ALASKA FAMILIES
WANT BETTER EDUCATION
I want to empower families and students with educational options.
As a former teacher, principal, superintendent, and school board president, I believe it’s unacceptable that our students aren’t getting the quality public education they deserve. I want to improve the system, provide more educational options, and increase funding. Parents are being forced into inflexible schedules, beloved teachers are leaving the state, kids are falling behind, waitlists are long because options are limited, and your parental rights are at stake. Let’s change this.
Current Education Landscape
Public Neighborhood Schools – A commitment from Governor Dunleavy for an increase in per student funding when accompanied by system changes.
Public Correspondence Schools – Close to 23,000 students have found a public education that fits their unique lifestyles and needs. This program has seen significant growth over the last few years.
Public Charter Schools – RANKED #1 in the nation for outcomes among charter schools!
Tribal Compacting Schools – The first of its kind, Alaska is introducing a public school system that is run by local tribes with culturally based education.
Public Neighborhood Schools – Declining enrollment and among the lowest test scores in the nation. Education associations are doing everything in their power to prevent any progress outside of neighborhood schools and are limiting alternative public school models for teachers, parents and students.
Public Correspondence Schools – The courts have essentially gutted the correspondence school system with a recent ruling. This not only effects the 23,000 children who utilize this program, but hundreds of tutors and vendors that support families in their pursuit of school choice. Read more on temporary solutions below.
Public Charter Schools – Waitlists are long and options are limited due to a convoluted process that makes it difficult for educators and parents gain authorization of new charter schools.
Governor Dunleavy's Proposed Solutions
Correspondence School Updates
My administration has appealed the superior court’s decision to the Alaska Supreme Court. The supreme court agreed to keep the stay of the superior court’s decision in place until June 30, 2024, and will hear the appeal on an expedited basis. This expedited schedule requires the parties to finish their briefing by June 17, and the Alaska Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at 10:00am on June 27, 2024.
Alaska Education Poll Results – Conducted March 20-24
Results from a statewide public opinion poll on education in Alaska reveal strong support for increasing education funding, yet as a general approach to improving education outcomes, Alaskans believe that “change and reforms to the education system” are more important than “increasing education funding” by a margin of 1.7-to-1. While 77% of Alaskans surveyed support increasing BSA funding, 57% said that changes and reforms to the education system are the most important factors in improving education outcome, compared to 33% who said that increasing education funding is the most important factor for improving education outcomes.
