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Education Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE
EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

September 23, 1998 - 9:00 a.m. - Room 303 State Capitol


Members Present:
     Sen. David H. Steele, Chair    
    Rep. Lloyd Frandsen, Chair            
    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard
    Sen. Scott N. Howell     
    Sen. Joseph L. Hull        
    Sen. Howard C. Nielson
    Sen. Howard A. Stephenson        
    Rep. Sheryl L. Allen            
    Rep. Ron Bigelow
     Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire
    Rep. David L. Hogue
    Rep. Keele Johnson
    Rep. Patricia B. Larson
    Rep. Tammy J. Rowan
    Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. A. Lamont Tyler
         
    

Members Absent:
Rep. Duane Bourdeaux     
Rep. Susan J. Koehn     
Rep. Evan L. Olsen     
Rep. Bill Wright
Sen. Blaze Wharton
    
Staff Present:
    Mr. J. Wayne Lewis,
     Research Analyst
    Mr. James L. Wilson,
     Associate General Counsel
    Ms. Wendy L. Bangerter,
     Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the          Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.    Call to Order - Rep. Lloyd Frandsen called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
    
     MOTION:    Rep. Bigelow moved to approve the minutes of August 19, 1998. The motion passed unanimously with Senators Howell and Stephenson absent for the vote.

         2.    Preschool and Kindergarten Literacy - Ms. Jan Dole, State Office of Education, introduced the "Utah Reads" program initiated by the Governor, the Governor's wife, and the Lt. Governor. She reviewed studies showing that children's reading skills have not decreased in the past 30 years, but have increased. However, literacy standards have also increased. Early reading achievement is being scrutinized since children today must learn more information faster. A larger percentage of children live in poverty and ever-increasing numbers of children are learning English as a second language. She said students who fall behind have a difficult time catching up, and good programs for non-readers in the upper grades are not always available.

    Ms. Dole reviewed the goals set in the "Utah Reads" program for three separate age groups: Early Childhood (0-5 yrs); Early Literacy (5-8 yrs); and Literacy Intervention (9-adult). Its objective is to work closely with schools, parents, and communities to develop plans for training and to identify resources that support literacy projects.

     Ms. Julie Baker, State Office of Education , described the progress made by the literacy committee. Pre-school environment is a key factor, and the literacy committee identified other major risk factors related to struggling and non- readers. The Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction Section in the state office has developed a training program for all parents and child care-givers so they might understand how to create a love of reading in a literacy environment. Its focus is to have schools become facilitators in literacy intervention and work with communities to identify children who are most at risk.

    Lt. Governor Olene Walker, spoke in support of the "Utah Reads" program and reviewed a proposed $2.5 million budget for the program. She hoped it could begin as soon as possible and funding could be allocated in the 1999 General session. Rep. Johnson encouraged the committee to make literacy a top priority item.
    
        3.     Computers for Schools - Rep. Sheryl Allen reminded the committee that the House of Representatives rated computers for schools as the number one priority in the 1998 General Session and approved a one-time allocation of $500,000 to establish the program. She said Sen. Howard Stephenson will sponsor legislation in the 1999 session to continue the program. She explained that donated computers are upgraded by prison inmates, under the direction of Utah Correctional Industries in the Department of Corrections, and then is sold to school districts for $100.

    Sen. Stephenson noted that the governor had donated the first computer to kick off the program. He reviewed a number of suggestions for proposed modifications to the current law. The committee will review draft legislation in a future meeting.

    Mr. Dick Clasby, Director, Utah Correctional Industries, explained how computers donated from businesses and the general public are repaired or refurbished by inmates at the prison and sold to school districts under the program. Inmates benefit from the training and actual experience they receive, a and they gain a sense of accomplishment.     He noted that Correctional Industries is self- funded and18 percent of the prison population enrolls in its training programs. Research demonstrates that inmates are more successful when they leave prison if they have acquired occupational skills that can support their families. The training they receive helps reduce recidivism. Rep. Frandsen expressed the need for a policy that strengthens inmate training and reduces recidivism. Mr. Clasby explained that Corrections Industries refurbishes computers that are configured to specifications requested by the district. They are sold to districts in groups of 30. The one-half million dollars appropriated by the Legislature was designated to purchase computer parts. The cost of parts will be charged to schools once the $500,000 appropriation has been expended. He expressed appreciation to businesses and agencies who have supported this program.

    The interim committee discussed both benefits and disadvantages of this program. It was suggested that purchasing new computers may be as economical as upgrading older, donated hardware. Concern was expressed over possible infringements upon private sector competition and

revenue losses that could occur through a tax credit. It was proposed that the tax credit issue be reviewed further and school districts agree to bear the full cost of paying for the computers as if they were purchased on the open market.

