HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE February 07, 2003 1:24 PM TAPE HFC 03 - 15, Side A TAPE HFC 03 - 15, Side B CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Meyer called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:34 PM. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Kevin Meyer, Vice-Chair Representative Eric Croft Representative Richard Foster Representative Mike Hawker Representative Reggie Joule Representative Carl Moses Representative Gary Stevens Representative Bill Stoltze MEMBERS ABSENT Representative John Harris, Co-Chair Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair Representative Jim Whitaker ALSO PRESENT William Tandeske, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety; Karen Morgan, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Public Safety; Gretchen A. Pence, Special Assistant, Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Safety; Joel Hard, Col., Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection, Department of Public Safety; Gary Powell, Director, State Fire Marshall, Department of Public Safety; Doug Norris, Maj. Deputy Director, Division of Alaska State Troopers, Department of Public Safety; Susan Scudder, Director, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Department of Public Safety; Shirley Holloway, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development; Dr. Ed McLain, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early Development; Yvonne Chase, Deputy Commissioner, Early Education, Department of Education and Early Development; Karen Rehfeld, Director, Division of Education Support Services, Department of Education and Early Development; Kevin Sweeney, Legislative Liaison, Department of Education and Early Development. PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE GENERAL SUBJECT (S): Agency Overviews: Department of Public Safety Department of Education and Early Development The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes and handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 23rd Legislative Session, contact 465- 2156. After the 23rd Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.   LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION    TAPE HFC 03 - 15  SIDE A  000 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY  239 William Tandeske, Introduced staff. He noted that he was Commissioner, born in the state and gave a brief Department of Public personal history. He spent nearly 26- Safety years as an Alaska State Trooper and retired a few years ago as a Major and Deputy Director of the Troopers. He has lived and worked around the state of Alaska. He has worked with all aspects of the Department through the years and has an extensive background in law enforcement.  457 Commissioner Explained that loyalty, integrity and Tandeske courage will be the focus of the Department.   701 Commissioner "The internal health of this agency is Tandeske reflected every day by the public face of the agency - how the people we serve view the job and us we are doing for them. I expect every employee of this department to conduct the daily business of the department, both internal and public, in a manner that reflects loyalty to the ideals and laws we live by, with integrity that is beyond reproach and with the courage to do what is right in the face of adversity."  740 Commissioner Emphasized the need for professionalism, Tandeske and noted that it is his goal to instill a sense of pride and professionalism in every corner of the agency.  813 Commissioner Noted that the need for a positive Tandeske approach to problem solving.  858 Commissioner Emphasized the need for fairness, both Tandeske for in the treatment for employees and  for the citizenry they serve. No person shall be given better or worse treatment due to any kind of status or condition. All business, whether internal or external, shall be conducted in a fair and honest manner. All decision-making processes shall be conducted in a fair and impartial manner and shall be closely scrutinized and regularly challenged to insure that they are clearly defensible  959 Commissioner Stressed the need to remember those that Tandeske serve at the lowest levels of the organization.  1120 Commissioner Reviewed activities of the department: Tandeske Violent Crimes Compensation Board, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Public Safety Academy, Alaska Police Standards Council, Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory and emphasized their importance.  1359 Commissioner Referred to the Administrative Services Tandeske Division and stressed that their function has continued to grow.  1459 Commissioner Discussed the Division of Fire Tandeske Prevention: Fire Service training, and prevention offices. FY02 was the lowest year for deaths by fire (9 deaths).  1636 Commissioner Reviewed the Division of Fish and Tandeske Wildlife Protection. He observed that many come to Alaska because of the fish and game resources. The sport fishing economy in Alaska is $700 million dollars and the wildlife economy is worth $200 million dollars.  1825 Commissioner Emphasized the search and rescue function Tandeske of the department.  1842 Commissioner Observed that the Division of Alaska Tandeske State Troopers offers statewide services. Pointed out that there are challenges in the state of Alaska due to the size of the state and weather conditions in Alaska as compared to other states.  2128 Commissioner Observed that there are special demands Tandeske that tax resources: some are annual events such as fairs and concerts, which require the department to be proactive.  2215 Commissioner Observed that homeland security Tandeske activities are being developed.  2244 Commissioner Emphasized the importance of drug and Tandeske alcohol enforcement.  2328 Commissioner Summarized that the Department's mission Tandeske is varied.  2358 Vice-Chair Meyer Noted that the Department of Public Safety is sometimes taken for granted, but stressed the magnitude of their work. He gave his respect for the work of the department.  