ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         March 7, 2011                                                                                          
                           8:03 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Alan Dick, Chair                                                                                                 
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative Peggy Wilson                                                                                                     
Representative Sharon Cissna                                                                                                    
Representative Scott Kawasaki                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lance Pruitt, Vice Chair                                                                                         
Representative Eric Feige                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION(S):  SITKA SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 5                                                                                                                
"An Act  requiring a standardized  statewide history  of American                                                               
constitutionalism curriculum  and a  secondary school  history of                                                               
American constitutionalism  examination in public schools  in the                                                               
state; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD AND HELD                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 104                                                                                                              
"An Act renaming the Alaska  performance scholarship and relating                                                               
to the  scholarship and tax  credits applicable  to contributions                                                               
to   the  scholarship;   establishing   the  Alaska   performance                                                               
scholarship   investment   fund   and  the   Alaska   performance                                                               
scholarship  award  fund  and  relating   to  the  funds;  making                                                               
conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD AND HELD                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 5                                                                                                                    
SHORT TITLE: CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY CURRICULUM                                                                                  
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KELLER                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
01/18/11       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11                                                                                
01/18/11       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/18/11       (H)       EDC, FIN                                                                                               
02/09/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/09/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/09/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/18/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/18/11       (H)       -- CANCELED - Rescheduled to 02/21/11                                                                  
02/21/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/21/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/21/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/25/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/25/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/25/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
03/07/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 104                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
01/18/11       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/18/11       (H)       EDC, FIN                                                                                               
02/09/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/09/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/09/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/14/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/14/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/14/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/21/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/21/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/21/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/25/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/25/11       (H)       <Bill Hearing Postponed to 2/28/11>                                                                    
02/28/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/28/11       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/28/11       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
03/07/11       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
STEVE BRADSHAW, Superintendent                                                                                                  
Sitka School District                                                                                                           
Board Member                                                                                                                    
SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center)                                                                                      
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Offered a presentation and answered                                                                      
questions on the Sitka School District and testified during                                                                     
discussion of HB 104.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CAROL COMEAU, Superintendent                                                                                                    
Anchorage School District                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 5.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
BILL MCLEOD, Superintendent                                                                                                     
Dillingham City School District                                                                                                 
Dillingham, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 5.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
JEFF THIELBAR, PhD, Superintendent                                                                                              
Skagway School District                                                                                                         
Board Member                                                                                                                    
SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center)                                                                                      
Skagway, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 5 and                                                                      
testified during discussion of HB 104.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
STEVE PINE                                                                                                                      
SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center)                                                                                      
Alaska's Learning Network                                                                                                       
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified and answered questions during                                                                  
discussion of HB 104.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
RYAN STANLEY, Technology Director                                                                                               
SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center)                                                                                      
Alaska's Learning Network                                                                                                       
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified and answered questions during                                                                  
discussion of HB 104.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
NORMAN ECK, PhD, Superintendent                                                                                                 
Northwest Arctic Borough School District                                                                                        
Kotzebue, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of HB 104.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
LARRY "WOODY" WILSON, Superintendent                                                                                            
Wrangell Public School District                                                                                                 
President                                                                                                                       
SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center)                                                                                      
Wrangell, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of HB 104.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:03:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Due to technical difficulties, testimony  prior to 8:13 a.m. was                                                               
not on  the recording, but  was reconstructed from  the committee                                                               
