ALASKAN FAMILIES WANT
BETTER EDUCATION OUTCOMEs
Raising the Bar for Alaska’s Students.
It is unacceptable for Alaska to rank 51st in reading while spending more per student than almost any other state. Learning to read is not an unfunded mandate; it is the foundation of public education. Better outcomes do not come from bigger budgets alone. They come from smart policies that put students first.
It doesn't have to be like this
Governor Dunleavy's Proposed Solutions
Governor Mike Dunleavy has introduced legislation (HB 76, SB 82) to improve educational outcomes for all Alaska students. This comprehensive plan focuses on funding, student achievement, and expanding opportunities for families and educators statewide.
The Governor’s proposed reforms include:
- Tribal Compacting (HB 59): Establishes a pilot program for demonstration state-tribal education compact (STEC) schools, allowing participating tribes and tribal organizations to operate public schools under negotiated compacts with the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
- Teacher Retention Incentives: Lump sum payments ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 each year for three years to improve teacher retention and recruitment.
- Cell Phone-Free Schools: Require school districts to adopt policies that prohibit mobile device use during instructional time with certain exceptions.
- Reading Proficiency Incentive Grants: Expand incentive grants to districts for students who achieve reading proficiency or demonstrate significant improvement from the current K-3 grades to grades K-6.
- Increased Funding for Correspondence Programs and Career-Technical Education (CTE): Raising funding levels to support modernized learning resources and programs aligned with workforce demands.
- Open Enrollment and Streamlining Charter School Authorizations: Provide more options to families by allowing students to attend any public school in Alaska and expand the process for creating new public charter schools.
- Student Achievement Grants: Incentivizing students who meet key academic milestones.
- Bond Debt Reimbursement Moratorium Extension: Maintaining fiscal responsibility while addressing school infrastructure needs.
Our children’s future depends on a strong and adaptable education system. This legislation is designed to ensure every student in Alaska has access to high-quality education, whether they are in a city or the most remote village. From increasing funding for correspondence and career-technical education to incentivizing reading achievement and attracting top-tier educators, this plan is about empowering students, parents, and educators alike.
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.
