NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON 4 AAC 34.055
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Department of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in 4 AAC 34.055(d) of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with proficiency levels on the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Alternate Assessment Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (ACCESS) for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
The Department of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt the following regulations for 4 AAC 34.055(d) Plan of Service of the Alaska Administrative Code:
4 AAC 34.055, Plan of Service, of the Alaska Administrative Code is proposed to update language regarding overall proficiency levels by indicating a score of PL4 on the WIDA Alternate Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities removes the identification of English Language Learner from the student.
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 Executive Secretary to the Board, Kathijo Jolin at P. O. Box 110500, 333 Willoughby Ave. 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99811. 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 on 5:00PM January 17, 2025.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on January 22, 2025, by calling 1-253-205-0468 (toll free) and selecting *9 on your phone’s keypad (Meeting ID 993 9148 2721). There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 am to 10:00 am 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 9:00 am who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the State Board of Education’s chair of the Board, Sally Stockhausen, 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 the Executive Secretary to the Board, Kathijo Jolin at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov, P. O. Box 110500, 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99811. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact eed.stateboard@alaska.gov not later than January 16, 2025, 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 eed.stateboard@alaska.gov, (907) 269-1092.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may be viewed at the agency's office at 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99811.
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 14.07.060, AS 14.30.410, AS 14.17.020
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 14.03.123, AS 14.07.060, AS 14.07.020, AS 14.50.080
Fiscal information: There is no fiscal impact on this regulation change.
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 State Board of Education 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 sign up 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.