secretary's log notes and the power point presentation.]                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ALAN DICK  called the  House Education  Standing Committee                                                             
meeting  to order  at 8:03  a.m.   Representatives Dick,  Wilson,                                                               
Kawasaki,  and  Seaton  were  present   at  the  call  to  order.                                                               
Representative Cissna arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION(S):  Sitka School District Superintendent                                                                         
     PRESENTATION(S):  Sitka School District Superintendent                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK announced that the first  order of business would be a                                                               
presentation by the superintendent of the Sitka School District.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
STEVE  BRADSHAW,  Superintendent,  Sitka School  District,  Board                                                               
Member, SERRC  (Southeast Regional Resource Center),  presented a                                                               
PowerPoint  entitled,  "Sitka   School  District,"  [Included  in                                                               
members'  packets]  and  said that  the  Sitka  School  District,                                                               
comprised of  two elementary, one  middle, and two  high schools,                                                               
had 1,306 students,  including those in Home  School programs. He                                                               
gave  a   demographic  overview   of  the  student   body,  which                                                               
established that  52 percent of  the students were white,  and 21                                                               
percent of  the students  were Alaska Native.   He  reported that                                                               
the  remaining  student  body included  Asian,  American  Indian,                                                               
Hispanic, Black, and Pacific Islander.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW described  the  vocational,  career, and  technical                                                               
education classes which  the district offered, and  he shared the                                                               
successes of these classes.   He explained that students in their                                                               
final two years of high  school were allowed dual enrollment with                                                               
UAS.    He reported  on  the  intentions  of students  from  each                                                               
graduating class, which included  more than 50 percent attendance                                                               
at four year  schools, as well as two  year programs, vocational,                                                               
and military careers.  He shared  some of the colleges that Sitka                                                               
graduates had attended.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW  discussed  the  funding  and  the  enrollment  for                                                               
special education programs.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:15:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW  pointed  to  the  successes  of  the  six  reading                                                               
specialists for the students in the first years of school.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:16:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW reported  that the district had seen  an increase in                                                               
the number of  non-English speaking students.   He confirmed that                                                               
the English  Language Learners program  would need  an additional                                                               
teacher.    He directed  attention  to  the shrinking  graduation                                                               
rate, with an increasing dropout  rate, and he expressed the need                                                               
to determine  the reasons.   He explained that students  who were                                                               
18  and  19 years  of  age  would  often attend  the  alternative                                                               
school, and the district supported  this.  He reported that 30-40                                                               
percent of students  received free or reduced price  lunches.  He                                                               
discussed other  programs that  the school  worked with:   Hanson                                                               
House,  a foster  group home;  Raven's  Way, a  drug and  alcohol                                                               
rehabilitation   program;  and   the  swimming   requirement  for                                                               
graduation.  He  mentioned Keet Kids, Packs, Crew,  and Home Room                                                               
as  programs at  each school  level  to help  combat the  dropout                                                               
rate.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:20:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW reflected  on AYP  (Adequate  Yearly Progress)  and                                                               
offered his belief that students  with disabilities affected that                                                               
goal,  even though  the Sitka  School  District had  "one of  the                                                               
best, if  not the best,  special education programs in  the State                                                               
of  Alaska."   He listed  the special  education teachers  in the                                                               
district,  which   included  3  speech  therapists,   a  physical                                                               
therapist, and an occupational therapist.   He stated that it was                                                               
much  more difficult  for special  education needs  kids to  meet                                                               
AYP,  and  it was  not  for  lack of  a  quality  education.   He                                                               
discussed  the WorkKeys  results, and  lamented that  20 students                                                               
had  not completed  all  three exams,  or scored  too  low for  a                                                               
credential.   He indicated that  38 of  the 93 graduates  in 2011                                                               
qualified for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:23:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW discussed the Dropout  Prevention Audit performed in                                                               
conjunction with Tlingit  & Haida and the  Juneau, Ketchikan, and                                                               
Sitka  school districts.   This  audit had  resulted in  an anti-                                                               
bullying  program, a  positive behavior  support  program in  the                                                               
middle school,  and the Reading  Intervention (RPI) program.   He                                                               
stated  that  Technology  Enhancement,  using  $800,000  of  ARRA                                                               
(American  Recovery and  Reinvestment  Act) funds,  would have  a                                                               
very  large impact  on the  Sitka School  District.   He reported                                                               
that the  music program  had produced better  math students.   He                                                               
extolled the support  from the Sitka Board of  Education as being                                                               
instrumental in the success.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:26:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI asked  how the  pre-Kindergarten program                                                               
was implemented.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:26:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW replied  that developmental  learning  was a  major                                                               
factor of the program as many of the students had special needs.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:27:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI  asked  how the  students  with  special                                                               
needs were identified.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW  explained  that  this was  through  the  day  care                                                               
centers and the hospitals.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:27:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI asked  if  the  base student  allocation                                                               
funds and school property were used.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW replied "that is correct."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:28:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON, referring  to the dropout  rate, asked                                                               
