HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

March 05, 2003 Hearing Room E

5:00 PM Tapes 37 - 39

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Vic Backlund, Chair

Rep. Elaine Hopson, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brad Avakian

Rep. Billy Dalto

Rep. Mary Nolan

Rep. Wayne Scott

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Pat Farr, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Jim Keller, Committee Administrator

Jeana Harrington, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HB 2415 – Public Hearing

HB 2744 – Public Hearing

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 37, A
004	Chair Backlund	Calls meeting to order at 5:07 PM. Welcomes colleagues and audience. Opens public hearing on HB 2415. Opens public hearing on 2744.
HB 2415 PUBLIC HEARING and HB 2744 PUBLIC HEARING
010	Jim Keller	Committee Administrator. Reads Staff Measure Summary (SMS) on HB 2415. Reads SMS on HB 2744.
	Marge Ellis	Fifth grade teacher, Canby School District. Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2415 and in favor of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT A).
	Deborah Sommer	Superintendent, Canby School District. Submits written testimony in support of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT B).
	Dee Swettman	Language Arts teacher, Parrish Middle School. Submits written testimony in support of HB 2415 (EXHIBIT C).
	Kristen Meyer	Fourth grade teacher, Beach Elementary and Adjunct Professor, Concordia University. Submits written testimony in support of HB 2415. (EXHIBIT D).
028	Dawn Phillips	Legislative Assistant, Rep. Randy Miller, House District 37. Testifies in favor of HB 2415. Notes coming amendments on HB 2415 on the testing component of the bill.
048	Rob Kremer	Oregon Education Coalition. Explains the amendments to HB 2415.
063	Chair Backlund	Comments.
067	Rep. Hopson	Poses questions concerning the contraction of testing versus the standing tests.
071	Kremer	Answers new tests would differ significantly and lists differences. Responds that an entirely new system of tests would actually be more cost efficient than the continuation of the current system.
089	Rep. Hopson	Assumes that a cost analysis is not available. Asks if it is his belief that teachers should not then test their students.
095	Kremer	Responds that teachers are not the proper administrators of high stakes tests.
105	Rep. Hopson	Offers that the accumulation of credits for a high school diplomas is also high stakes. Asks how he accounts for that.
115	Kremer	Responds.
120	Rep Hopson	Asks how he considers a high school diploma.
124	Kremer	Answers the acquisition of a diploma is not a test.
128	Phillips	Adds to this.
133	Rep. Nolan	Poses question relating to testing.
140	Kremer	Offers the tests available to illustrate how the institution would be achieved.
155	Rep. Nolan	Clarifies that Mr. Kremer does not belong to any agency planning to compete for testing were that situation to arise.
159	Kremer	Negates he belongs to any agency involved.
161	Rep. Hopson	Asks if Mr. Kremer is aware that many school districts already use the testing.
165	Kremer	Acknowledges and points out that districts have also stopped using the tests.
173	Chair Backlund	Testifies in favor of HB 2744. Explains the current standards of the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM). Describes the changes that the bill would make to the current system. Notes that the bill would only address CIM and not the Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM). Provides a situation involving Oregon State University (OSU) students and the CIM. Adds that standards need to be fitted to the No
262	Wayne Feller	Oregon State Board of Education member. Comments on the intent of the CIM and CAM. Testifies in favor of HB 2744. Speaks to the subject areas embraced by the CIM. Comments on knowledge and skills tests.
335	Steve Novick	Legislative Coordinator, Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Testifies on HB 2744. Notes that the federal government has approved the current system of standards. Offers that elimination of the system, if approved, would not occur overnight.
385	Bob Siewert	Associate Superintendent, Office of Curriculum Instruction Field Services and Special Education, ODE. Testifies on HB 2744.
TAPE 38, A
003	Siewert	Speaks to the required content standards. Explains purchased tests may not meet federal standards.
033	Vickie Fleming	Office of the Superintendent, ODE. Testifies on HB 2744. Recognizes that there is concern as to funding. Explains that cost of eliminating the testing system would also require funds.
