ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE  February 6, 2023 8:01 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Justin Ruffridge, Co-Chair Representative Mike Prax Representative CJ McCormick Representative Tom McKay Representative Rebecca Himschoot Representative Andi Story MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Jamie Allard, Co-Chair OTHER REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT    Representative Dan Ortiz Representative Julie Coulombe COMMITTEE CALENDAR  PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS BY ALASKA STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (ASCA)~ PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES COMMISSION (PTPC) - HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER MELODY MANN, Executive Director Professional Teaching Practices Commission Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Professional Teaching Practices Commission." ANDREA NOBLE, Executive Director Alaska State Council on the Arts Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska State Council on the Arts." LAURA FORBES, Fine Arts Administrator Alaska State Council on the Arts Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska State Council on the Arts." ACTION NARRATIVE 8:01:07 AM CO-CHAIR JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE called the House Education Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. Representatives Prax, McCormick, McKay, Himschoot, and Ruffridge were present at the call to order. Representative Story arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^PRESENTATION(S): Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA), Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) PRESENTATION(S): Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on  the Arts (ASCA), Professional Teaching Practices Commission  (PTPC)    8:02:56 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the only order of business would be the Overview from the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC), and the Alaska State Council of the Arts (ASCA). 8:03:49 AM MELODY MANN, Executive Director, Professional Teaching Practices Commission, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Professional Teaching Practices Commission." 8:06:58 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:06 a.m. to 8:09 a.m. 8:09:09 AM MS. MANN showed slide 2, titled "Mission, Vision, and Purpose," and explained the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) supports the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), and stated that her hope is that it leads to greater retention of qualified educators. Slide 3, titled "Strategic Priorities: Alaska's Education Challenge," highlighted the Five Shared Priorities, and would be discussed throughout the following slides. MS. MANN proceeded to Slide 4, titled "Budget Organizational Chart," and pointed out that PTPC stands independently from the rest of the programs in DEED. MS. MANN moved to slide 5, titled "Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)," and explained there are four things the PTPC is authorized to do: develop and enforce the Code of Ethics for the education profession, investigate violations, sanction educators for misconduct, and conduct background checks. 8:13:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT questioned the role of the Commission in educating educators about the Code of Ethics, and asked how much outreach the Commission does, and if there is room for more outreach to reduce violations? MS. MANN responded that a favorite part of her position is outreach, and there is a broad network of groups the PTPC works with including the university system, various associations and school boards throughout the state, and NEA-Alaska. She added that the PTPC presents workshops state-wide. MS. MANN continued on slide 6 titled "Role of the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) Executive Director," where she summarized her role as the executive director of PTPC. 8:18:47 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for confirmation on a comment about there having been no administrative hearings, but the next slide ["Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) Actions in FY2022."] would show 29 complaints for investigations. MS. MANN explained the process on complaints is that first it must be determined if it's appropriate for PTPC to open an investigation, and if an investigation is opened, PTPC determines if there is evidence to warrant a sanction. As executive director, she explained, she has authority to try and settle the sanction; this would result in no administrative hearing. 8:21:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX questioned the number of background checks versus applicants and asked which group Ms. Mann focuses on. MS. MANN responded that she conducts background checks only when there are records with a criminal history. In response to a follow-up question, she explained the amount of time it takes to complete background checks is quick if the information is disclosed honestly. 8:23:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY offered his understanding that the Department of Public Safety did background checks - and there are different levels. 8:24:27 AM MS. MANN responded the PTPC policy has a 5 to 10 year look back. She explained she had not seen felony convictions. If teacher certificates are revoked, teachers will be barred from working in certain sectors of education. 8:29:16 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE wanted clarity on the types of background checks being performed. MS. MANN explained teacher certification requires fingerprints, which reveal any criminal history, and applicants are required to disclose any convictions. Her job is to match an applicant's criminal history with the disclosure on the application. 