HB 145 TEACHING COMPETENCY EXAM FOR CERTIF  Number 001 CHAIRMAN WILKEN called the Senate Health, Education & Social Services Committee (HES) to order at 9:04 a.m. and announced that SB 142 will not be taken up today. Chairman Wilken passed the confirmation letter for the committee to sign. Chairman Wilken then announced that CSHB 145(HES) was the first order of business. REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE , Prime Sponsor, believed that CSHB 145(HES) was a win-win bill. Currently, the only qualification to receive a Type A certificate in Alaska is to have a college degree in the area of education. Representative Bunde said that sometimes a college degree does not a teacher make. This is part of an organized House effort to instill further confidence in Alaska's educational system. CSHB 145(HES) requires that teachers take a basic competency test before being issued a license. Representative Bunde believed that most would pass this test and he recognized that graduates from the University of Alaska system in education already take a screening test before entering the program. However, about 50 percent of Alaska's teachers are hired from the Lower 48 and there is no quality control for those folks. This test is similar to that existing in 40 other states. SENATOR LEMAN did not disagree with Representative Bunde's initial statement that a college degree does not a teacher make. Senator Leman added that just passing a competency exam does not a teacher make either. He expressed concern that the notion that merely passing an exam or receiving certification signified a good teacher. Senator Leman said that he agreed with much of Representative Dyson's article on this matter. Senator Leman inquired as to Representative Bunde's opinion on Representative Dyson's article which said that a non-existent problem was being attacked or the problem is being attacked in the wrong manner. Number 130 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said that he read Representative Dyson's article. Representative Bunde acknowledged that realtors and insurance sales staff must pass basic competency tests in order to work in Alaska which does not ensure the best either. Other qualifications are also utilized in determining whether one would do business with a person and that applies to teachers as well. With regard to the article, Representative Dyson wants to manage output rather than input to which Representative Bunde did not want to eliminate any tool that was available. Part of Representative Dyson's concerns stemmed from situations in Arkansas, Virginia and Tennessee. In those states, the state could not find a teacher who passed the test that would work for the wages paid. Representative Bunde did not believe that to be a problem for Alaska due to teachers' wages here. Representative Dyson is concerned that if the criteria is raised, those in the profession would request more money. Representative Bunde acknowledged that possibility and stated that Representative Dyson's notions do not necessarily apply to Alaska. Representative Bunde agreed with the notion that CSHB 145(HES) will not effect the really competent teachers. However there have been teachers that are not terribly literate or competent in their specialty area, and those teachers should be screened out. As with children, one bad apple taints the public image of the entire group. SENATOR LEMAN wanted to ensure that Superintendents and Administrators were not sent the message that this legislation would eliminate the need to continue the competency reviews and plan of improvements when necessary. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE commented that the passage of last year's tenure reform bill requires school boards, superintendents, and principles to evaluate teachers and help teachers when necessary. SENATOR WARD inquired as to the location of page 2 of the letter from NEA-AK. SENATOR GREEN noted that it was located on the back of the first page. Number 224 NANCY BUELL , Director of the Division of Teaching & Learning Support in the Department of Education, said that the department does support this bill or anything designed to raise the quality of the education work force in Alaska. Ms. Buell echoed Senator Leman's comments that a single test will probably not make the difference. There are 44 states that have such tests. Ms. Buell believed that the emphasis should be on the performance standards of teachers and evaluations of the teachers. Other states with such a test are reviewing more stringent procedures to ensure teacher quality. With regard to the portion of the bill which requests that the state board review nationally recognized tests and select a test as well as a cut-off score, that is not a simple process. The board will need to meet to receive expert assistance in order to determine a legally defensible cut-off score. Ms. Buell noted that nationally this area is on the brink of major new instruments. Most states are participating in a joint effort among the accrediting agency for colleges of teacher education, professional associations, and state directors of teacher education and certification. This joint effort is attempting to develop a new assessment for new teachers. This assessment will include a test of teaching knowledge, demonstration of ability to teach in performance assessment and provision of a portfolio. Ms. Buell stressed the importance of the board having the time, support, and expertise to select a test. JOHN CYR , President of NEA-AK, believed that it spoke well that the department, the House Majority, and NEA-AK are all concerned with improving the quality of education in Alaska. Mr. Cyr supported CSHB 145(HES) and said that it will improve instruction and education. This is a small piece of the puzzle, but it is important. Once a teacher is hired, it is up to the principle, the administration, and the school board to do evaluations and plans of improvement. CHAIRMAN WILKEN said that he intended to pass this bill to its next committee of referral. SENATOR LEMAN moved to report CSHB 145(HES) out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection, it was so ordered. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE noted that the fiscal note reflected the one time set up charge, after which applicants would be charged a fee that would become program receipts. The fiscal note would be zero in the next years.