2522 Representative Observed that it had been a rough year Stoltze for the Alaska State Troopers in regards to the loss of some of its members.  2649 Representative Acknowledged the participation of the Foster department in rural Alaska.  2278 Representative Referred to concerns regarding the need Hawker for additional statute to allow the Crime Laboratory to utilize DNR materials. Commissioner Tandeske was unable to respond to the question. He stressed that the crime laboratory is a vital asset for the state.  2827 Representative Questioned the fire risk of beetle-killed Hawker trees.  2931 Gary Powell, Responded that the Department has worked Director, State Fire with a number of groups to address the Marshall, Department problem of beetle kill. He suggested that of Public Safety more work could be done with the combination of state, local and federal funds.  3057 Representative Referred to the Academy. He questioned Stevens future plans for the facility.  3136 Commissioner Assured members that the Academy would Tandeske figure prominently in the department's plans and that it would remain an active training facility.  3221 Representative Croft Questioned if it would be irresponsible to propose a 5 - 10 percent cut to the department.  3253 Commissioner Stated that he would always advocate more Tandeske resources. He noted that he had not had an opportunity to look at the impact of reductions.  3401 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY  DEVELOPMENT  3431 Shirley Holloway, Introduced staff. She noted that the Commissioner, department's mission is to support the Department of development of lifelong learners. There Education and Early are six goals to achieve this mission.  Development 3605 Commissioner 1. To have culturally and Holloway developmentally appropriate high quality early care and education programs that improve the well being of young children statewide, ages 0-4, in which children, families, and communities are  active partners; 2. To have clear, rigorous, credible student standards and assessments; 3. To have a credible system of academic and fiscal accountability for students, professionals, schools, and districts; 4. To have highly qualified school professionals who have met rigorous and credible standards and assessments; 5. To have schools in which students, staff, families, business, and communities are active partners in learning; and 6. To have an adequate, stable and secure source of funding for schools.  3613 Commissioner In the current year, the department has Holloway approximately 419 full time and 116 part- time positions in its 7 divisions and 4 commissions. Offices are located in five Alaska communities with the main presence in Juneau and Anchorage.  3721 Commissioner The seven-member State Board of Education Holloway & Early Development is the head of the agency. In addition, there are three advisory members: one military and two student representatives. The governor, subject to legislative confirmation, appoints the state board members. The state board, subject to approval by the governor, appoints the commissioner. The board establishes statewide goals and education policy through adopting regulations to implement education laws.  3798 Commissioner The Department of Education & Early Holloway Development is responsible for funding and regulating the state's K-12 schools as well as administering school debt reimbursement, grants for school construction and major maintenance, and a comprehensive system of early care and learning.  3814 Commissioner Independent commissions reporting through Holloway the department include the Professional Teaching Practices Commission, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska  State Community Service Commission, and the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.  3834 Commissioner The Department of Education & Early Holloway Development's FY 2003 operating budget is $1,069,263,000 including about $769 million from general funds, $179 million from federal funds, and the balance from other funding sources. Ninety-four percent of the total agency budget, and 96% of the department's general fund budget, is allocated through grants to school districts, non-profit organizations and individuals across the state. The chart on page 4 is a snap shot of the department's current year budget:  3911 Commissioner Observed that there is a commitment to Holloway accountability. The public education conversation has substantially changed. The discussion is how well are students learning.  3951 Commissioner Reviewed the journey of school reform, Holloway which began in 1991 when standards were introduced. In 1996, the Department of Education refined its school reform plan to include four major components: 1. High student academic standards and assessments; 2. Quality professional standards; 3. Family, school, university, business and community networks; and 4.School excellence standards.  4137 Commissioner In 1997 the legislature passed the High Holloway School Graduation Qualifying Examination.  4156 Commissioner Profile of students entering school in Holloway relationship to the student's strength and the areas of their needs. Families are included in discussions.  4235 Commissioner In 1998 the legislature passed a complete Holloway system of school accountability requiring: 1. State reading, writing and math student performance standards; 2. Benchmark exams at grades 3, 6  and 8 to measure student progress against the standards; 3. Each school to make public a report card that tells parents about student progress and other information about the performance of the school; 4. A state-adopted ranking program to designate each school as distinguished, successful, deficient and in crisis; and 5. A developmental profile on all entering kindergarten and first grade students. • The legislature created a quality school grant program -- and later, a learning opportunity grant program -- to help students meet the goals of the accountability system.  4242 Commissioner In January 2002, Congress passed the No Holloway Child Left Behind Act, the most sweeping school reform act in our nation's history. Some have reacted negatively. The reason for the law is that across the nation the top third students are doing well, the middle third are okay but the bottom third have been failed.  