053	Keller	Explains rules of public testimony.
064	Kris Kain	President, Oregon Education Association (OEA). Testifies in support of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT E). Explains reasoning behind the support of the agency.
115	Kay Baker	Superintendent, Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Testifies in favor of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT F).
148	Harvey Mathews	Legislative Representative, Associated Oregon Industries (AOI). Testifies in favor of HB 2744. Provides an article on the issue of CIM/CAM (EXHIBIT G). Voices concern on the elimination of assessments laid out by HB 2415.
193	Rep. Dalto	Requests the OEA opinion of the foreign language portion of HB 2744.
	Kain	Expresses the OEA would like language clarified on the inclusion of subject areas.
200	Chair Backlund	Notes a coming amendment to the language of HB 2744.
217	Marie Cramer	Teacher and Board member. Speaks to the scoring of assessments. Testifies in favor of HB 2744.
255	Darrell Trussell	High School Teacher. Testifies in favor of HB 2744. Notes improvement of students arriving in high school due to the CIM with regard to mathematics. Expresses the importance of the problem solving and performance assessment section inherent to the CIM.
300	Diane McKillop	McNary High School. Testifies in favor of HB 2744. Addresses the English section of the CIM. Speaks to the alignment of standards. Acknowledges the opposing viewpoints on the CIM.
358	Hans van der Mars	OSU Professor and Parent. Testifies against HB 2415 and in favor of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT H).
TAPE 37, B
003	van der Mars	Continues testimony with regard to physical education. Comments on stable and sufficient funding to education.
015	Marcia Kelley	American Association of University Women of Oregon. Testifies on HB 2415 (EXHIBIT I). Explains the association remains divided currently
035	Rep. Dalto	Speaks to funding and poses question.
045	van der Mars	Responds regarding assessment strategies due to funding issues.
060	Sandra Smith-Gangle	Marion-Polk County, League of Women Voters. Testifies on HB 2744 (EXHIBIT J). Explains the League urges the continuation of standards in the area of social sciences in addition to the other three areas.
112	Chair Backlund	Comments on the difficulty the committee had in not including social sciences. Explains its reasons for doing so and its hopes for school districts continuation of the standards.
133	Gangle	Responds with the hopes of the League.
145	Chair Backlund	Requests that Ms. Gangle choose one area to retain in the area of the social sciences.
155	Gangle	Explains that she cannot divorce history and civics.
158	Rep. Dalto	Asks why the CIM is necessary for responsible citizenship
163	Gangle	Responds that the standards that have been developed are well-thought and thorough assessment tools to address the learning in the area of social science.
177	Rep. Dalto	Discusses HB 2744 with regard to standards versus assessment.
183	Rep. Hopson	Explains that the course-content standards would not be required although standards may be retained.
195	Rep. Dalto	Comments on the need for the certificate.
200	Chair Backlund	Remarks on the obtainment of a CIM.
210	Pat Bedore	Superintendent, Greater Albany Public School District. Testifies in favor of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT K). Suggests changes to the current assessment system. Provides information (EXHIBITS L and M).
280	Chair Backlund	Comments on the mandates imposed by the government. Informs of a subcommittee that addresses and studies the subject.
297	Bob Willner	Oregon International Council (OIC). Voices concern as to language in HB 2744. Testifies against HB 2744 (EXHIBIT N). Discusses foreign language requirements.
349	Daniel Tindall	OSU doctoral candidate. Speaks to his experiences in the field of physical education. Testifies in opposition of HB 2415.
TAPE 38, B
003	Marietta Edwards	Teacher. Testifies in favor of HB 2415 (EXHIBIT O). Explains situations of transfer students, district program differentiation, and funding.
020	Marsha Akarlund	Citizen. Testifies in favor of HB 2415. Informs the committee of documents on Germany model testing. States the CIM and the CAM were established to foster labor.
069	Rene Leger	Employers for Education Excellence. Explains the mission of the non-profit organization (EXHIBIT P). Points out the significant gains made by the CIM and CAM. Discusses the value of CIM and CAM with regard to employment. Testifies in favor of HB 2744.
