MINUTES OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Sixty-eighth Session February 8, 1995 The Committee on Education was called to order at 3:40 p.m., on Wednesday, February 8, 1995, Chairman Wendell P. Williams presiding in Room 4410 of the Grant Sawyer Office Building, Las Vegas, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. William Z. (Bill) Harrington, Chairman Mr. Wendell P. Williams, Chairman Mrs. Gene Wines Segerblom, Vice Chairman Mrs. Patricia A. Tripple, Vice Chairman Mr. Max Bennett Mrs. Deanna Braunlin Mrs. Marcia de Braga Mr. Mark Manendo Mr. P.M. Roy Neighbors Mrs. Jeannine Stroth COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Thomas Batten Mrs. Vonne Chowning (Excused) Mr. P.M. Roy Neighbors GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT: Mr. Dennis Nolan, Clark County District 13 STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Pepper Sturm, Chief Principal Research Analyst OTHERS PRESENT: Bill Hanlon, State Department of Education Board Member George Glanville, Families of Murder Victims Norma Glanville, Families of Murder Victims James T. Jackson, State Public Defender Charles T. Collenberger, Families of Murder Victims Bill Iverson, Families of Murder Victims Dennis Larsen, Las Vegas Metro Police Department Larry Mason, Clark County School District Kris Jensen, Nevada Concerned Citizens Islena Giron, State Board of Education Shirley Benner, Parents United Barbara Cegarske Chris Garvey, Nevada Parent Teacher's Association Leanora Hedeick, All Parent's United, Nevada Parent's Coalition Robin Munier, All Parent's United, Parent Teacher's Association Nancy Stienkie, Parent Teacher's Association, All Parent's United Wanda Rosenbaum, Nevada Parent Coalition, All Parent's United The hearing on Assembly Bill 105 was opened. ASSEMBLY BILL 105 - Requires state board of education to provide for instruction relating to crimes. Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, Clark County District 13, provided background information on A. B. 105, regarding the increase in juvenile and youth related crimes. He stated A.B. 105 is a common sense bill. It provides education for children on what our laws are and what the maximum penalty is for violating the law. With all the negative and illicit influences children have in school, in social circles, from television and the media, and video and computer games, right and wrong is not black and white for them. Some children travel the right road due to a variety of influences, including character and moralistic upbringing. Mr. Nolan felt the vast majority are impressionable and a combination of the negative influences may lead them to crime. It is these children which this education in the penalties for wrongful acts may dissuade from being involved in or continuing a life of crime. Mr. Nolan noted juvenile crime is skyrocketing and our attempts to head it off are failing dismally. Tougher legislation and penalties against juvenile offenders have been met with higher crime rates. He asked how tougher laws are supposed to be a deterrent if youth do not know what the laws are. The bill has been drafted to include this curriculum in an existing course of study so as not to create an additional burden to educators and to minimize the fiscal impact. The curriculum was not included in the current redraft, it is intended to be offered in the first year of high school. Nevada has many new high school students each year and offering crime instruction in early high school is practical. Mr. Nolan stated a full course with a broader scope is offered as an elective in some districts and is mandatory in facilities dealing with high risk students. Examples of how a curriculum might be structured over a week's period of time were offered to the committee, (Exhibit C). Mr. Nolan noted the curriculum was based on research, some of which is included in (Exhibit C). The areas which have the highest rates on incidence were focused on. The bill provides for various districts to include policies involving school crime, such as weapons in the schools. Crime in schools usually occurs at the high school level. A crime course will offer students a pointed reminder crime in schools and against teachers is unacceptable. Various school districts may have different needs and may adopt their own curriculum. The Nevada District Attorney's Association has offered their voluntary assistance in helping develop curriculum. Mr. Nolan noted Section 4 of the proposed curriculum provides for education in the psychological and physiological effects violent crimes have on its victims and their families. He also related that Common Agenda, a group of civic leaders and media executives, have volunteered a video presentation available for use. Another videotape has been acquired addressing victims of crime. Mr. Nolan explained every consideration was given to reduce the fiscal impact on the taxpayers. He believes lives may be saved as a result of the implementation of the program. Chairman Williams inquired about a fiscal note. Mr. Nolan said the fiscal note has an (a) and (b) section. The (a) note is an amount of approximately $3,000, an anticipated amount for school districts to establish a committee to develop curriculum. This would be left up to local school districts and due to voluntary district attorney participation, the number is conservative. The (b) part of the fiscal note states if it is a mandatory course of curriculum which would require all teachers to be trained in the curriculum something like $20 million would be necessary. The fiscal note is (Exhibit D). Chairman Williams noted the fiscal implications were not of great concern to this committee. Assemblyman Manendo asked Mr. Nolan if the 100% passing grade noted on the bottom of the proposed test included spelling errors. Mr. Nolan explained it was his ideal curriculum and admitted it was difficult for himself to pass a test with 100%. Mr. James Jackson, Nevada State Public Defender, spoke in support of A.B. 105. He explained he has previous experience as a Juvenile Master and often spoke to students at the junior