HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

March 24, 2003 Hearing Room E

1:00 PM Tapes 49 - 52

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Vic Backlund, Chair

Rep. Pat Farr, Vice-Chair

Rep. Elaine Hopson, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brad Avakian

Rep. Billy Dalto

Rep. Mary Nolan

Rep. Wayne Scott

STAFF PRESENT: Jim Keller, Committee Administrator

Jeana Harrington, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HB 2816 – Public Hearing

HB 2843 – Public Hearing

HB 3480 – 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 49, A
002	Chair Backlund	Calls meeting to order at 1:04 PM. Opens public hearing on HB 2816. Opens public hearing on HB 2843. Opens public hearing on HB 3480.
HB 2816 PUBLIC HEARING, HB 2843 PUBLIC HEARING, HB 3480 PUBLIC HEARING
016	Rep. Billy Dalto	House District 21. States his support for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program and its students. Speaks about the students involved in the program and the responsibility of society to provide a related education. Testifies in favor of HB 2816, HB 2843, and HB 3480. Explains the requirements of the bills. Notes no employee at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) specializes in TAG.
080	Pat Burk	Deputy Superintendent, ODE. Testifies on HB 2816, HB 2843, and HB 3480. Discusses the TAG program and service delivery systems. (EXHIBIT A).
090	Laura Pehkonen	Department of Special Education.
095	Burk	Explains Title II funds with regard to the bills. Provides information on current funding of TAG and the requested budget (EXHIBIT B). Informs of the zero funding allotted by the Governor’s budget. Concurs with Rep. Dalto on the need fro improvement of TAG.
215	Sen. Kate Brown	Senate District 21. Appreciate the hearing of TAG issues. Believes the issue is extremely important.
227	Chair Backlund	Appreciates her presence and support.
235	Sen. Brown	Comments.
237	Pehkonen	Informs the committee of the status of her employment in terms of time allotted to TAG.
263	Rep. Dalto	Asks her to elaborate on the term ‘0.32’.
265	Pehkonen	Explains ‘0.32’ of her Full-time Equivalent (FTE) job is spent on TAG.
268	Chair Backlund	Clarifies Ms. Pehkonen is the sole representative of ODE for TAG.
271	Pehkonen	Affirms. Refers committee to TAG expenditures (EXHIBIT C). Explains her position and the information the programs gathers. Elaborate on the per student expenditures (EXHIBIT D).
TAPE 50, A
006	Burk	Comments on the funding needed for the programs. Believes there are overlapping ways to obtain fund for TAG beyond the ODE. Speaks to the requirements of federal agencies regarding Title II funds. Explains the implications of funding. Speaks to Title I and III funds. States he is unsure of dictates on the funds.
096	Burk	Speaks on HB 2843. Explains there is no money in the TAG discretionary fund. Offers that the option is to shift funds from a different department. Notes the need for better data on the students. Remarks on HB 3480 regarding FTE allocations and related implications. States ODE strongly supports funding in the areas.
155	Chair Backlund	Asks the level of interest in TAG regarding the time Ms. Pehkonen spends on the program.
164	Pehkonen	States there are many requirements on time in the area of TAG. Explains it is not possible to be proactive with the time allotted.
175	Burk	Provides five FTE may not solve the problem. Believes the problem is more a district one in terms of local resources.
199	Rep. Dalto	Questions who would be responsible for working with school districts in the amount of time Ms. Pehkonen is allowed.
205	Burk	Notes the issue is creating and monitoring systems for improvement and expansion to solve the problem. Offers a partnership could be established to train teachers in the program.
237	Rep. Dalto	Asks if Ms. Pehkonen can effectively manage TAG responsibilities with the time allotted.
242	Pehkonen	Explains she can react to concerns, but not effectively. Reiterates there is not time to be proactive concerning the issue.
248	Rep. Dalto	Comments on the flexibility of her time being taken by TAG.
255	Pehkonen	Responds there is an overlap with ‘twice-exceptional’ children.
261	Rep. Dalto	Comments on the need for services in the area. Recognizes the budget situation. States the addition of an FTE is not a waste. Submits the issue is not being effectively managed by the department. Wishes ODE would return with some solutions.
296	Burk	Clarifies that more people on the problem would help. Acknowledges Ms. Pehkonen’s position is not enough. Reiterates the Governor’s balanced budget does not even include the program. Explains his point was work to guide districts in instituting a greater program. Suggests TAG be included in the program consolidation for funding. Adds the situation can be improved.
365	Rep. Farr	Clarifies fund would come form the curriculum department.
370	Burk	Explains ODE is attempting to consolidate the departments within itself to better utilize fund in the matter.
396	Rep. Farr	Requests the number of FTE’s in Special Education.
401	Burk	States he is unsure.
404	Rep. Farr	Requests an estimate.
406	Burk	Estimates ten FTE.
410	Rep. Farr	Asks for the curriculum field numbers.
412	Burk	Estimates fifteen FTE.
414	Rep. Farr	Notes ODE is looking into the approach of departments.
TAPE 49, B
