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Alaska Performance Scholarship Update

 

The Alaska Performance Scholarship proposed by Governor Parnell and passed by the legislature has generated lots of interest. SB 221 created the Alaska Performance Scholarship program and an interim task force review of scholarship funding, higher education offerings and career readiness.

 

Over the past few months the task force has worked with the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor to set eligibility standards, award levels, curriculum requirements and regulations. The scholarship is available to Alaska residents who graduate from an Alaskan high school (public, private, or home school), on or after January, 2011 and plan to attend an Alaskan post secondary or vocational education school.

 

The scholarship is set in three award levels:

 

1st level: up to $4,755 per year with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and a score of 25 on the ACT or 1680 on the SAT,

2nd level: up to $3,566 per year with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and a score of 23 on the ACT or 1560 on the SAT,

3rd level: up to $2,378 per year with a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and a score of 21 on the ACT or 1450 on the SAT.

 

In addition to these qualifications, each student must complete one of the two rigorous high school curriculum pathways: four years of math, science, English and social studies, or three years of math and science, four years of English and social studies, and two years of the same foreign language or Alaska Native language.

 

For more information visit the following website: http://tinyurl.com/2acf9b6

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Governor Parnell Signs Education Package 

 

Governor Sean Parnell signed five education bills in Fairbanks today.

 

Senate Bill 237 extends the reimbursement program for new school construction and establishes a rural school construction program. This legislation is of particular interest to Juneau with the inclusion of 70% debt reimbursement approval for 6 Juneau school projects that were approved by Juneau voters, including Glacier Valley Elementary School Renovation, Thunder Mountain High School, Harborview Elementary School, the Mendenhall Valley pool, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School Covered Play Area and Gastineau Elementary School renovations.

 

Senate Bill 236 provides tax credits for cash contributions to universities and vocational education institutions in the state. This bill creates a 50% tax credit incentive for companies to contribute to university programs and facilities. Programs such as the mining training program at UAS, which recently graduated 11 students, will have an opportunity to benefit. I was pleased to carry this legislation in the House and push for its passage in the final days of session.

 

Senate Bill 235 amends existing statutes to allow the Department of Education to compete on behalf of Alaska charter schools for facility maintenance and start-up grant funds nationally available through the U.S. Department of Education.

 

House Bill 424 allows Alaskans to vote on general obligation bonds to pay for educational and university facilities. Including $18.5 million for State Library, Archives, and Museum Facility in Juneau, $20 million for Mt. Edgecumbe High School aquatic facility, $128.5 million for K-12 school replacement and renovations in Lower Yukon and Lower Kuskokwim, $207 million for University of Alaska upgrades and additions, $20 million for Near Island research facility, and $3.2 million for Prince of Wales vocational education center.

 

House Bill 184 adjusts the current debt cap for the University of Alaska. By increasing the bond debt cap approval level, the administrative burden of compliance with state law for small bond issues will be reduced for both the legislature and the University.

 

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Education Opportunity for High School Juniors & Seniors

 

U.S. Senate Youth Program provides a $5,000 scholarship to two students from each state who are interested in government or public service. Entering high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. For more details see attached flyer: US Senate Youth Program.pdf (721.21 kb)

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School Constuction Debt Reimbursement

 

School Debt Bond Reimbursement package passed out of House Education Committee on February 17.

 

HB 310 extends municipal school debt bond reimbursement until November 30, 2013. It is currently scheduled to sunset in 2010. Under the program the State reimburses municipalities for up to 70% of their payments made during a fiscal year for the cost of new school facilities and major renovation of existing facilities.

 

The legislation contains debt reimbursement approval for 6 Juneau school projects that were approved by Juneau voters, including Glacier Valley Elementary School Renovation, Thunder Mountain High School, Harborview Elementary School, the Mendenhall Valley pool, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School Covered Play Area and Gastineau Elementary School renovations.

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Forward Funding of Education and Increasing Funding for Vocational Education

 

 

House Education Committee Report

 

Getting kids focused early and encouraging them toward fields that match with their interests is a major topic in legislative education discussions. We are working on vocational education opportunities at the secondary and university levels, the work keys assessment system which matches interest with careers, and ensuring that our schools have the resources and programs to prepare Alaska’s youth to fill jobs in high demand careers such as health care, construction and trades and the engineering fields.

 

The Graduation Rate Working Group has made several recommendations specific to increasing graduation rates. Changes in teacher re-certification requirements are being considered, including adding a mentoring/advisory course and a cross-cultural understanding requirement. Kids need to feel connected, and providing a meaningful education with real life training opportunities is a central goal. The House Education Committee is also considering strengthening the mandatory attendance age requirements for K-12.

 

Former Governor Palin’s pre-K initiative is also underway. Statewide $2 million was approved for a pilot program to deliver high quality pre-K programming at targeted schools throughout the state. Juneau is one of 6 districts statewide that will participate in this program with new classrooms at Glacier Valley and Gastineau Elementary Schools.

 

A new Rural Education Director position will assist Commissioner LeDoux with the delivery of educational programming in rural communities. The position will be located in Juneau.

 

New JSD Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich is challenging Juneau residents to "Connect" with kids. Take advantage of many opportunities to make a difference in a student’s life. If you are interested in volunteering please contact your neighborhood school for more details.

 

I wish all students, teachers and families a great school year.

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House Bill 33 - Raise Compulsory School Attendance Age

 

Alaska currently faces one of the highest declining graduation rates in the country.  According to recent statistics from the Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education, thirty-eight percent of students in the ninth grade will not have a diploma in ten years.  Alaska Department of Labor estimates that four-thousand Alaskans ages 16-19 are unemployed and not in school; and 57,000 Alaskans across Alaska do not have a diploma.  Alaska’s drop-out rate is double the national average based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education. 

  

HB33 changes the compulsory school attendance age so that a student is compelled to stay in school until the age of eighteen.  Current law requires compulsory school attendance from the age of seven to sixteen.  All exemptions from compulsory attendance currently in Alaska statute, including homeschoolers, would remain exempt from this change.  This bill will not affect any current statute that allows for early graduation, and relieves the requirement of compulsory attendance if those requirements are met.

 

Students at risk should not have the option of leaving school at a critical age when judgment and maturation development is most critical to their personal success.  It has been established through extensive research that the more education a person receives, the more earning potential one gains.  As the drop out rate of Alaskan students increase, so does the direct and indirect cost to the State of Alaska.  Unemployment, criminal behavior, and dependence on the State’s social services are examples of this increased cost.

 

HB33 is designed to improve Alaska’s public education system.  The intent of this legislation is to be one of several important first steps toward a long term solution.  The young people of Alaska deserve our very best effort.  Elevating the age of compulsory attendance in our education system will become an important new commitment we can make on behalf of all of our young citizens at a crucial time in their education and lives.

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Federal Stimulus Funds 

 

Several legislative committees will be debating the receipt authority of the federal stimulus funds this week. In the House Education committee, of which I am a member, the education portion of the funds will be discussed on Wednesday, March 25, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Also the House Finance committee will be working on the overall package on Tuesday and Wednesday. In conversations that I have had, there is widespread support to accept all or most of the federal monies. A formal resolution will be forwarded to the floor for a vote prior to the April 3 deadline.  The attached list provides a breakdown of where the funds can be used in Alaska.