[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter II from Rep. Trail - January 19-25
Tom Trail
RepTrail@infotrail.com
Sun, 25 Jan 2004 18:30:34 -0600
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Dear Constituents:
The second week of the Legislative session started slowly. Our joint
education meetings heard 12 hours of testimony on high stakes testing,
charter schools, the virtual academy, and who sets educational policy.
There was a lot of support that the high stakes graduation test set for
2006 is not yet ready for students. I presented research from an study
by David Berliner which indicates that studies of 18 states that have
the high stakes tests indicate that in only one state has increased
learning been cited and generally learning has not increased. When high
stakes tests policies have been implemented, many times learning
actually goes down, teachers leave the profession, and the dropout rate
goes up.
There is also increasing evidence that this is becoming one of the
greatest unfunded federal mandates in history. New Hampshire has to
come up with $7 state dollars for every $1 dollar of federal funding to
support the test. Testimony indicated that we need to re-examine and
improve the test (only 20% of the state standards will be tested) and
seriously consider other, alternative ways to award diplomas.
Charter schools currently enroll over 3,000 students in the state. No
one is opposing the schools but there have to be some significant
changes. A number of bills have been introduced to address the issue.
Other issues:
1) Who Establishes Educational Policy in the State ?- There are many
who feel the State Board is trying to set (rather than administer)
policy when in fact the Constitution clearly delineates that authority
to the Legislature. Sen. Schroeder is introducing a bill to clarify the
matter.
2) HCR 35 Open Meetings Law -- I introduced this HCR (House
Concurring Resolution). It is apparently making many legislators
nervous. I'm only asking legislators to reaffirm their personal
commitment to obeying the law. (The Idaho Constitution requires that
all government meetings (except executive sessions and some personal
meetings) be open to the public).
3) Repeal of HB403aa -- Rep. Ringo and I are introducing legislation
to repeal the school facilities law passed this last year requiring the
state to sue school districts to fix facilities. The case goes to the
Supreme Court; however, if we can repeal the bill we can save the state
a bundle of money in lawyers' fees.
4) Consumer Protection legislation -- I will be introducing a series
of three bills. One would require financial institutions to inform
clients if there is a suspected breach in the use of the client's
personal data. Another would provide an Victim ID passport issued by a
district court, and the third would require state agencies to restrict
the use of some citizens' personal data.
Well, this should be enough for now.
You can contact me at ttrail@house.state.id.us
my phone is 332-1202
legislative updates are at www.infotrail.com/idaho
Rep. Tom Trail
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear Constituents:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The
second week of the Legislative session started slowly.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Our joint education meetings =
heard 12 hours
of testimony on high stakes testing, charter schools, the virtual =
academy, and
who sets educational policy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>There
was a lot of support that the high stakes graduation test set for 2006 =
is not
yet ready for students.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I =
presented
research from an study by David Berliner which indicates that studies of =
18
states that have the high stakes tests indicate that in only one state =
has
increased learning been cited and generally learning has not =
increased.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>When high stakes tests policies =
have been
implemented, many times learning actually goes down, teachers leave the
profession, and the dropout rate goes up.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>There
is also increasing evidence that this is becoming one of the greatest =
unfunded
federal mandates in history.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>New
Hampshire has to come up with $7 state dollars for every $1 dollar of =
federal
funding to support the test.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>Testimony
indicated that we need to re-examine and improve the test (only 20% of =
the
state standards will be tested) and seriously consider other, =
alternative ways
to award diplomas.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Charter
schools currently enroll over 3,000 students in the state.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>No one is opposing the schools =
but there have
to be some significant changes.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>A number
of bills have been introduced to address the =
issue.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Other
issues:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>1)<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Who
Establishes Educational Policy in the State ?-<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>There are many who feel the State Board is trying to set (rather =
than
administer) policy when in fact the Constitution clearly delineates that =
authority
to the Legislature.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Sen. =
Schroeder is
introducing a bill to clarify the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>2) HCR 35 Open Meetings =
Law<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I
introduced this HCR (House Concurring Resolution).<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It is apparently making many =
legislators
nervous.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I'm only asking =
legislators to
reaffirm their personal commitment to obeying the law.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>(The Idaho Constitution =
requires that all
government meetings (except executive sessions and some personal =
meetings) be
open to the public).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>3) Repeal of HB403aa<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Rep. Ringo and I are introducing legislation to repeal the school
facilities law passed this last year requiring the state to sue school
districts to fix facilities.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>The case
goes to the Supreme Court; however, if we can repeal the bill we can =
save the
state a bundle of money in lawyers’ =
fees.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>4) Consumer Protection =
legislation<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I
will be introducing a series of three bills.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>One would require financial institutions to inform clients if =
there is a
suspected breach in the use of the client's personal data.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Another would provide an Victim =
ID passport
issued by a district court, and the third would require state agencies =
to
restrict the use of some citizens’ personal =
data.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Well,
this should be enough for now.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>You
can contact me at ttrail@house.state.id.us<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>my
phone is 332-1202<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>legislative
updates are at <span =
class=3DSpellE>www.infotrail.com/idaho</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Rep.
Tom Trail<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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