ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
May 11, 2022
8:12 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harriet Drummond, Co-Chair
Representative Andi Story, Co-Chair
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky
Representative Grier Hopkins
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Mike Cronk
Representative Ronald Gillham
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 111(FIN) AM
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education
and Early Development; relating to public schools and school
districts; relating to early education programs; relating to
funding for early education programs; relating to school age
eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education
and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts;
relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating
to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading
intervention services to public school students enrolled in
grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and
materials for reading intervention services; establishing a
reading program in the Department of Education and Early
Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education
statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; and
providing for an effective date."
- FAILED TO MOVE OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 34(JUD)
"An Act relating to a demonstration state-tribal education
compact; relating to demonstration state-tribal education
compact schools; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HCS CSSB 34(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 111
SHORT TITLE: EARLY EDUCATION; READING INTERVENTION
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
03/24/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/24/21 (S) EDC, FIN
03/26/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/26/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/26/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/29/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/29/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/29/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/31/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/31/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/31/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/07/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/07/21 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/09/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/09/21 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/10/21 (S) EDC AT 10:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/10/21 (S) Heard & Held
04/10/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/12/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/12/21 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/14/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/14/21 (S) Heard & Held
04/14/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/16/21 (S) EDC RPT CS FORTHCOMING 2DP 2NR 1AM
04/16/21 (S) DP: HOLLAND, STEVENS
04/16/21 (S) NR: HUGHES, MICCICHE
04/16/21 (S) AM: BEGICH
04/16/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
04/16/21 (S) Moved CSSB 111(EDC) Out of Committee
04/16/21 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/19/21 (S) EDC CS RECEIVED NEW TITLE
05/13/21 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
05/13/21 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/25/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
01/25/22 (S) Heard & Held
01/25/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
01/26/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
01/26/22 (S) Heard & Held
01/26/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/10/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/10/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/15/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/15/22 (S) Heard & Held
02/15/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/04/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/04/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/04/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/15/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/15/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/15/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/17/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/17/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/11/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/22 (S) Moved CSSB 111(FIN) Out of Committee
04/11/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/12/22 (S) FIN RPT CS 3DP 2NR NEW TITLE
04/12/22 (S) DP: BISHOP, WILSON, WIELECHOWSKI
04/12/22 (S) NR: STEDMAN, HOFFMAN
04/12/22 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/12/22 (S) VERSION: CSSB 111(FIN) AM
04/13/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/13/22 (H) EDC, FIN
04/20/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/20/22 (H) Heard & Held
04/20/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
05/10/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
05/10/22 (H) Heard & Held
05/10/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
05/10/22 (H) FIN AT 9:00 AM ADAMS 519
05/10/22 (H) <Pending Referral>
05/11/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
BILL: SB 34
SHORT TITLE: STATE-TRIBAL EDUCATION COMPACT SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS
1/25/2021 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
1/25/2021 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME REFERRALS
1/25/2021 (S) EDC, JUD
4/21/2021 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
4/21/2021 (S) Heard & Held
4/21/2021 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
4/23/2021 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
4/23/2021 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
4/23/2021 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
