Association of Alaska School
Boards
Legislative Bulletin
A weekly digest of activity
by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for AlaskaÕs School Board Members.
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January 19, 2007
--PALIN: ÒMY COMMITMENT TO
EDUCATION IS UNWAVERING.Ó
--LAWMAKERS WAIT FOR
GOVERNOR TO SET BUDGET PRIORITIES
--LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO
REVIEW NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
--EDUCATION BILLS SCHEDULED
FOR HEARINGS NEXT WEEK
******************************************************************************************
PALIN: ÒMY COMMITMENT TO
EDUCATION IS UNWAVERINGÓ
In her State of the State
Address on Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Palin devoted a sizeable portion of her speech
to public schools. She told a
joint session of the 25th Alaska Legislature that she wants quick
action on education funding this year, that she hopes to improve the graduation
rate of high school students, train more young Alaskans for jobs close to home
and address problems in federal education law. The following is a transcript of her remarks regarding
public education:
My commitment to
education is unwavering.
My budget includes
fully funding the "K through 12" foundation formula. In
addition, I've included more than $200 million in new dollars to cover the
increased retirement costs for local school districts, so that more local
school district dollars get into the classroom, where the money belongs.
Remember, we're
facing a potential $10 billion dollar PERS / TRS retirement plan shortfall that
affects local schools. Our $200 million dollar line item for school
districts is part of the half BILLION dollar proposal to help the districts,
local governments and the state alleviate the pension plan burden while we work
with the Legislature on a long-term solution.
I've also
committed to help provide local school districts with more predictability, for
better planning by supporting "early funding of education." So
I'll introduce a separate education appropriation bill and ask the Legislature
to begin work on it immediately and ask that it is passed within the first 60
days of the session. Our local school districts deserve to know what they
have to work with early enough for them to create efficiencies through
planning. They shouldn't have to "pink slip" teachers in the
spring, and make "last minute" rehire attempts in the fall.
(Note: SB 52 was
introduced on Friday and referred to the Finance Committee. A full copy of the
bill is available here:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0052A&session=25)
But my vision for
education is NOT only about funding - it's about changing the way we think
about, and operate our schools. It's not the amount of money we pour into
each child, but how we spend the money that counts.
We'll look at
successful education programs statewide and outside that can be replicated, and
we'll look at new approaches! We've got to do something different.
Our high school graduation rate is 61%. That's unacceptable! Our
vo-tech opportunities need to grow so that our kids stay in school and then
fill the voids in our industries. And at the same time, we need to make
sure those who want to go to college are ready.
We know that we
need more mechanics, technicians, teachers, doctors, and nurses. We
shouldn't have to import our workforce when it's growing up before us.
And so a
centerpiece of my administration IS our commitment to a "world class
education" system. Let's take education and move beyond No Child
Left Behind to ensure that "no ALASKAN is left behind."
We'll work with
our Congressional delegation to ADAPT federal mandates to fit Alaska. I'm so
thankful Sen. Lisa Murkowski is also committed to changing federal requirements
so they make sense for the uniqueness here. Flexibility is needed, for rural
schools, especially.
To meet our
challenges, I've asked our departments to bring together the private sector,
the Department of Labor, postsecondary institutions, and our wonderful
alternative education choices, including home schools, to ensure that students
have the skills to meet Alaska's workforce needs. And, I will continue to
ask families and individuals to take more responsibility.
You'll hopefully find
this theme consistent throughout my administration - cooperative efforts and
personal accountability.
The complete transcript of
her State of the State Address is available here:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/speeches.php?id=66
LAWMAKERS WAIT FOR GOVERNOR
TO SET STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES
State lawmakers this week largely commended Gov. Sarah Palin
on her goal of cutting $150 million in state spending but were content to leave
the task up to her. ÒI feel that if she is the governor, she needs to set her
priorities,Ó Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, said Tuesday. See full story here:
http://newsminer.com/2007/01/19/4591/
LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO REVIEW
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
The No Child Left Behind law was support to level the playing
field, promising students an equal education no matter where they live or their
background. From state to state, however, huge differences remain in what
students are expected to know and learn. Now, as the law is due for
reauthorization, some education advocates are calling for standards of learning
that are uniform nationwide. See full story here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/01/16/education.standards.ap/index.html
EDUCATION BILLS SCHEDULED
FOR HEARINGS NEXT WEEK
Although the Alaska Legislature has not scheduled any
education bills for public hearings next week, the Senate Select Committee on
Education has two briefings planned. They are as follows:
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 8:00 at
the Capitol
Overview: Statewide Mentor Program
Friday, Jan. 26, 8:00 at the
Capitol
Overview: No Child Left Behind, School Performance and
Program Changes
Legislative Committee
schedules can be viewed here:
Many legislative hearings
will be broadcast on Gavel to Gavel Alaska. Broadcast and webcast schedules can
be viewed here: