Salo were in favor of the amendment. Senators Rieger and Ellis were against the amendment. So the motion carried. SENATOR SHARP moved Amendment #17. Amendment #17 follows: Delete: Pages 4 and 5 Delete: Page 6, lines 1 through 28. Hearing no objection to the motion of adopting Amendment There was general discussion regarding the overall legislation. Number 512 CHAIRMAN RIEGER gave the committee members a handwritten copy of all the changes that were adopted. SENATOR DUNCAN said the title is broad and he would like it to be more specific. CHAIRMAN RIEGER said there are four general sections in the bill. There is the school improvement fund, goals for public education and student performance, advisory boards in school districts, and the establishment of charter schools. Number 557 SENATOR DUNCAN moved that a conceptual amendment be adopted which reflects what is in the bill. CHAIRMAN RIEGER said he would instruct the bill drafter to draft a new title that speaks more specifically to the provisions in the bill. SENATOR SALO said she would feel more comfortable to see a final version of the bill before it is passed out of the Senate HESS Committee. CHAIRMAN RIEGER said the final version would be before the committee the following Wednesday.