4/28/2021 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
4/28/2021 (S) Heard & Held
4/28/2021 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
2/11/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
2/11/2022 (S) Heard & Held
2/11/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
2/16/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
2/16/2022 (S) Heard & Held
2/16/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
2/23/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
2/23/2022 (S) Heard & Held
2/23/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
3/3/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 10:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
3/3/2022 (S) Heard & Held -- Please note time change
--
3/3/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
3/11/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
3/11/2022 (S) <Above Item Removed from Agenda>
3/11/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
3/17/2022 (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
3/17/2022 (S) Moved CSSB 34(EDC) Out of Committee --
Please
note time change --
3/17/2022 (S) Minutes (SEDC)
3/18/2022 (S) EDC RPT CS 4DP NEW TITLE
3/18/2022 (S) DP: HOLLAND, MICCICHE, STEVENS, BEGICH
3/23/2022 (S) FN1: ZERO(EED)
3/23/2022 (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
3/23/2022 (S) Heard & Held
3/23/2022 (S) Minutes (SJUD)
3/28/2022 (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
3/28/2022 (S) Moved CSSB 34(JUD) Out of Committee
3/28/2022 (S) Minutes (SJUD)
3/30/2022 (S) JUD RPT CS 3DP 1NR NEW TITLE
3/30/2022 (S) DP: HOLLAND, MEYERS, KIEHL
3/30/2022 (S) NR: HUGHES
3/30/2022 (S) FN1: ZERO(EED)
3/30/2022 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/30/22
3/30/2022 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
3/30/2022 (S) JUD CS ADOPTED UC
3/30/2022 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/4 CALENDAR
4/4/2022 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 34(JUD)
4/4/2022 (S) PASSED Y13 N1 E4 A2
4/4/2022 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y14 N- E4 A2
4/4/2022 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
4/4/2022 (S) VERSION: CSSB 34(JUD)
4/5/2022 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME REFERRALS
4/5/2022 (H) TRB, EDC
4/5/2022 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FOSTER
4/14/2022 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FIELDS
4/14/2022 (H) TRIBAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
4/14/2022 (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 8:30 am --
4/14/2022 (H) Minutes (HTRB)
4/25/2022 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): ZULKOSKY
4/26/2022 (H) TRIBAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
4/26/2022 (H) Moved HCS CSSB 34(TRB) Out of Committee
4/26/2022 (H) Minutes (HTRB)
4/27/2022 (H) TRB RPT HCS(TRB) 4 DP
4/27/2022 (H) DP: ORTIZ, TARR, FIELDS, ZULKOSKY
4/27/2022 (H) FN1: ZERO(EED)
5/2/2022 (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
5/2/2022 (H) <Bill Hearing Reschedule to 5/4/22> --
MEETING
CANCELED --
5/4/2022 (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
5/4/2022 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- MEETING
CANCELED
5/6/2022 (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
5/6/2022 (H) Heard & Held Recessed to a Call of
the Chair
5/6/2022 (H) Minutes (HEDC)
5/11/2022 (H) EDC RPT HCS(TRB) 6DP 1NR
5/11/2022 (H) DP: CRONK, PRAX, ZULKOSKY, HOPKINS,
STORY, DRUMMOND
5/11/2022 (H) NR: GILLHAM
5/11/2022 (H) FN1: ZERO(EED)
5/11/2022 (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR GARY STEVENS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, offered closing remarks
on HCS CSSB 34(TRB).
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:12:16 AM
CO-CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 7:38 a.m. Representatives Cronk,
Gillham, Prax, Zulkosky, Hopkins, Story, and Drummond were
present at the call to order.
SB 111-EARLY EDUCATION; READING INTERVENTION
8:13:02 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the first order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 111(FIN) am, "An Act relating to
the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development;
relating to public schools and school districts; relating to
early education programs; relating to funding for early
education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating
to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development;
relating to reports by school districts; relating to
certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening
reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services
to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten
through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading
intervention services; establishing a reading program in the
Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the
definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a
virtual education consortium; and providing for an effective
date."
8:13:28 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY moved to adopt the proposed House committee
substitute (HCS) for CSSB 111(EDC), Version 32-LS0485\F, Klein,
5/8/22, as a working document.
8:14:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. He spoke to his objection,
expressing the opinion that it would be difficult to convince
the members of the House of Representatives to pass the proposed
HCS. He suggested that members would be more familiar with the
previous Senate version, CSSB 111(FIN) am, which accomplishes
one objection and would more likely pass.
8:14:48 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY urged the importance of sending the proposed HCS
to the House Finance Standing Committee. She speculated that
there would be a robust discussion, and all the pieces would be
reviewed. She stated that the proposed legislation would be
good for students and has components and resources to make a
change in reading education statewide.