8:30:53 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:30 a.m. to 8:31 a.m. 8:31:59 AM ANDREA NOBLE, Executive Director, Alaska State Council on the Arts, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska State Council on the Arts." began on the slide [2], titled "Agenda," and explained what will be discussed. She proceeded to slide [3], titled "DEED Organizational Chart," and pointed out the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) is one of 56 state arts agencies, and the only one in the nation that is a public corporation. She advanced to Slide [4], titled "Mission, Vision, Purpose," and explained the council has an 11-member board of trustees appointed by the governor and pointed out the limited number and types of ASCA staff members. In addition to the shared mission of education, DEED is ASCA's administrative partner for all operational aspects that would require more staffing if these responsibilities were covered in-house. 8:35:20 AM MS. NOBLE continued on slide [5], titled "ASCA's Strategic Plan," and summarized Goal 1 - "Build an Alaskan arts and culture sector for the near future." She highlighted the importance of investing in networks of artists, organizations, and agencies in the council's work to serve all communities and people of Alaska. MS. NOBLE followed on slide [6] which featured Goal 2 in ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Illustrate the value of the arts through arts-integrated approaches." She explained the arts as a healing process for trauma, and ASCA's involvement in launching workshops, partnerships, and competitions. 8:40:21 AM MS. NOBLE moved onto slide [7], which featured Goal 3 in ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Grow Alaska's creative economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow." 8:40:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX referred back to the art plates [Artistic License Plate on slide 6] and asked if it is a source of revenue or just promotional for the artist. MS. NOBLE explained that last year a requested regulation was approved, in order to charge a $3 fee so that ASCA can begin to generate revenue from the sales of the art plates. 8:43:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for an idea of the amount of time spent on each program? MS. NOBLE explained she does not have that answer on hand but can provide a written response to the question after consulting with her program officers and directors. MS. NOBLE continued onto slide [8], which featured Goal 4 in ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Enable all Alaskans to lead expressive lives and celebrate successes." Also featured on the slide is the Governor's Arts and Humanities awards, and Ms. Noble noted looking forward to this year's 53rd Annual Awards on May 11 in Anchorage, as the event celebrates individual Alaskans who have made notable contributions to the arts and humanities. Ms. Noble moved on to slide [9], which featured Goal 5 in ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Strengthen ASCA's role as a cultural policy leader in the state and locally." In summarizing, she stressed that the two funding sources of private foundation and earned revenue extend the impact of the state's public investment in the arts - without these two sources, ASCA could not do the extended work described so far. 8:47:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if ASCA is interfacing with the visitor industry, cruise ships in particular, to promote Alaskan art. MS. NOBLE responded that was a high point in ASCA's last strategic plan, and in the Alaska Travel Industry Association, there is now an additional goal for alignment with the ASCA. She said ASCA has also been engaged in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's strategic planning. 8:49:44 AM LAURA FORBES, Fine Arts Administrator, Alaska State Council on the Arts, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska State Council on the Arts." joined the presentation on slide [10], titled "Strategic Priorities: Alaska's Education Challenge," which is a summary of the following five slides. Ms. Forbes moved on to slide [11], titled "1. Support all students to read at grade level by the end of third grade." In addition to a wide variety of activities, the arts residency goals also include integration of the arts with other curricula including language arts, math, and other academic content areas. 8:52:58 AM MS. FORBES advanced to slide [12], titled "2. Increase career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs." The slide features a link to an approximate 3-minute video related to the Sitka Stop-Motion Animation Youth Cultural Camp, which she briefly discussed. 8:55:16 AM MS. FORBES moved to the next slide [13], "3. Close the achievement gap by ensuring equitable educational rigor and resources." She briefly summarized the four programs featured on the slide: Youth Cultural Heritage Program; New Visions Network; Alaska Arts Standards; and Statewide Teaching Artist Roster. Ms. Forbes proceeded to slide [14], titled "4. Prepare, attract, and retain effective education professionals." The slide featured the Munartet Project - Five Years Teaching in and Through the Arts and Cultures in Kodiak, Alaska. MS. FORBES pointed out the project is directly aimed at supporting teacher recruitment and retention, and on sharing learning through this cohort model. 8:59:36 AM MS. FORBES moved onto the final slide in her presentation [15], titled "5. Improve the safety and well-being of students through school partnership with families, communities, and tribes." The graphic shown on the slide was created for the first meeting of the Alaska Arts Education Data Project in 2022. The graphic contemplates the eco-system of individuals, organizations, and the agencies involved in the arts education endeavors of Alaska. 9:03:46 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:04 a.m.