Members of the House Education Committee pushed forward a new multi-part education proposal Monday after more than a dozen amendments failed.
House Bill 392, a proposal introduced by Rep. Tom McKay (R-Anchorage), includes a historic $680 increase to the per-pupil formula used to fund public schools. Masu. It also authorizes the governor's appointees to the State Education and Early Development Commission to authorize new charter schools, increase funding by nearly one-third for students in distance learning programs, and provide support for student transportation and reading. It will also give authority to strengthen the
The bill, which does not yet have a cost estimate, will next be considered by the House Finance Committee. Not scheduled.
The plan was originally written to include strengthening student funding formulas, increasing internet speeds in rural schools and implementing Gov. Mike Dunleavy's teacher retention bonus proposal.
By the end of the grueling session, the bill had undergone significant changes. Not as a result of any of the 14 proposed amendments, but on behalf of the Committee from the sponsors. Key items already passed in other bills, such as increasing internet speeds in rural schools and teacher retention benefits, were left out.
The final result bears similarities to Senate Bill 140, which was overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers and vetoed by Dunleavy.
On Monday, the committee, chaired by Rep. Jamie Allard (R-Eagle River), was interrupted by a tense chat between members.
Rep. Rebecca Himschut (I-Sitka) and Rep. Andy Storey (D-Juneau) proposed 14 amendments. One of them, a requirement that the State Board of Education consider recommendations from local school districts when deciding on charter applications, passed.
The rest failed, supported by Rep. Himschut (Story) and Rep. CJ McCormick (D-Bethel), and Rep. Jamie Allard (R-Eagle River). Justin Loughridge, R-Soldotna; Tom McKay, Republican of Anchorage; and Republican Mike Prax of North Pole opposed it.
charter
Mr. Himshut, Mr. Storey and Mr. McCormick opposed allowing the governor's appointees to the state board to authorize charter schools.
Himshut said that while the state charter is working well, he sees no good reason to change the way it is administered. I feel like it's happening,” he said.
This logic inspired another failed amendment that included a requirement that school districts collect data on charter school enrollment and waiting lists. Himschut said lawmakers are hearing about waiting lists and the need to add more schools without data to support that claim.
“If we're going to change the way charter schools do things — I don't think that's a good idea because they're doing very well — but if that's what we're going to do. So let's make sure we change what we need to do, and we're making the necessary changes based on the data,” she said.
McKay opposed the amendment, saying it would give charters special treatment compared to other public schools. “I don't see why we need to collect more information from charter schools than from public schools,” he says.
Co-Chairman Allard reminded the committee that charter schools are public schools.
The charter clause included in this bill was a major problem with previous legislation. Senators have called it a “misstart” in previous education policy negotiations, saying it would weaken local control over school districts.
correspondence
The new bill would significantly increase funding for correspondence students. Distance learning is home-based education supported by the school district.
Currently, these students are supported by 90% of the state funding that students in brick-and-mortar schools receive per student. House Bill 392 would increase funding to her 120% on a per-pupil formula, at a cost yet to be determined. McKay's office estimates a financial report with that number will be ready by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mr. Storey's office estimated the cost to be more than $40 million and proposed amendments that would significantly reduce the increase. He said a more modest increase is appropriate because schools in the state's neighborhoods cost more than students learning from home.
“While correspondence schools are important, they do not have the same duties, obligations and responsibilities as neighborhood schools. Our neighborhood schools have more caring facilities and are more accessible to public use. “It's true that it's being done. There are storage costs and upkeep costs. They have to pay insurance premiums for the building, and those insurance premiums have increased significantly,” she said.
McKay staffer Trevor Jepsen said the increased funding will be good for the district.
“Increasing that factor means more funding for school districts and more money going to education,” he says. “And there's not even a requirement that that money has to be spent on communications programs. It's just more money for school districts, and we hope they spend it on communications programs.”
Himshut proposed an amendment that would have held school districts accountable for how the money is spent, but it was defeated.
read
HB 392 would provide additional funding to school districts for all students affected by the state's literacy reform law, adding an additional $180 per student from kindergarten through third grade.
Previous legislation called for an increase of $500 for each student whose grades were low enough to merit intervention. Dunleavy cited this policy as one of the reasons he vetoed the previous education law. He said he believes the funding structure rewards poor performance rather than incentivizing success. Some teachers and supporters of the provision said the additional funding is essential to provide the additional services students need.
Story's revised proposal to raise the price from $180 to $500 failed.
She and Himschut, both former educators, noted that reading interventions are expensive and can include additional tutoring, specialized reading programs, and summer school.
Conflict
The session quickly passed a large bill with more than a dozen amendments, but things did not go smoothly. Lawmakers reacted sharply, with Allard repeatedly suspending proceedings to address or voice his grievances.
There was debate among lawmakers about whether public testimony would be held online. That happened, but only after Republicans on the committee adopted a new version of the bill and rejected most of the amendments.
At one point, Allard was interrupted by Himschut and insisted on giving public testimony if she thought some members of the public might not be heard.
“I want to hear their opinions,” she said. “You were made aware of the public testimony and did not provide it.”
Mr. Allard retorted: “If you let me finish my words, you'll know that I'm going to continue to talk about this issue in the room. Are you done with your tantrum?
This capriciousness was so pronounced that a national lawmaker reprimanded him in public testimony.
Rachel Lord, a Homer parent and business owner, praised the bill to increase student funding and expand distance learning, but said she hoped Himschut's accountability amendment would pass. Stated. She criticized the committee's leadership.
“What I’m hearing this morning is incredibly confusing,” she said, adding that the online portal for public documents has not been updated. “I don’t know who is responsible for making that happen, but in my experience trying to follow Congress, it’s rare to see this much gulf and lack of transparency in committee processes.”
Will Muldoon, a Juneau City School Board member who spoke on his own behalf, criticized the meeting as “unscrupulous.”
“It's sad that a committee that hasn't been able to meet for three weeks is now even more dysfunctional when it finally does,” he said. “So I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on that and encourage us to do better.”
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