Alaska House education bill approaches Senate, after lengthy floor sessions

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A widely discussed education funding bill, HB 69, was extended to a third straight day of dialogue on the House floor Tuesday, after lengthy discussions and proposed amendments.

The bill, which has been the center of a widespread discussion about state education funding, needs a final house vote to advance to the State Senate, which some had anticipated might come sooner.

As it stands, the bill is scheduled to be introduced in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 12, but some are skeptical that would happen.

“I don’t think we’re going to make it to the Senate Education Committee,” said the bill’s original sponsor, Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka). “I would love it if we did. I have the feeling that’s going to take a few more days. Procedurally, we’ll be moving it into third reading and at third reading is the opportunity for me to make some comments about the bill.”

The bill has faced opposition from some in the Republican party, who say they have been locked out of talks.

“What’s happened so far in this session is that, unfortunately, the House Republicans were initially a part of the discussions that were happening with the other parties,” said Sen. Mia Costello (R-Anchorage). “However, as time went on, we were no longer a part of those negotiations.”

Currently, the bill still includes $1,000 in the base student allocation, which Himschoot said is necessary. Some wish to see increased measures for charter schools, correspondence students, and open-enrollment.

“Increasing the base student allocation, which is the starting point of our funding formula, will improve the finances of all types of education,” Himschoot said. “Alaska, as far as open enrollment, that was a request from the governor and we didn’t do everything that the governor wanted, but we did a lot of what the governor asked.”

The $1,000 increase could lower in the Senate, according to Costello.

“I expect that the Senate Finance Committee will take a look at that and actually lower the amount,” Costello said. “Because you know the amount that it’s at right now is going to be very difficult for us to afford.”

However, Costello said she expects to see the bill reach the Senate Education Committee by Wednesday afternoon.

In Monday and Tuesday’s floor sessions, there were a series of amendments proposed, and while many failed, a few were adopted on the bill.

Some of those amendments changed language surrounding reading proficiency, and incentives tied to higher scores. Himschoot said the goal is to take the emphasis off of one day measures, and rather look at long term growth in a student.

“When we assess a child, if we give a student a test, people will misinterpret that as a thermometer or barometer giving a reading,” Himschoot said. “And really you can do great on a test one day and do poorly on that same test the next day, and a lot of factors lead into that.”

Costello said she helped make an amendment which would require the legislature’s education funding measure to be voted on by March 15 in subsequent years. The goal with the amendment is to shrink the gap between when school districts have to pass a budget and when the state finalizes funding.

“If the legislature commits to passing a budget by March 15, I think that will alleviate a lot of the concern,” Costello said. “Because what happens now is the districts don’t know what’s going to happen at the state level. So they put out a budget where they cut very popular program so that they can get folks to lobby the legislature for the money. This will just, I think, align it so that it’s closer.”

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