SB 112-POSTSECONDARY CLASS FOR HIGH SCHOOL CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services (HESS) Committee to order at 1:32 p.m. and took up SB 112. Senator Elton worked with the school districts and administration and would present the changes in the proposed Committee Substitute. SENATOR ELTON explained that on page 2, lines 5-6, the GPA was changed from 2.25 to 2.75, but with an added caveat that a student with less than a 2.75 could receive permission from the school's principal to waive the requirement. The waiver was thought especially important so that 'C' students could participate in business or vocational education courses. He described a student he knew with a 1.98 GPA in high school who is concurrently maintaining a 4.0 GPA at UAF, stressing that the amended threshold of 2.75 would not preclude people from participation. The second change begins on line 21 of page 3, adding a new paragraph (d) to accommodate the concerns heard from the school districts who don't want interference with existing or future arrangements they share with the University. This provides that districts could continue to make individual arrangements as long as it is understood that the school district would pay for the tuition under the requirements of the bill. Number 056 SENATOR PEARCE asked if the bill includes language that the student must be in good standing in completing credit hours and on track to graduate from high school. She gave an example of a student who likes math but hates everything else and when he turns 18, he's got college credit but no high school diploma. SENATOR ELTON referred to page 2, line 23 which states the district will determine the secondary school academic credits granted to a student for the joint courses. The district would still set the graduation requirements and would monitor that the student is not, for example, taking all foreign language courses and ignoring his basic science courses. Nothing in this bill changes the high school graduation requirements that are set by the district. SENATOR PEARCE responded that we don't tell the school districts that they have to require a student to graduate, because there is no way to do that. She said she doesn't want to set up a case where a student who isn't on track with the required course work for high school graduation can take the University courses. She doesn't want the district to allow the student to take five math courses unless the student is on track with the high school requirements. SENATOR ELTON said he doesn't know how to ensure in any bill that a student receives all the credits they need for graduation. SENATOR PEARCE noted on page 2, subsection (a), lines 3-10 state that permission may not be granted unless the student has met all the requirements to be at level 11th or 12th grade. There is some number of credit hours a student must have completed to be on the graduation track, as opposed to just completing credits after you're a sophomore and before you become a junior and are eligible for this program. If a junior failed to complete or didn't bother to take a required course as a sophomore, when he finishes 12th grade he should not be allowed, in subsection (a) postsecondary enrollment. The students interested in postsecondary enrollment might work a little harder to make sure they're on schedule with the courses they don't excel at, rather than focusing only on the courses they like. It's going to be a "kick" for a lot of students to go to campus and take courses. SENATOR PEARCE said that she did it coming out of 8th grade, and she thought that it was the most wonderful thing because she was "so grown up." Kids will fight to do this, but she doesn't want them to do it unless they've completed their other credits. In other words, there are things you have to pass each year in order to graduate after four years. She was unsure if "student enrolled in the 11th grade" under our laws ensures that you can't be an 11th grader unless you've completed prerequisites. Number 166 SENATOR ELTON said a student completes the number of credits to advance from one grade to the next in high school. If he fails to do that because he's taking too many electives, the school counselor advises him he's falling behind and won't meet the degree requirements set for the end of the 12th grade. The same thing would happen if he was enrolled for dual credit. Senator Elton was unsure how to codify that other than the way it's currently set up. CHAIRMAN MILLER shared the example of his daughter in the 11th grade. The counselor told her the classes she had to take and, with 2 or 3 hours left over, the electives she could choose from. SENATOR PEARCE pointed out that if Chairman Miller's daughter had missed a course in 10th grade, even if she planned to make it up as an elective somehow in the 11th grade, Senator Pearce wouldn't want her to be eligible for this program. CHAIRMAN MILLER stated he understood that Senator Pearce is saying she doesn't want students to be in this program if they haven't completed their high school requirements at that point in time. SENATOR ELTON said it's a good point. There has always been an assumption that if a student is dual-enrolled, at the time they are at the university, it's the university's problem and the time they are at the high school, it's the high school's problem. In the nineteen or twenty states with this program, they've found that dual-enrolled students require more active participation by the counselor's office to work with the student, the high school teachers and the family to ensure these things don't happen. SENATOR PEARCE repeated that she feels students should be caught up before they are eligible and if they fall behind on one of the courses they need to graduate, then they shouldn't be eligible for university courses until they catch up. For example, if a student had to take a two-semester chemistry course as a junior and didn't pass the first semester but was on the university campus taking a math course, then the student should catch up on chemistry before going back to the university. SENATOR ELTON said in the case Senator Pearce cited about the student not fulfilling a 10th grade requirement, the student would not be an 11th grade student, and therefore would not be able to participate. The problem may occur, though, with a 12th grader who hadn't completed an 11th grade requirement because the bill does provide that if you're in the 11th grade you can participate. CHAIRMAN MILLER asked the sponsor about adding a caveat such as: a student enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade maintaining a GPA of 2.75 or equivalent and "in good standing" - or terminology that means the student is where he should be as a junior, or where he should be as a senior. He said he was unsure what terminology should be used. SENATOR PEARCE said she was unsure, because she didn't know that all the school districts define it, and she wondered if the state regulations require districts to define it that way. It used to be "just how many years you hung around," which is why students had to pass exit exams. Students who successfully completed the requirements might not be able to successfully do the work. SENATOR WILKEN said he agreed with Senator Pearce's suggestion and thought there must be a sentence or two that would add that requirement. Number 225 SENATOR ELTON a conceptual suggestion on page 2, line 3, "a secondary student in good standing enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade." The definition of "good standing" would probably have to be applied at the district level, and he was unsure the legislature would want to craft a state definition. This would allow the high school principal to say a student is not in good standing if deficient in some area. SENATOR PEARCE recommended asking DOE what fits better under their regulations, because she didn't know. She offered to call the department. CHAIRMAN MILLER requested that Senator Elton find out the definition. He would hold SB 112 and move it out on Wednesday, if possible. He asked for other discussion and hearing none, he held the bill.