HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 13, 1999 8:45 A.M. TAPE HFC 99 - 134, Side 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Con Bunde called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 8:45 A.M. PRESENT Vice Chair Bunde Representative Foster Representative G. Davis Representative Grussendorf Representative J. Davies Representative Kohring Representative Austerman Representative Moses Representative Williams Representative Therriault and Representative Mulder were not present for the meeting. ALSO PRESENT Eddie Grasser, Staff, Representative Beverly Masek; Darroll Hargraves, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators; Eddy Jeans, Manager, School Finance Section, Department of Education. SUMMARY HB 113 An Act relating to a program of postsecondary education for high school students. HB 113 was HELD in Committee for further consideration. HOUSE BILL NO. 113 An Act relating to a program of postsecondary education for high school students. EDDIE GRASSER, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK, explained that the proposed legislation was intended to allow eleventh and twelfth grade students attending a secondary school to have the option of taking postsecondary classes at a nearby college campus. Mr. Grasser noted that the legislation had been modeled after a program already in effect in Minnesota and would give high school students the opportunity to take more advanced classes within the university system and count them toward their requirements for graduation from high school. The bill would recognize that secondary students are part of the public education foundation formula and would provide for tuition assistance whenever the secondary student chooses to count college courses toward the high school graduation requirements. HB 113 will give public school students more options in planning their curriculum. Instead of being limited to those classes offered by the local high school, the bill would provide students a wider variety of options by including courses available at local college campus. Mr. Grasser advised that because of the large fiscal note, the sponsor of the bill would like to work on the bill during the interim in order to work on the funding so as to create a program which will work for everyone involved. He noted that the sponsor would like to structure the funding so that school districts could continue to negotiate with the University system with a payment plan. Representative Bunde questioned if HB 113 would require that an University teacher come to teach a high school class of students. Mr. Grasser replied that situation currently exists in Valdez, while in other areas, the students go to the University branch. The bill would provide that the University and high school system provide that option. Representative Austerman suggested that the State establish the framework so that the school system and the University work it out between themselves. Mr. Grasser responded that had been the attempted; however, in some school districts the options are not there. The proposed legislation would make it so that the campuses would have to negotiate with the school system to provide the option. In response to Representative Austerman, Mr. Grasser explained that the districts pay for the program, which could be labeled a "unfunded" mandate from the State. He reiterated that the program is worth investing, as it will provide students more options. Representative J. Davies commented that students currently do this, but are paying for it individually. Mr. Grasser noted that there are some students that can not afford college tuition. Mr. Grasser pointed out that in the first section of the bill, Representative Dyson and the HESS Committee added language which allows people to go to high school that are over 20 years of age. EDDY JEANS, MANAGER, SCHOOL FINANCE SECTION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, spoke to the concerns of the Department, in which, students failing high school graduation testing, return in order to continue as a secondary student, getting their first two years of college paid with K-12 funding. Under current law, a student can continue the secondary program until they are 20 years old. Representative Austerman questioned if the K-14 consideration had been made and how it would incorporate into the proposed legislation. In response to Representative G. Davis, Mr. Jeans replied that the Department has not yet taken a position on changing the age to 21 years. He stated that it was the intent of Representative Dyson to have that option available for those students that dropped out of school because of drug or alcohol problems, to offer them an incentive to return to school to earn a diploma. In response to Representative J. Davies, Mr. Jeans stated that the intent of the legislation was that the school districts and the University work together to meet the student's needs. He agreed that there are many ways in which to approach the situation. Mr. Jeans continued, in the way that the bill is currently structured, it would require the school district to pay the tuition fee through the existing foundation funds received. He spoke to an additional concern of the part time students. The legislation could be an avenue for those private school students to get a "jump start" on their college course work funded by the State. Representative Austerman asked if the Department's position was one of mandating the program rather than it being voluntary. Mr. Jeans replied that the Department supports the concept, however, they are not sure that the proposed legislation would be the appropriate mechanism as currently written. DARROLL HARGRAVES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, spoke in opposition to the proposed legislation. He stated that at this time, when an older student returns back to school, they are not counted in the foundation formula. There are alternatives to those students such as the general education diploma (GED) or a diploma that they could receive through the University campus. Many parents are registering complaints that schools are required to let the adult student back in. The Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) would like to see the that local boards and districts continue to make that determination. Mr. Hargraves pointed out that Alaska has made much effort in local school districts working with the University of Alaska. He noted that in the Community College Act of 1962, it is specified the purpose of a community college is to be a joint cooperative effort between the local school districts and the University of Alaska. Mr. Hargraves stated that any kind of statute put together in the Legislature could interfere and cause problems for those local programs. Representative G. Davis questioned if a problem currently exists. Mr. Hargraves replied that he did not know of any problems at this time, however, if this legislation is passed, there will be trouble as it would not be limited to only public school students. He asked who would pay the foundation costs for those other students. He stressed that "people will work the system" and schools will begin to accept dropouts in order to take advantage of University classes. Representative J. Davies interjected that the funding for the University has been decreased to such an extent that increasing the number of students in this way will require a means of support. HB 113 was HELD in Committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:20 A.M. H.F.C. 4 5/13/99 a.m.