8:15:39 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Zulkosky, Hopkins,
Story, and Drummond voted in favor of the motion to adopt the
proposed HCS for CSSB 111, Version 32-LS0485\F, Klein, 5/8/22,
as a working document. Representatives Cronk, Gillham, and Prax
voted against it. Therefore, by a vote of 4-3, Version F was
before the committee.
8:16:54 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:16 a.m. to 8:17 a.m.
8:17:53 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND entertained a motion.
8:18:11 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY moved to report HCS CSSB 111, Version 32-
LS0485\F, Klein, 5/8/22, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
8:18:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY objected. She spoke to her objection,
stating that she would not vote to pass HCS CSSB 111(EDC),
[Version F], from committee. She recognized she may be in the
minority on the vote but stated that she would like to put
concerns on the record for the public. She stated that the
committee had worked hard on the proposed legislation to make
[Version F] a good bill. The work included: adding protections
for Indigenous languages; boosting the base student allocation
funding; addressing teacher retention; removing onerous
statewide student progression mandates; and strengthening local
control [of education policy]. She thanked Co-Chairs Drummond
and Story for focusing on the issues that rural districts face
and the needs of all of Alaska students, in particular Alaska
Native students and immersion students.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY stated that she could support [Version
F] if it were in a vacuum. But, she said, "There is clear
daylight between the bill that I'm looking at now, and the bill
that passed the other body." After hearing discussions in the
hallways and the varied discussions in committee, she related
that she is not confident all of the positive changes would
survive in the end; instead, the final product would closely
resemble the Senate's version. She clarified that her stance is
not rooted in political achievement or gamesmanship, as she has
heard repeated concerns from constituents and other stakeholders
that the Senate's version would unintentionally disadvantage
small rural schools, Alaska Native students, and English
language learners. She stated that her concerns are rooted in
the protection of these groups, and the unintended consequences
of the legislation would disproportionately impact these groups,
relative to their peers. She stated that the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED) already tracks the lowest
performing schools and districts in Alaska, the bulk of which
are schools in small areas where Alaska Native students are the
majority. She opined that, looking at the status quo of the
public education system and underachieving students, Alaska is
systematically failing the cultural needs of Alaska students in
classrooms across the state.
8:22:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY referenced committee testimony on the
Senate's version of the bill, which related that every school
district has retention policies. She argued that this is
factually incorrect. She pointed out that she has talked with
many school districts that do not enforce retention policies, as
they believe that retention is not in the best interest of
students. She indicated that both co-chairs have acknowledged
this on the record. She referenced testimony that conveyed the
Senate's version of the bill would not create screeners as a
high-stakes tests; however, she pointed out that this version of
the bill would create a standardized tool which determines
whether a student passes to the next grade level. She reasoned
that this is the definition of a high-stakes decision point.
She maintained that a high-stakes decision point in standardized
screening would not set up the cultural support to help students
achieve, particularly in her district. She voiced further
concerns that the implementation of the Senate's version of the
bill would be reminiscent of the No Child Left Behind Act. She
expressed the opinion that this policy had eradicated creativity
and multilingualism in classrooms, and the policy ultimately had
harmed the inspiration of students to feel a desire to learn.
She referenced the proponents of the science of reading
philosophy, who have argued that lower income schools have
succeeded under this type of legislation. She said, "I want to
be really clear that cultural needs are not synonymous with
poverty, and that is absolutely a perspective that needs to be
set aside."
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY voiced the concern that, relative to the
Senate's version, DEED would likely provide an English-speaking
reading specialist from an urban area to remedy low reading
scores in multilingual rural districts. She shared that she is
from one of the most rural and economically disadvantaged
regions in the entire United State, where homes lack running
water and reliable broadband. She stated that communities in
that region perpetually struggle to recruit and retain teachers.