003	Margaret DeLacy	Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted (OATAG). Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480 (EXHIBITS E and F). Comments on the statements made by Mr. Burk. Informs the committee of the importance of TAG for students and society. Speaks on the funding of TAG. Provides statistics (EXHIBIT G). Comments on priorities set by ODE and the state. Urges support of the bills and of the program.
112	Rep. Farr	Comments on his sons who are TAG students. Concurs with DeLacy.
123	DeLacy	Notes the negative effects of not funding the program.
131	Chair Backlund	Asks how the Advanced Placement (AP) program could assist in the matter.
135	DeLacy	Notes AP classes are helpful for high achievers, not TAG students. Provides alternatives.
180	Deb Andrews	Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480. Explains her son’s progression in school to illustrate the need for TAG (EXHIBIT H).
249	Sally Phillips	TAG Advocate and Teacher, Salem-Keizer School District. Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480. Describes the situation of TAG advocates in the district and explains the program.
TAPE 50, B
004	Phillips	Continues. Lists points to consider regarding the issue.
053	Rep. Hopson	Comments on the testimony. Poses question on the program.
058	Phillips	Outlines the program. Comments on the changes due to lack of funding.
077	Rep. Farr	Asks if they use non-certificated employees in the program
079	Phillips	Negates. Notes ten testers have been hired for the district.
087	Rep. Farr	Clarifies hiring of advocates.
090	Phillips	Responds regarding how the program pays advocates.
097	Rep. Farr	Asks if the program uses volunteers.
100	Phillips	Negates. Comments on assessments.
107	Rep. Farr	Notes the availability of qualified parents to assist.
112	Phillips	Responds concerning parent advocacy and assistance.
116	Rep. Farr	Points out services offered by universities.
120	Phillips	Concurs the universities offer summer programs.
134	DeLacy	Makes request of the Chair.
140	Jackie Buisman	Educator of the gifted. Testifies on TAG and in favor of HB 2816, 2843, 3480 (EXHIBIT I). Comments on the work of Ms. Pehkonen. Offers a curriculum project as a probable solution. Notes a letter from Susan Castillo, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
285	Jim Dufala	Parent. Testifies in favor of TAG and HB 2816, 2843, 3480 (EXHIBIT J). Offers a TAG model could be created to allow for responsible curriculum. Notes charter schools are a means to create a curriculum.
389	Rep. Dalto	Requests the process to have his son tested for ability.
394	Dufala	Explains another superintendent who has his son tested.
410	Rep. Nolan	Speaks on solutions.
418	Dufala	Sees it as a regional solution. Believes there are enough students to constitute a class.
426	Rep. Dalto	Comments on his own experience in school with regard to
TAPE 51, A
003	Rep. Dalto	Continues regarding magnet schools as a solid model for education.
012	Tanner Mathison	Student, Riley Creek School. Testifies in favor of TAG and HB 2816, 2843, 3480 (EXHIBIT K). Describes his own experiences and hardship due to ability. Comments on special education matters with regard to allocation of funds. Notes his family will be leaving the state to pursue a high school education.
113	Edith Gillis	Parent. Describes the situation of her son who was home schooled and later public schooled. Discusses his experiences later on. Notes the family is unable to afford advanced placement tests. Lists the programs the family is unable to afford. Gives accounts of her other two children, her husband, and her siblings. Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480. Offers taxation as a means for funding the programs.
350	Kimberly Robinson	TAG Student. Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480 (EXHIBIT L).
384	Darlene Robinson	TAG Parent. Testifies in favor of HB 2816, 2843, and 3480 (EXHIBIT M). Believes TAG children are a silent minority.
TAPE 52, A
003	D. Robinson	Continues and explains the need to support TAG children. Provides accounts her children’s experiences. Notes the TAG mandate has made it possible to educate children properly.
063	Sue McGrory	Teacher and Parent, Linn County. Provides her difficulties in children to meet the CIM while educating those who exceed standards. Voices concern for HB 2843 with regard to data. Testifies in favor of HB 2816 and 3480. Offers that students should be held accountable. Notes TSPC requires teachers to be able to differentiate curriculum.
150	Chair Backlund	Comments.
155	Rep. Dalto	Thanks Oregon TAG for its presence.
157	Chair Backlund	Closes public hearings on HB 2816, 2843, 3480. Adjourns the meeting at 3:33 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – TAG, Pat Burk, 1 p

B – TAG, Pat Burk, 4 p

C – TAG, Laura Pehkonen, 1 p

D – TAG, Laura Pehkonen, 1 p

E – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Margaret DeLacy, 5 p

F – TAG, Margaret DeLacy, 20 p
G – TAG, Margaret DeLacy, 25 p

H – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Deb Andrews, 11 p

I – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Jackie Buisman, 2 p

J – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Jim Dufala, 3 p

K – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Tanner Mathison, 5 p

L – TAG, Kimberly Robinson, 2 p

M – HB 2816, 2843, 3480, Darlene Robinson, 2 p