for clarification about the 11 students not counted.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW  explained that the  graduation rate  was determined                                                               
by the four  years of grades nine through twelve.   He noted that                                                               
students who graduated  in more than four years  were not counted                                                               
in  the  graduation  rate.    He stated  that  the  Sitka  School                                                               
District  did  everything possible  to  keep  kids in  school  to                                                               
graduate.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:30:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON asked if those  11 students represented                                                               
students  who   had  taken  longer   than  the  four   years  for                                                               
graduation.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW agreed  and stated  the importance  for getting  an                                                               
education.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:30:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK asked  to clarify why the number  of special education                                                               
students had declined.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW, in response to Chair  Dick, agreed that there was a                                                               
decline  and  he  explained that  special  education  regulations                                                               
required attempts at various other  educational programs prior to                                                               
special education classes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:32:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRADSHAW  stated his  belief  that  the  size of  the  Sitka                                                               
community allowed for  the success of "no child  left behind," as                                                               
it was large enough for good  offerings, but small enough to keep                                                               
track of each student.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:32:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
             HB 5-CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY CURRICULUM                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  5, "An  Act requiring  a standardized  statewide                                                               
history of American constitutionalism  curriculum and a secondary                                                               
school  history  of  American  constitutionalism  examination  in                                                               
public  schools in  the  state; and  providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."  [In front of the  committee was Version E, adopted as the                                                               
work draft on February 25, 2011.]                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:35:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WES KELLER provided a  brief overview of the bill,                                                               
as previously heard, and stated that it was:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     A mandate  on school districts  to teach the  values of                                                                    
     American   constitutionalism   as  portrayed   in   the                                                                    
     Declaration   of   Independence,  the   early   states'                                                                    
     constitutions,  the Articles  of Confederation,  the US                                                                    
     Constitution, the Federalist, and the Bill of Rights.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He cited  the current world affairs  as a reason for  his request                                                               
of  this bill  at  this  time.   He  extolled  the importance  of                                                               
understanding  the idea  of inalienable  rights,  as they  differ                                                               
from the  human rights bestowed  by governments.  He  pointed out                                                               
that it was a very broad history mandate, a "mandate-lite."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK indicated his concern for an unfunded mandate.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER replied  that  he shared  the concern  but                                                               
that proposed HB  5 was to a  very high level of  importance.  He                                                               
opined that  many districts already  complied, and  that proposed                                                               
HB 5 was a focal point and was "worthy of doing."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:40:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked what  version of proposed HB 5 was                                                               
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER replied that it was Version E.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:40:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA  remarked that Maslow's Hierarchy  of Needs                                                               
was more important  than the constitution, and she  asked if this                                                               
bill could be  addressed after the basics  of survival, including                                                               
schooling, were resolved.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:42:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER clarified  that proposed  HB 5  was not  a                                                               
mandate to teach the US Constitution,  but to teach the values of                                                               
American constitutionalism,  with the documents  to be used  as a                                                               
source of information.  In  response to Representative Cissna, he                                                               
agreed that survival  was a priority, but that  the importance of                                                               
these  values was  akin to  the  most fundamental  core needs  of                                                               
Americans.  He emphasized that  some of the resources supplied to                                                               
schools needed  to be  "directed at  preserving the  knowledge of                                                               
these values."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:44:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON   reminded  that  earlier   discussion  of                                                               
proposed HB  5 had clarified  that the  bill was not  mandating a                                                               
civics classes,  but centered  on teaching values.   He  asked if                                                               
the purpose of  proposed HB 5 was to teach  "the values that were                                                               
in those 15 year time span."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:45:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER agreed  that  the bill  was  not a  civics                                                               
mandate;  it was  a history  mandate to  teach and  emphasize the                                                               
values  of  American  constitutionalism   found  in  these  early                                                               
documents.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:47:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK questioned  whether a school district  which offered a                                                               
five minute  course with  a one  question examination  would meet                                                               
the criteria of the bill.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER, in  response, stated  that it  would meet                                                               
the criteria, but not the intent of the bill.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:47:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK opined that the  proposed HB 5 mandated a conversation                                                               
between a school district and its community.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:48:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  offered his vision  for this bill to  be a                                                               
graduation requirement and a catalyst for community discussion.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:48:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON noted  that discussion during  the four                                                               
previous hearings on the bill  had included the unfunded mandate,                                                               
and  the  graduation  requirement.    She  asked  for  a  further                                                               
