SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

February 13, 2003 Hearing Room C

3:00 p.m. Tapes 15-16

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Ryan Deckert, Vice-Chair

Sen. Ted Ferrioli

Sen. Bill Morrisette

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Charles Starr, Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Jan McComb, Committee Administrator

Romy Dye, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 127 –Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 131 – 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 15, A
005	Vice-Chair Deckert	Calls the committee to order at 3:09 PM. Opens a public hearing on SB 127.
SB 127 – PUBLIC HEARING
008	Jan McComb	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 127.
020	Diana Allen	Director of the Early Intervention Early Childhood Special Education and Regional Programs, Oregon Department of Education. Testifies in favor of SB 127. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT A).
076	Sen. Morrisette	Asks if a parent wants an evaluation if they can have one.
091	Allen	Responds positively.
093	Sen. Morrisette	Asks how time consuming the review is.
099	Allen	Responds that it varies on the child.
119	Sen. Morrisette	Expresses concern that family may feel they are not entitles to a six month review and asks if a family ever requires a review more than six months.
123	Allen	Answers positively.
135	Sen. Ferrioli	Asks why the six month individual learning plan review that was placed there for a reason is no longer valid.
143	Allen	Responds additional testimony to come on why there is a change.
161	Sen. Ferrioli	Asks whether review will be every six months, annually , or as needed.
163	Allen	Responds review must be held at least annually and parent or team member can ask for review at any time.
170	Wilma Wells	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. Testifies in favor of SB 127.
222	Sharon Lewis	Co-Chair- Family Action and Coalition Team, Portland, Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 127.
230	Janice Richards	Family Action and Coalition Team, Executive Director of Parent Training and Information Center for the State of Oregon. Testifies in favor of SB 127. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT B ).
250	Lewis	Elaborates in support of SB 127.
265	Richards	Comments regarding suggesting to adding to the ISP form a line to call an IFS meeting when necessary and suggesting a release form filled out.
305	Judy Newman	Legislative Representative for the State and Regency Coordinating Counsel and service provider for Regent 7 of Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 127.
380	Sen. Morrisette	Asks about staff initiating a meeting and not just parents.
385	Newman	Answers positively.
398	Vice-Chair Deckert	Closes the public hearing on SB 127 and opens a work session on SB 127.
SB 127 – WORK SESSION
410	Sen. Morrisette	MOTION: Moves SB 127 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 3-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Chair C. Starr
415	Vice-Chair Deckert	The motion CARRIES. SEN. MORRISETTE will lead discussion on the floor.
420	Vice-Chair Deckert	Closes the work session on SB 127 and opens a public hearing on SB 131.
SB 131 – PUBLIC HEARING
TAPE 16, A
005	Jan McComb	Provides overview of SB 131.
006	Bob Siewert	Oregon Department of Education. Testifies in support of SB 131 Submits written material (EXHIBIT C).
031	Cliff Brush	Oregon Department of Education. Agrees with previous speaker.
035	Vice-Chair Deckert	Asks if option is available today why does legislation have to give them that option.
038	Siewert	Responds by the letter of the law the Oregon assessment is not permitted as the assessment test for grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 for home- schooled children.
046	Rodger Williams	Oregon Christian Home Education Network (OCEA). Testifies in opposition of SB 131. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT D).
130	Vice-Chair Deckert	Asks about if parent not given the option to allow a child to take an assessment test.
135	Williams	Responds it is unfair for children to be judged on differing standards.
143	Vice-Chair Deckert	Asks if parents should have the choice or option should not be allowed.
147	Williams	Responds disadvantage for those not knowing about the test.
163	Sen. Morrisette	Asks how it is different than what is happening now.
167	Williams	Responds requirement is to take a national norm test and can take a statewide assessment if they choose.
170	Sen. Morrisette	Asks if this would eliminate requirement to take a national test..
172	Williams	Responds positively.
174	Sen. Morrisette	Asks about penalization to the child choosing to take the national test.
176	Williams	Responds depends on whether national test harder or not.
178	Sen. Morrisette	Asks about always having the option to take the state test.
180	Williams	Responds only if they knew about it.
181	Dorothy Karman	Oregon Christian Home Education Network (OCEA). Testifies in opposition of SB 131.
231	Sen. Morrisette	Asks whether textbooks approved by the state.
236	Karman	Responds there is no requirement for the textbooks to be approved by the State of Oregon and families choose own educational materials.
241	Sen. Morrisette	Asks what is national average on achievement test.
243	Karman	Responds average is 50^th percentile.
263	Sen. Morrisette	Asks what percent of home-schooled students choose to use the state standard.
275	Karman	Responds 750 students and the last record the Department of Education has is 14,000 home educated students.
278	Vice-Chair Deckert	Asks why the 750 children and parents the should not be allowed the option and children choose to exercise that option.
281	Williams	Responds most of the home-schoolers use independent publishers and gives an example on fairness.
301	Vice-Chair Deckert	Asks why it should not be an option for parents and students if they choose to take the test.
303	Williams	Responds with an example on fairness.
312	Karman	Elaborates further on fairness issue.
336	Williams	Comments if the department when they get the money goes ahead and nationally norms the state assessments it is great and would fit into the existing framework.
345	Sen. Morrisette	Comments home-schooled people do not want to be told what to do and asks why home schooled kids choose to do the state test should be denied that option.
360	Williams	Rephrases question that the best thing is parents making choices that are best for their children but huge disadvantage for those who do not use the public school curriculum if they choose to take the statewide assessment because they will score lower.
381	Bob Siewert	Comments cost is minimal and parents will have a variety of options with tests if this bill is passed.
400	Sen. Morrisette	Comments about having an advantage depending on what curriculum is used.
414	Siewert	Responds positively.
TAPE 15, B
011	Sen. Morrisette	Comments on knowing outstanding home schooled students and has confidence in system.
027	Vice-Chair Deckert	Closes the public hearing on SB 131 and adjourns the meeting at 4:07 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 127, written testimony, Diana Allen, 3 pp

B – SB 127, written testimony, Janice Richards, 1 p

C – SB 131, overview, Bob Siewert, 1 p

D – SB 131, written testimony, Rodger Williams, 1 pp