        4.     School Activities Report - Modification in Current Legislation, - Mr. Steve Laing , Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction, assisted by Mr. Dave Wilby, Assistant Director of the Utah High School Activities Association, reviewed the high school activity report. Mr. Laing said school activities data assembled in the past is misleading since it is difficult to determine the difference between an activity or field trip sponsored by the activities association or other entity. During the 1997-98 school year, a data gathering software package was modified to eliminate inaccuracies and software training was conducted in every school. He reviewed data received at the end of the 1997 school year. It included the total number of classroom hours missed for extracurricular activities. He noted that a majority of extracurricular activities are not sponsored by the High School Activities Association or the school district, but are initiated by the local school. He reviewed reporting inconsistencies and recommended that: 1) if current data requirements continue, more personnel will be needed to collect and process the data; 2) accounting for time should be limited to classroom time missed as a result of extracurricular activities, and; 3) a statement should be sent to parents disclosing the time required for a specific activity. Since this kind of data does not have high value on the state level, local schools would best use this information.
    
    Rep. Frandsen suggested setting a standard for the amount of time that should be spent in the classroom and require time away from the classroom be made up. He felt there is a purpose for legislation if it meets the needs of students and schools. Mr. Wilson asked if the committee wanted draft legislation to reflect the discussion about reporting at the school or district level, and a disclosure to parents regarding time spent away from class and school expectations to make up lost time.

    MOTION:    Rep. Siddoway moved to direct staff to draft legislation to modify provisions within the state report and requirements of the state superintendents' annual report and to include disclosure provisions. The motion passed unanimously.

         5.    SEOP Effectiveness - Proposals for the 1999 General Session - Mr. Lynn Jensen, State Office of Education introduced Dawn Kaye, Counselor at Provo High School, Rob Brims, David Nelson, Pat Smart and others interested in SEOP effectiveness. He referred to the evaluation of the Comprehensive Guidance Program in Utah Public Schools in the committee agenda packet. He said the Comprehensive Guidance Program and the SEOP are inextricably connected in grades 7-12. Utah has excelled in implementing a Comprehensive Guidance Program because of the intensive focus on the SEOP process. He referred to a study completed by The Institute for Behavioral Research in Creativity (IBRIC) in response to a legislative request. He said Part I of the study included key indicators of progress in implementing the SEOP program. Even though all schools

have met minimum standards for implementing the SEOP, some have greater capacity to implement the program than others.

    Ms. Dawn Kaye reviewed a comprehensive guidance chart showing that most schools have comprehensive guidance training that benefits 100 percent of Utah students in grades 7-12. Students in high implementing schools have higher ACT scores in every tested area and are more prepared for employment or post secondary education after graduation.

    Mr. Jensen said the Legislature provided funding to train teachers in understanding their role in the SEOP program. He said the greatest difficulty implementing the SEOP exists in middle school or junior high. He proposed that Subsection 53A-1a-106 (2)(b)(ii)(C) of the Utah Code be amended to include at least two annual SEP conferences at the elementary level, one individual SEOP conference held annually in grades 7-12 and at least one small group SEOP in grade 8 and 9 or 10. These modifications would bring SEOP conference requirements for high school and junior high schools into balance.

    Ms. Janeal Lion, Education Counselor for the PTA, was concerned with the middle school student and the difficulty of this transition period to high school. Her office would like to take the suggested changes to local middle schools for input. Rep. Frandsen asked Mr. Jensen to gather more information and return with recommendations to the interim committee.

    Mr. Jensen recommended the Comprehensive Guidance Program become part of the Basic School Program and be indexed to the value of the WPU.

    MOTION:    Rep. Johnson moved to make recommendation to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee that the Comprehensive guidance Program become part of the Basic School Program and indexed to the value of the WPU.

    Sen. Steele spoke in support of the process of comprehensive guidance, but expressed concern that the program could be diluted through its inclusion in the WPU. Mr. Jensen felt the SEOP program should become part of the WPU . He felt the language in the proposed legislation should be modified to more clearly state that intent. Sen. Steele felt this action may not accomplish the desired outcome.

    Sen. Hillyard was also concerned that the WPU typically does not allocate to specific programs. Consequently, he was not in favor of placing the SEOP program into the WPU without reference to a specific allocation. Laurie Chivers said this allocation would be a restricted item in the WPU budget rather than being unrestricted.

    The motion passed with Senators Hillyard and Nielsen and Representatives Hogue and Rowan voting in opposition.
    
        6.    Best Practices in Public Education - Options for Implementation - Rep. Lloyd Frandsen explained best practices. It was decided to move this item to the October agenda.

    
        7.    Adjournment

    MOTION:    Sen. Hillyard moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.     

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