definition to American constitutionalism.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:50:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  replied that  American  constitutionalism                                                               
was defined in the early 19th  century as a term referring to the                                                               
unique  American values  and it  was a  broad term,  purposefully                                                               
selected to allow districts teaching latitude.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:52:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI, reflecting  on  current world  affairs,                                                               
shared that  the Egyptian constitution  was one of the  oldest in                                                               
the world,  and he listed  the freedoms  it enumerated.   He also                                                               
listed many of  the freedoms written in  the Libyan constitution.                                                               
He  suggested that  it was  necessary to  study and  compare with                                                               
other constitutions,  but that he did  not want a mandate,  or to                                                               
teach to a  test.  He offered his belief  that students needed to                                                               
be taught more critical thinking skills.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:55:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:55:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROL COMEAU,  Superintendent, Anchorage School  District, agreed                                                               
with   the  importance   for  students   to  understand   the  US                                                               
Constitution,  the founding  documents, and  the values  on which                                                               
the United States  was based.  She emphasized  that the Anchorage                                                               
School Board and  the administration were opposed  to proposed HB                                                               
5  as   it  was  an   unnecessary  mandate  with   many  negative                                                               
ramifications.   She listed the civics  courses already required,                                                               
and that the proposed bill  would only create additional barriers                                                               
for students.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:57:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DICK expressed  a concern  about "folks  that are  here in                                                               
this country without  a knowledge of the rules by  which the rest                                                               
of  us  play."    He  asked  when  students  would  receive  this                                                               
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:58:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COMEAU replied  that she  was not  privy to  the immigration                                                               
status  of students  and  that she  was  not knowledgeable  about                                                               
illegal   students.     She  pointed   out  that   naturalization                                                               
ceremonies  revealed  the  value   of  the  US  Constitution  and                                                               
citizenship.  She  offered her belief that many  students born in                                                               
the United States  did not have this knowledge.   She opined that                                                               
it was necessary to work  through the current curriculum, and not                                                               
add an additional mandatory test.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:00:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BILL  MCLEOD, Superintendent,  Dillingham  City School  District,                                                               
stated that proposed  HB 5 did not  meet any of the  needs in his                                                               
district,  as  there  was  already a  course  and  curriculum  on                                                               
government.     He  paraphrased   the  Alaska  Standards   for  a                                                               
government  class  and  pointed  out the  similarities  of  these                                                               
requirements  to  proposed  HB  5.   He  lauded  the  concept  of                                                               
proposed HB  5, but stated  that it  was already being  taught in                                                               
the schools.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:02:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  THIELBAR,  PhD,  Superintendent, Skagway  School  District,                                                               
Board  Member,   SERRC  (Southeast  Regional   Resource  Center),                                                               
testified that  the Skagway  School District  was opposed  to the                                                               
unfunded regulation of proposed HB  5 as it required oversight at                                                               
many levels  to a  curriculum which was  already mandated  by the                                                               
State of Alaska.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[HB 5 was held over.]                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:04:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 9:04 a.m. to 9:07 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
             HB 104-ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  104,  "An Act  renaming  the Alaska  performance                                                               
scholarship  and  relating to  the  scholarship  and tax  credits                                                               
applicable to contributions to  the scholarship; establishing the                                                               
Alaska  performance scholarship  investment fund  and the  Alaska                                                               
performance  scholarship award  fund and  relating to  the funds;                                                               
making  conforming amendments;  and  providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."  [In front of the  committee was Version I, which had been                                                               
adopted as the work draft on February 9, 2011.]                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:09:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
STEVE PINE, SERRC (Southeast  Regional Resource Center), Alaska's                                                               
Learning Network,  indicated that the infrastructure  of Alaska's                                                               
Learning Network provided and enhanced  opportunities, as well as                                                               
answering  connectivity, staff  development,  and course  content                                                               
issues.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:11:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  STANLEY,  Technology  Director, SERRC  (Southeast  Regional                                                               
Resource Center),  Alaska's Learning Network, offered  to address                                                               
any specific or general inquiries.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:12:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK asked how every  student, specifically in rural areas,                                                               
could receive the  classes needed to qualify  for the scholarship                                                               
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY replied that SERRC  worked with a variety of distance                                                               
delivery initiatives, and that one  of the main objectives was to                                                               
locate the existing  programs and incorporate them  together.  He                                                               
reported  that there  was a  focus  on customizing  courses.   He                                                               
shared  that there  was a  suite of  solutions designed  for both                                                               
broad band  internet and low band  width, as well.   He described                                                               
much of his work to be within the school network capabilities.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:16:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  P.  WILSON asked  when  these  programs would  be                                                               
available.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY replied  that five  priority course  areas would  be                                                               
available  to   240  students  in   the  summer  of   2011,  with                                                               