4241 Commissioner The essential components of the No Child Holloway Left Behind Act include: 1. An aligned system of academic content standards, academic student achievement, standards, and assessments of student performance; 2. Annual assessments of student progress in attaining the student academic achievement standards;  4357 Commissioner 3. School, district, and State Holloway accountability decisions based on the performance of specific subgroups of students designed to ensure that all students are proficient in reading or language arts and mathematics by 20 13- 14; and  4428 Commissioner 4. A system of rewards and required, Holloway progressive sanctions to encourage and support high-and low-performing schools.  4522 Commissioner Governor Murkowski and his Administration  Holloway have embraced NCLB and its promising goals and he has pledged to achieve those goals. • The promise of "No Child Left Behind" - - though stated differently --is the same goal Alaska has expressed in its own school reform plan for a dozen years. She noted that the plan requires assessments and report cards. She emphasized that students need to make progress.  4620 Commissioner NCLB and the state's school reform plan Holloway have some similarities. Both require: 1. Performance standards for students in core academic areas; 2. Assessments to measure whether students are meeting standards. NCLB requires assessments in grades 3 through 8 and a high school exam. The state system required assessments in grades 3, 6, 8 and high school; 3. School report cards; 4. A school designator system; 5. Quality instructional staff; and 6. Partnerships between schools, parents, communities and businesses.    TAPE HFC 03 - 15,  Side B  4643 Commissioner Explained that low scoring students were Holloway not identified when scores were averaged. NCLB differs most from our state accountability system because NCLB has greater consequences for schools whose students do not perform well on state exams. • NCLB requires showing achievement in 10 different subgroups: 1) the school as a whole; 2) white; 3) black; 4) Native American; 5) Asian/Pacific Islander; 6) Hispanic; 7) Alaska Native; 8)limited English proficient; 9) students with disabilities; and 10) low economic status.  • NCLB requires schools to show Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in each and every subgroup. A school that fails to meet AYP in any one subgroup is placed in the same improvement status as a school that fails to make AYP for all 10 subgroups.  4607 Commissioner Explained that schools that do not meet Holloway AYP two years in a row in any one of the 10 subgroups go into "school improvement status." Such schools need to provide parents with a choice of schools and/or supplemental services. The federal government is granting Alaska an allowance for small and remote schools that cannot practically offer a choice of another school.  4544 Commissioner Added that the federal government is Holloway offering an allowance for small schools.  4524 Commissioner Schools that continue on school Holloway improvement status for two years and beyond face increasing sanctions, including taking immediate corrective action. Schools that stay on improvement status for four and five years eventually must plan and reconstitute the administration of the school. Reconstitution includes such action as forming a charter school and replacing school leadership and staff.  4456 Commissioner In addition to the differences in Holloway accountability approaches between NCLB and the Alaska system, NCLB impacts the decision-making for parents of schools designated for school improvement.  4431 Commissioner Explained that Alaska is working to blend Holloway the state school improvement system with NCLB because Alaska desires, and NCLB requires, a single system of state accountability.  4403 Commissioner On January 31, 2003 Alaska submitted its Holloway Alaska Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook, January 2003, which proposes how Alaska will implement NCLB in the state of Alaska.  4349 Commissioner Alaska and the federal government now Holloway will work to approve Alaska's plan by May 1, 2003 through a federal process called "peer review." The peer review team will visit the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development on March 12, 2003.  4325 Commissioner Administration has made it clear that the Holloway state of Alaska wants to meet the desired outcomes of "no child left behind". However, there are difficulties in Alaska due to the number of small schools in the state.  4138 Commissioner Observed that the department submitted a Holloway plan for a comprehensive system of student assessment and accountability to the U. S. Department of Education January 31, 2003.  4128 Commissioner Added that a peer review team made up of Holloway representatives from the U. S. Department of Education and other educators will visit Alaska on March 12 to review and finalize this plan. It will review: • Benchmark and norm-referenced assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics for grades 3-9, and a High School Graduation Qualifying Examination beginning at grade 10. • A developmental profile instruments for children entering school at either kindergarten or first grade.  4013 Commissioner Noted that the department had begun the Holloway process for developing and selecting an annual English language proficiency test for English Language Learners (ELL) students. She discussed the school designator system.  4003 Commissioner Observed that they had refocused and Holloway refined the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination, in line with the requirements of SB 133 to test essential skills.  3950 Commissioner Developed alternate and optional Holloway assessments for students with disabilities.  3927 Commissioner Discussed early learning and noted that Holloway research tells that it is successful.  