and senior high school level about juvenile crime and the consequences of their conduct. The students he spoke to really wanted to hear the material and appreciated the knowledge that there were harsh consequences for their inappropriate actions. He noted that the young people he saw as Juvenile Master and young people who are currently his clients still do not have a grasp of what they did wrong because they did not know what they were doing was wrong. They considered themselves not to be "bad kids". Having an open container violation or curfew violation and facing the consequences is difficult for them. If young people know an activity has a consequence, they may think twice before participating. Educating them as often and as well as possible with small impact on the school districts is a positive. Mr. Jackson urged passage of the bill. Mr. Larry Mason, Clark County School Trustee, father of six, spoke in favor of A.B.105. Mr. Mason has experience as a juvenile detention parole officer. Currently the Clark County School District K-8 has some general information about crime and consequences. At the high school level there is marked distinction between what they have and what they would like to have. Currently an advisory council exists in the Clark County School District that recently met with young leaders discussing crimes in schools. The youth leaders indicated if information or literature was available, they could pass it along to their peers. Many students do not feel consequences are appropriate for curfew violations because they are good students. Mr. Mason stated the more information young people have, the better off they will be in handling situations and consequences. He encouraged passage of A.B. 105. Mr. George Glanville, representing Families of Murder Victims, spoke from prepared remarks in favor of A.B. 105, (Exhibit E). Mr. Bill Iverson, representing Families of Murder Victims, spoke in favor of A.B. 105. His son, Michael, was murdered in February, 1994, in his neighborhood by a group of three youths. Michael had indicated to his father he did not wish to return to Las Vegas High School a week earlier because too many students had guns. Mr. Iverson had no knowledge if the murderers of his son were the same people involved in Michael's discomfort at school. Mr. Iverson stated he felt we, as a society, need to put a stop to the violence. Mr. Charles Collenberger, past president of Families of Murder Victims spoke in support of A.B. 105, from prepared remarks, (Exhibit F). Lieutenant Stan Olsen, representing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, spoke in favor of A.B. 105. He stated A.B. 105 is in line with enacted policies and concerns involving reduction of violence by juveniles in the Las Vegas community. More than 400 drive by shootings have occurred in the Las Vegas area in the last year, with one-third of those committed by juveniles. Lt. Olsen introduced Sergeant Dennis Larson, coordinator of the Metro Drug Abuse Resistance Program, hereinafter referred to as DARE, and coordinator of the Metro Gang Resistance Education and Training program, hereinafter referred to as GREAT. Sergeant Dennis Larson of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, explained the DARE program is geared toward elementary students up to fifth grade, and the GREAT program is geared toward seventh and eighth grade students, thirteen and fourteen years of age. Support of A.B. 105 was expressed as a hope to curb the violence and help youth realize they are responsible for their own actions. He noted the GREAT program is geared toward gang activity but stresses self responsibility. The program tries to explain to youth that crime is not the thing of the future; it is not glamourous and cool on the streets. Currently approximately 3,200 students are participating in the program. He noted the age group being taught are prime candidates for crimes occurring, such as drive by shootings, gang related shootings, and some drug related shootings. Support for the bill was expressed because it brings crime education into the high school where no crime education program exists at this time. Adding members of the community, such as district attorneys, police officers, and parole and probation staff, adds validity to the bill, and assists the youth in understanding the consequences of their actions, which in turn may alter the youths' attitudes. Sgt. Larson reiterated how important it is to get to the youth early enough to change their attitudes. Ms. Leonora Hedrick, mother of four children in the Clark County School District spoke in favor of A.B. 105. She stated the bill is a direct approach to the person carrying a concealed weapon and a strong message to other students. Ms. Barbara Cegaske asked at what age the program would be implemented. She felt the age suggested by the Metro officers was too late. Making it a stepping stone program, starting in elementary school was suggested. Assemblyman Nolan noted starting the program at an earlier age was a consideration. Statistics have shown crime is starting very early. Information from the Nevada Youth Training Center regarding admitees shows twelve and thirteen year olds have committed sexual assault crimes and other violent crimes. He agreed ideally early adolescence would be a prime educational time. The reason the program was put in high school was due to the large number of high school age students moving into the state, twenty thousand just in the last year. It was felt to be necessary to get those students involved in the curriculum as well. He noted in the Reno area programs do address youth at a younger age. Chairman Williams advised there is no specification in the bill for ages and grades. Local districts have the option of exploring all possibilities. He also noted language in the bill and courses of study deal with the victims' families. There is also an impact on the families of the perpetrators, who suffer as well. Chairman Williams felt it was very important to let youth know how far reaching the devastation can be. Assemblyman Nolan noted this is the year