considerably more growth for the fall.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:17:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY, in  response to  Representative  P. Wilson,  listed                                                               
math,  foreign language,  social studies,  science, and  language                                                               
arts as the upcoming priority course  areas.  He pointed out that                                                               
these would vary for the needs of each district.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:18:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  P.  WILSON  asked  about the  funding  for  these                                                               
courses.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:18:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY replied that funding  models included grants, pay per                                                               
service,  and a  formula by  population  which was  paid by  each                                                               
district.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:18:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA   asked  if  video   teleconferencing  was                                                               
possible between students in remote communities.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY  pointed out that  the Alaska Learning  Network would                                                               
include a community feedback and interaction loop.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:21:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DICK asked for a demonstration to how a course might work.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY replied  that course  materials were  not available,                                                               
but  he described  the  course  bits and  reviews  that had  been                                                               
submitted.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:23:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DICK  asked  if  courses   would  be  available  to  rural                                                               
communities   that  would   allow   for   qualification  to   the                                                               
performance scholarships.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY replied  that there  were many  courses, and  that a                                                               
frame work would be available by the summer.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:24:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   P.   WILSON    pointed   out   that   graduation                                                               
requirements varied between districts,  and asked what incentives                                                               
would be available for modification by the small districts.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:25:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY  quoted  a  superintendent, "we  would  love  to  be                                                               
involved as  long as we don't  have to change what  we're doing."                                                               
He noted that guidelines for  application of the program had been                                                               
developed.   He  pointed  to  the ability  to  match a  student's                                                               
specific needs to a specific program.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:26:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI  asked how  the  lack  of technology  by                                                               
remote schools was being addressed.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:26:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANLEY replied  that a  set of  solutions, called  portable                                                               
courses,  were  being  designed specifically  for  non  broadband                                                               
schools, which would allow for  copying and pasting directly onto                                                               
the local school network.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:28:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked about the origin of those courses.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:28:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY  explained that there  were course  providers outside                                                               
of Alaska, but that SERCC  was pursuing courses already developed                                                               
in  Alaska.   He explained  that  the pieces  of courses  already                                                               
submitted,  the  "artifacts,"  were  being reviewed  for  use  in                                                               
future courses.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:29:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. PINE pointed out that these  would be aligned with the course                                                               
standards.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:29:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI  emphasized   the  need  for  culturally                                                               
relevant courses,  and asked if  the courses from  outside Alaska                                                               
could be adapted.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY  replied that professional developers  had been hired                                                               
to assist and train teachers with the use of the new technology.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:31:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  P. WILSON  suggested that  the funding  should be                                                               
provided by  the State of Alaska,  in order to allow  students in                                                               
rural areas the same opportunities for performance scholarships.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:32:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANLEY offered  agreement that the access should  be free to                                                               
all the students and teachers.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:33:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DICK  offered   support  for  proposed  HB   104,  but  he                                                               
questioned  the  means  for  the  remote  villages  to  meet  the                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:34:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NORMAN ECK, PhD, Superintendent,  Northwest Arctic Borough School                                                               
District,  reported  that  there  were 10  high  schools  in  the                                                               
district, but that  Kotzebue was the only school  large enough to                                                               
offer this  curriculum.  He stated  that six of the  high schools                                                               
only had  one or two teachers,  and that it was  not possible for                                                               
the teacher  to provide the  required courses with  the necessary                                                               
depth to the students.  He  stated that the students deserved the                                                               
opportunities.  He pointed to  the difficulties, even in the high                                                               
schools with five  teachers, which included the  lack of capacity                                                               
for video streamlining  courses.  He confirmed  that the district                                                               
had all  the high schools on  the same 55 minute  class schedules                                                               
to allow for  distance classes, but he  admitted the difficulties                                                               
for motivation  when there was only  one student in a  class.  He                                                               
stated the need  to address the small high school  in Alaska.  He                                                               
announced that magnet boarding schools  allowed older high school                                                               
students  to   channel  into   nursing,  teaching,   and  process                                                               
technology.  He  expressed appreciation for proposed  HB 104, but                                                               
he  declared  the  need  for  equal access  to  courses  for  all                                                               
students.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:39:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON asked if  the bill should  be postponed                                                               
or to have a later effective date.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:39:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. ECK replied  that the bill should not be  postponed, but that                                                               
the  reality  of the  delivery  system  and the  possibility  for                                                               
students   to   immediately   attain   scholarships   should   be                                                               
