NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN achievement levels for English Language Arts and Mathematics and CHANGES IN accountability sub scores IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Department of Education and Early Development proposes to update the regulation 4 AAC 06.739 (b), achievement levels for English Language Arts and Mathematics; and 4 AAC 06.822 (b), accountability sub scores. The amendments update the cut scores used to determine proficiency by grade, and the sub-levels used to determine the accountability growth indicator. The percentage of students meeting the different levels of achievement will inform the accountability system, as the results will be used in determining the Academic Achievement indicator and the Growth indicator.

The Department of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in 4 AAC 06.739(b) and 4 AAC 06.822(b) of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with achievement levels for English Language Arts and Mathematics and accountability sub scores, including the following:

1)  The chart at 4 AAC 06.739(b) is proposed to be changed as follows:

2)  4 AAC 06.822(b) is proposed to be changed so that the student's growth will be measured by calculations performed annually based on that year's data; the results will be published in a table posted on the department Internet website.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Commissioner’s Office, Department of Education and Early Development, Attn: Regulations Review, 333 Willoughby Ave, 9^th Floor, State Office Building, P.O. Box 110500, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0500. Additionally, the Department of Education and Early Development will accept comments by electronic mail at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on January 8, 2024.

You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on January 17, 2024, via Zoom platform. There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by Zoom or telephone only. You may join the online Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86182512348 or by calling 1-253-215-8782 (toll free) and selecting *9 on your phone’s keypad (Meeting ID 861 8251 2348). The hearing is scheduled from 12:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 12:15 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the State Board of Education and Early Development Chair may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Kathijo Jolin at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov or to the Department of Education and Early Development, Attn: Regulations Review, 333 Willoughby Ave. 9th Floor, State Office Building, P.O. Box 110500, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0500. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Education and Early Development will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and agency website at https://education.alaska.gov/regs/comment.cfm.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Kathijo Jolin at (907) 465-2800 or eed.stateboard@alaska.gov not later than January 15, 2024 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Kathijo Jolin at (907) 465-2800 or eed.stateboard@alaska.gov.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Education and Early Development will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 14.07.020, AS 14.07.060, AS 14.50.080

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 14.03.123

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Education and Early Development keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department of Education and Early Development notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Education and Early Development at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.