of "Stomp Out Crime". Many bills are in the Legislature for consideration concerning crime. He noted bill drafts exist suggesting penalties against parents who potentially could have contributed to negligence of their own children. He agreed the effects go beyond the perpetrator of the crime. The hearing was closed on A.B. 105. The hearing was opened on Assembly Bill 123. ASSEMBLY BILL 123 - Requires expulsion of pupil for possession of firearm. Chairman Williams noted the bill was brought before the committee by the State Department of Education. He also noted both bills would be heard again in Carson City. Ms. Wanda Rosenbaum, representing All Parents United, Nevada Parents Coalition, and herself, expressed her support for both bills and anything keeping children safe in school is positive. The hearing was closed on A.B. 123. Chairman Williams reiterated plans to bring the Education Committee back to Las Vegas in the near future. He asked for interested parties for prompt notification of their concerns. Mr. Bill Hanlon, member of the State Board of Education, spoke in opposition to A.B. 112, discussed on February 7, 1995. He hoped to convince the committee to broaden the membership of the Professional Standards Commission to include a State Board of Education member, a business person, and to retain the private school administrator. He described how, according to Council of Chief State School Officers in a 1990 report, no other state reporting has lower standards for teacher licensure than Nevada. He recounted how the Commission has been opposed to things like having math teachers take math in order to renew their licenses. He described a scenario in which a teacher graduated in 1970 with a P.E. degree, and took three or four science classes in 1971, would never again have to take a science class to renew his or her license. He noted this is not good for students. Educational research suggests students trained by teachers in their area of expertise consistently outperform students of teachers without that training. Educational Research also suggests the two most important factors in student achievement is who their teachers are and time spent on task. Mr. Hanlon said if policies not in the best interest of students are to be changed, expansion of membership in the Commission is required. Representation by the State of Nevada Employee's Association, university officials, as well as students and parents assures acquisition of the best teachers money can buy. Assemblyman Segerblom asked for clarification on the issue of teacher licensure recertification. She queried whether or not the credits acquired by the teachers have to be in the teacher's specific subject matter. Mr. Hanlon replied, "absolutely not". He explained licensure is a three tier system. A person can have a math degree, for example, who takes classes in education. Another person may have an education degree with a math emphasis. This person would take fewer math classes. A third person may have a Physical Education or Social Studies degree who takes three or four classes in math at the university and obtains licensure to teach math. Those teachers who come from out of state to obtain licensure to teach math in Nevada, have to take a test in math to show competence. However, if a teacher is a P.E. teacher in Nevada and math licensure is desired, no testing is required. An out of state person with a math degree has to be tested. An in state person with no math degree, but a degree in something else, does not have to be tested. Assemblyman Segerblom asked if Mr. Hanlon had any statistics to show how many teachers are not teaching in their major or minor. Mr. Hanlon stated teachers are not required to have a minor to obtain licensure. Sixty-nine teachers in the state teaching in the mathematical sciences area are not licensed and are teaching on a special provision. Many teachers have multiple licensures and comparing the licenses with being qualified is a misinterpretation. Assemblyman de Braga referred to Mr. Hanlon's statement regarding teachers working with a special provision. She questioned if it was due to a lack of teachers for those subject areas. Mr. Hanlon replied school districts were claiming that to be true. Assemblyman de Braga stated the bill discussed a member on the Commission representing the private school. She asked if Mr. Hanlon favored private school representation. Mr. Hanlon favored private school representation. He stated his concern was that with the makeup of the Commission now, he does not see how any changes could be made to best benefit the students and be "best practices". He noted Assemblyman Tiffany is introducing three bills. These would allow for alternative licensure, teacher reciprocity, and requiring teachers to take classes in the field of their assignment. Assemblyman Harrington asked if Rick Milsap, President of the Teacher's Union, sat on the Commission. Mr. Hanlon expressed concern over the makeup of the Commission because the president of SNEA is a member of the board. By N.R.S. 391.011, he is taking the position of a teacher. The language of the bill says "a teacher who teaches in the classroom". More inappropriate is a person who sits on a commission as a member and is nominating to the Governor who the committee members must be. Assemblyman Tripple questioned Mr. Hanlon on his opinion that a member from business should sit on the Commission. Mr. Hanlon explained he was interested in seeing the group broadened so common sense ideas are brought forth. Chairman Williams explained A.B. 112 had been heard the day before and would be heard again. All aspects of the entire statute and other possibilities need to be examined. Assemblyman Bennett reiterated the need for qualification and proper licensure especially in math and science areas. The meeting was adjourned at 4:28 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Barbara Prudic, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Assemblyman William Z. Harrington, Chairman Assemblyman Wendell P. Williams, Chairman Assembly Committee on Education February 8, 1995 Page