considered.   He stated the  need for post high  school training,                                                               
though not necessarily  a college Bachelors degree.   He stressed                                                               
that  the  computer  screen  did  not "meet  the  need  of  those                                                               
students who do  have that potential, just needs  to be unlocked;                                                               
a  computer screen,  as much  as they're  into technology,  still                                                               
doesn't unlock that deep part of  what makes a student a student,                                                               
and develops  you into a  true human  being, and brings  you into                                                               
full citizenship in  Alaska."  He questioned  whether grade point                                                               
average should be  included in proposed HB 104,  as many students                                                               
had not yet matured.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:41:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DICK  referred  to   the  Alaska  Performance  Scholarship                                                               
district survey on course offerings,  which indicated whether the                                                               
schools  in   the  district  could  provide   students  with  the                                                               
necessary  courses  to  meet  the  requirements  for  the  Alaska                                                               
performance  scholarships.   He  pointed out  that the  Northwest                                                               
Arctic   Borough  had   indicated   its  ability   to  meet   the                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DR. ECK  agreed that the  courses were  available in some  of the                                                               
schools, but he suggested that  there must have been confusion on                                                               
the survey.   He agreed  that the  potential was there  for some,                                                               
but not all the high schools.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:43:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA  reported that  it was necessary  to better                                                               
connect urban and rural needs with mentoring.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:45:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked  to clarify if the  district would be                                                               
able  to   offer  the   courses  when   the  program   was  fully                                                               
implemented.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:46:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. ECK  replied that it was  not physically possible for  one or                                                               
two, possibly  four, high school  teachers to teach all  of these                                                               
requirements to  the levels necessary.   He opined  that reliance                                                               
on  the  computer would  attract  some  students, but  would  not                                                               
provide all of the answers  until there was an infrastructure for                                                               
video  streaming.   He  declared the  need for  a  high level  of                                                               
individual  student   motivation  to  be  successful   with  this                                                               
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:47:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated that,  until that level of streaming                                                               
occurs,  the students  will  not  have access  to  the skills  to                                                               
perform in today's society.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DR.  ECK,  in response  to  Representative  Seaton, said  that  a                                                               
student did not need physics to  perform in today's society or to                                                               
attend college.  He declared  a need for small, regional boarding                                                               
schools or for  instructors to be available to fly  out to remote                                                               
sites,  all  of  which  would  require  increased  funding.    He                                                               
emphasized that  the option of  a distance delivery  class didn't                                                               
guarantee student success.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:50:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LARRY  "WOODY"  WILSON,  Superintendent, Wrangell  Public  School                                                               
District, President, SERRC  (Southeast Regional Resource Center),                                                               
agreed  that, although  the performance  scholarship was  not the                                                               
final answer  for all the  issues, it would provide  an incentive                                                               
to students.   He endorsed distance  education as the way  of the                                                               
future, and he  noted that some states required  a distance class                                                               
for graduation.  He offered  his support for any opportunity that                                                               
"was an  improvement, if  it moves the  right direction,  if it's                                                               
best for kids."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:52:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  THIELBAR,  PhD,  Superintendent, Skagway  School  District,                                                               
Board  Member,   SERRC  (Southeast  Regional   Resource  Center),                                                               
endorsed the scholarship  program and HB 104 as  an incentive for                                                               
students to  do better.   He  listed motivation,  robustness, and                                                               
technology as  pertinent issues.   He  defined robustness  as the                                                               
ability to  deliver a "deep  and enriching content in  a course."                                                               
He agreed  that although  a face to  face teaching  situation was                                                               
the  best,  video and  correspondence  courses  were better  than                                                               
nothing.    He  observed  that  Skagway did  not  have  the  best                                                               
technology  or the  ability to  deliver all  of the  courses with                                                               
teachers, but that the district was doing its' best.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:55:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
STEVE  BRADSHAW,  Superintendent,  Sitka School  District,  Board                                                               
Member,  SERRC (Southeast  Regional Resource  Center), said  that                                                               
education had  historically "tried to band-aid  things together."                                                               
He said that the mandate for  on line classes needed to be funded                                                               
appropriately at the state level.   As an educator, he questioned                                                               
where the  money was being placed.   He offered his  opinion that                                                               
to motivate students,  it was important to invest  the funding in                                                               
early childhood education at the pre-school level.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:58:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON, directing  attention to  the needs  based                                                               
component  of the  bill, asked  if it  would encourage  a greater                                                               
diversity of students than the merit based component by itself.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:59:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. BRADSHAW  stated his belief  that, although it  was important                                                               
to have  the merit scholarship  available for every  student, the                                                               
needs based  component would  motivate many  additional students.                                                               
He pointed out that the top 10 percent of the graduating class                                                                  
in the prior year had a high percentage of their school costs                                                                   
paid.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[HB 104 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:00:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.