130	Francis Charbonnier	School Board Member, McMinnville School District. Discusses the Oregon Education Act of the Twenty-First Century (OEA21). Testifies in favor of HB 2744 (EXHIBIT Q). Comments on the alignment of standards. States he is firmly opposed to HB 2415.
180	Aleita Hass-Holcombe	Teacher. Comments that NCLB is the vision of educators. Provides history of standards in Oregon with regard to physical education. Testifies against HB 2744 (EXHIBIT R).
235	Rep. Hopson	Comments on the relation between CIM and standards. Asks what the legislature can do to encourage the support of CIM in the business community.
245	Leger	Answers that they provide clarity that the program will stay the course.
254	Rep. Dalto	Clarifies as to hiring objectives and the CIM.
260	Leger	Affirms that the CIM appears on some job applications.
270	Rep. Dalto	Requests his feelings on foreign language requirements of HB 2744.
279	Charbonnier	Comments on the OEA21. Remarks on subject areas.
355	Rep. Nolan	Requests that Mr. Leger provide an opinion of the subject areas.
374	Leger	Responds that all subject areas are valuable, but that there is a compromise.
381	Rep. Nolan	Suggests that budget limitations could be alleviated by raising the amount of money available instead of cutting services.
390	Leger	Clarifies.
394	Rep. Nolan	Speaks to budget issues and business involvement in funding.
398	Leger	Replies he is unsure.
399	Charbonnier	Answers that business would be interested in this.
417	Meg Greiner	Physical education teacher. Testifies against HB 2744. Reasons that great progress has been made in physical education because of the coming accountability.
TAPE 39, A
003	Greiner	Continues testimony.
012	Karen Kinnett	Teacher, North Salem High School and CIM grader. Testifies in favor of HB 2415. Explains the situation of graders and budget allocations.
042	Tom Henry	Assistant Superintendent, Eugene School District. Testifies against HB 2744. Believes the awarding of the certificates pose challenges. Suggests alternatives to the requirements. Speaks to the CAM and its ties to graduation in 2006-7.
081	Chair Backlund	Discusses the separation of CIM subject areas.
088	Henry	Responds.
097	Rep. Dalto	Comments on CIM essays of North Salem High School and the grading. Asks how effective CIM grading is.
110	Kinnett	Responds that she approves of the breakdown of the scoring. Adds that the tests are subjective.
125	Rep. Dalto	Speaks to comments on the essay.
128	Kinnett	Clarifies that the samples must be work samples.
132	Rep. Hopson	Requests writing sample suggestions.
135	Kinnett	Remarks a statewide assessment could focus on grammar although content would not be addressed. Comments further.
148	Gary Riddell	Physical education teacher, Eugene and parent. Testifies against HB 2415 and HB 2744 (EXHIBIT S). Asks if there is a physical education teacher on the committee
165	Chair Backlund	Responds he was a student teacher for physical education.
180	Riddell	Continues. States he opposes both of the bills. Comments on the coming budget cuts to his department. Provides that the Fitness for Life program is something that is able to be retained.
204	Rep. Dalto	Requests an explanation on the three strands.
208	Riddell	Lists them and explains the purpose of each strand.
215	Rep. Dalto	Asks why Mr. Riddell regards that program as most important.
220	Riddell	Believes children can have feedback on their health.
223	Chair Backlund	Closes public hearing on HB 2415. Closes public hearing on HB 2744. Adjourns meeting at 7:19 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Marge Ellis, 3 p

B – HB 2415, Deborah Sommer, 2 p

C – HB 2415, Dee Swettman, 2 p

D – HB 2415, Kristen Meyer, 2 p

E – HB 2744, Kris Kain, 2 p

F – HB 2744, Kay Baker, 1 p

G – HB 2744, Harvey Mathews, 2 p

H – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Hans van der Mars, 6 p

I – HB 2415, Marcia Kelley, 1 p

J – HB 2744, Sandra Smith-Gangle, 2 p

K – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Pat Bedore, 1 p

L – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Pat Bedore, 4 p

M – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Pat Bedore, (oversized exhibit – see archives)

N – HB 2744, Bob Willner, 1 p

O – HB 2415, Marietta Edwards, 1 p

P – HB 2744, Rene Leger, 28 p

Q – HB 2744 and HB 2415, Francis Charbonnier, 3 p

R – HB 2744 and HB 2415, Aleita Hass-Holcombe, 2 p

S – HB 2415 and HB 2744, Gary Riddell, 3 p