She expressed her distrust that tests could solve the underlying
inequities or address the root causes of disparities in
educational achievement. She clarified that she does not have
the "luxury" to pass a potentially bad policy because she wants
"it off my plate." She stated that the effects of bad policy
for urban Alaska would be magnified in rural Alaska and could be
very detrimental to students and families in those regions.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY continued that [Version F] would
implement policies that would benefit rural students by
bolstering cultural structure for DEED and districts; but she
expressed doubt that this version of the bill would remain
intact by final passage. She recommended that committee members
consult bill sponsors at the front end of policy making, and at
that time it could be determined what actually works in the
diverse parts of the state. She recognized that, out of 60
members in the House, she has a limited ability to shape policy.
She stated that she is an Alaska Native woman educated in rural
Alaska, who thrived under the hard work of a single mom. From
this perspective, she expressed the obligation to voice deep
concern and discomfort on moving the proposed legislation. She
offered the hope that, if [Version F] were to advance, other
members would acknowledge the hard work to make sure the policy
would not disproportionately disadvantage Alaska Native students
and all rural students in the state.
8:26:36 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:26 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
8:30:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK thanked Representative Zulkosky for the
comments. He stated that many good points had been made in
multiple discussions throughout the session. He stated that he
supported the original version of the bill but cannot support
this version.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY withdrew her objection.
8:30:41 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives, Hopkins, Story,
and Drummond voted in favor of the motion to move HCS CSSB 111,
Version 32-LS0485\F, Klein, 5/8/22, out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
Representatives Gillham, Zulkosky, Prax, and Cronk voted against
it. Therefore, HCS CSSB 111(EDC) failed to move from the House
Education Standing Committee by a vote of 3-4.
8:31:34 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:31 a.m. to 8:34 a.m.
SB 34-STATE-TRIBAL EDUCATION COMPACT SCHOOLS
8:34:07 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL 34(JUD), "An Act relating to a
demonstration state-tribal education compact; relating to
demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and
providing for an effective date."
[Before the committee was HCS CSSB 34(TRB).]
8:34:48 AM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau Alaska,
provided closing statements on HCS CSSB 34(TRB). He stated that
the proposed legislation has gone through several renditions
with multiple compromises. He stated that the legislation would
give federally recognized tribes in the state and the State
Board of Education and Early Development (SBOE) a window of time
to negotiate a structure for a state-tribal education compact.
It is expected the negotiations would begin immediately and
result in a formal proposal for a model that could be introduced
to the legislature within the next few years. He stated that
state-tribal compacting is an opportunity to embrace the Alaska
Indigenous history, culture, and language in curriculum for all
students. He reminded the committee members that the
legislation would not create compacting; instead, it directs the
SBOE and tribes to convene on the topic and return with
legislation that can be considered in the future.
8:36:02 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND, after ascertaining that there was no one who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:36:29 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY moved to report HCS CSSB 34(TRB) out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
8:36:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK objected. Speaking to his objection, he
thanked the bill sponsor for bringing the bill forward. He
expressed the opinion that this would be a good step forward for
the state. He removed his objection.
8:37:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM objected. Speaking to his objection, he
voiced the concern that the legislation would allow school
districts to exist within school districts. He stated that this
would allow these districts to receive double funding. He
removed his objection.
8:37:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY expressed appreciation that
Representative Gillham removed his objection. She stated that
she has worked with tribal health organizations, which has set
the stage for tribal compacting in Alaska. Tribal health
programs have shown that local control, through local
agreements, have transformed the mechanism of health care in
Alaska. She stated that to address questions and concerns, like
Representative Gillham's point, the tribes and DEED would have a
negotiation and consultation process to create a blueprint and
demonstration. She referenced that the state has a
constitutional obligation to provide public education in
schools, so she appreciates the conversation. She reiterated
that [HCS CSSB 34(TRB)] would be the vehicle to get to the point
where answers could be provided.
8:39:25 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated that there being no more objections,
HCS CSSB 34(TRB) was reported out of the House Education
Standing Committee.
8:39:54 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:39 a.m. to 8:42 a.m.
8:42:52 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND thanked the committee.
8:43:05 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:43 a.m.