Public Comment Periods Open on Three Proposed Regulations Changes

A public comment period is now open for three proposed changes in the regulations of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The comment period for each closes on April 28, 2022.

Alternate Assessment Scores

The proposed amendments would update the grades at which students are assessed for proficiency of the Science standards and updates the cut-scores for students who use the alternate assessment for students with disabilities.

The State Board of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes to 4 AAC 06.737, Standards-based test, and 4 AAC 06.775 (b)(1) & (b)(2), administering statewide assessments to students with disabilities, whereby the Alaska Science Assessment will be administered at grades 5, 8, and 10 and the alternate assessment cut scores will be updated to align with vendor recommendations.  

The proposed regulation update will better align the Science Assessment with the Science Standards grade bands to ensure students have received the full range of instruction before being assessed at the end of 5^th grade.

Facilities Publications

The proposed amendments would update references to current versions of department publications.

The State Board of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes to regulation 4 AAC 31 School Facility Planning and Construction. The amendment updates citations for revised publications in subsection 4 AAC 31.020(a) and paragraph 4 AAC 31.900(2). 

• Changes to the Guidelines for School Equipment Purchases (2021 edition) publication included increased per-student allowable allocations for equipment and technology, setting a threshold for single item maintenance equipment purchases requiring Department of Education and Early Development approval, and other clarifications.

• The Swimming Pool Guidelines for Educational Facilities (2019 edition) is a major update to move toward a clearer and more prescriptive document that provides maximum pool tank sizes and maximum facility sizes based on the number of students in the approved instructional learn-to-swim program.

• The update to the Site Selection Criteria and Evaluation Handbook (2021 edition) publication was relatively minor, with updates to traffic and access criteria, as recommended by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and updated graphics.

Alaska State Seal of Biliteracy

The proposed amendments would establish an Alaska state Seal of Biliteracy that recognizes students who have studied and attained proficiency in English language arts and at least one other world language by high school graduation.

The State Board of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation 4 AAC 06.077, establishing an Alaska state Seal of Biliteracy that recognizes students who have studied and attained proficiency in English language arts and at least one other world language by high school graduation. 

A Seal of Biliteracy program provides a framework, guidance, and encouragement to Alaska school districts interested in offering a Seal of Biliteracy to their students; as well as encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills our students attain, and provides evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and school admissions offices.