3901 Commissioner Noted that efforts in early development Holloway have increased the safety of children in early childhood programs; enhanced the quality through higher standards, specific training, and educational requirements; and provided technical assistance to these programs.  3818 Commissioner Spoke to the challenge of attitude. She Holloway emphasized the need to get rid of the excuses for why a child cannot learn. "We must believe that all children can  learn."  3733 Commissioner Noted the need for a single, Holloway comprehensive system of assessment and accountability, including criteria for meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  3729 Commissioner Discussed technical assistance and Holloway support for schools or districts identified under Title I School Improvement provisions. Emphasized that it would do not good to designate schools if we do not help them get better.  3657 Commissioner Reviewed a new district compliance Holloway monitoring system based on provisions of NCLB. Alaska is a local control state. Many of the requirements expect the Department of Education and Early Development to take on a new role.  3618 Commissioner Spoke to new policies and procedures for Holloway all teachers and paraprofessionals to adhere to in order to become "highly qualified" as defined by NCLB.  3609 Commissioner Discussed criteria to apply to schools to Holloway determine if they are "persistently dangerous."  3554 Commissioner Reviewed supplemental service providers.  Holloway 3533 Commissioner Stressed the need to work with district Holloway staff on strategies. Reading is central.  3507 Commissioner Provided a summary of key issues: How to Holloway implement? Work with school district staff to develop strategies that will provide all students with opportunities to learn and read state standards at the appropriate age/grade levels.  3422 Commissioner • Provide training and assistance on the Holloway requirements of state law and regulations and the federal No Child Left Behind Act. • Develop Alternate assessments for grades 4, 5, 7, and 9. • Development of science performance standards by the end of 2005-2006. • Development of a statewide science assessment based on state standards by the end of 2007-2008. • Development or selection of an annual assessment of English language proficiency for English Language  Learners (ELL). • Administration of test security and assessment administration training, annually. • Compiling and reporting student assessment and school report card information, annually. • Refocusing and aligning the Benchmark assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics with the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam. • Establish district-monitoring systems to comply with requirements of NCLB  3349 Commissioner Discussed key issues facing the Holloway department: Implementation of the No Child Left Behind initiative, Comprehensive Statewide Assessment system, School Accountability/designator system, teacher preparation, recruitment, retention, and public school funding.  3337 Commissioner Reviewed access to and the quality of Holloway early care and learning programs.  3323 Commissioner Observed that the department faces a Holloway tough road and emphasized that partnership would help all.  3304 Commissioner Noted that there are many stars in the Holloway ranks of teachers, principles, superintendents, support staff, childcare and preschool teachers.  3217 Vice-Chair Meyer Referred to teacher shortages and questioned the extent of the problem.  3137 Commissioner Noted that the recruitment and retention Holloway grant has made some headway. There is a new web site: Alaskateacher.org, which is helping districts to advertise openings. Five Alaska Native teachers are working on a program to help link outside teachers to their communities.  3014 Dr. Ed McLain, Further discussed the grant, which was $2 Deputy Commissioner, million dollars for a rural practicum to Department of support student teachers. The grant Education & Early includes mentoring to support new Development teachers and is a one-stop contact in the department.  2904 Commissioner Added that there was also a federal Holloway grant.  2847 Representative Asked the status of home school Stoltze regulations.  2818 Commissioner Noted that the department does not  Holloway regulate home schooling. The department does have a correspondence study curriculum.  2729 Representative Joule Expressed the belief that children can learn regardless of their background, but pointed out the issue of equality and questioned how to achieve education where there is no or little economy.  2630 Commissioner Acknowledged that how to make public Holloway education in small villages relevant is a large issue and suggested the need to tie learning to the culture. She added that there are arguments as to what can be delivered in the villages.  2530 Representative Joule Observed that it is difficult to tie education to the culture with standardized testing. He questioned if bilingual education schools could contract services for education.  2424 Commissioner Responded that the department could not Holloway find any thing that prohibits a contractual relationship with tribal entities to provide education. She felt that it would be worth exploring.  2336 Representative Joule Referred to recruiting, training and growing teachers. He questioned where Alaska is in terms of pay.  2312 Commissioner Did not know exact ranking, but Holloway summarized that Alaska has lost its competitive edge.  2247 Representative Observed that education is undergoing a Stevens great deal of change. He expressed concern with the transitional period between governors. He pointed out that education must rise beyond politics. He asked if the state is transitioning smoothly so that children will not pay the price.  2105 Commissioner Felt that the transition had been Holloway positive. She thanked the Committee for the opportunity to discuss the history and the need to "stay the course". She emphasized that there will be some need for corrective action. The Governor supports the "no child left behind" approach and understands the bipartisan work that has been done.   ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 PM