Upper Valley Legislators File New Education Bills

Both Alaska legislators representing the Upper Valley have filed new legislation in the last week dealing with education.

On Monday, Representative Wes Keller filed House Bill 156.  The bill deals with state assessments of schools and students.  Under Keller’s plan, schools that do not receive high assessment scores will still be required to submit improvement plans.  Language added in HB 156 would require preference be given to improvement measures that increase ‘local control of education and parental choice.’  Keller’s bill also adds a category of recognition for schools that demonstrate improvement in scores from year to year.  Currently, only high-achieving schools receive special recognition.

On Wednesday, Senator Mike Dunleavy filed Senate Bill 89.  The bill would allow parents to withdraw their children from any ‘activity, performance standard, test, assessment, or program’ that they believe would harm the child.  The bill specifies that any school activity that questions beliefs or practices concerning health, reproduction, or sex education would be subject to the provision.  Dunleavy’s bill also requires two-weeks’ notice before any health, human reproduction, or sex-ed instruction is given.  Parental consent would also be required before students receive any such instruction.  Additionally, SB 89 allows for parents to opt students out of a broader range of questionnaires and surveys that might be given to students.

Both bills have been referred to the education committees of their respective chambers, where Representative Keller and Senator Dunleavy are the current chairs.