Take action - testify THIS WEEK Jan. 27-31, 2025
Hello education advocates,
Our legislative leaders want to make education funding a priority this session!
The House Education Committee will be taking testimony on HB 69, a bill that would increase the Base Student Allocation (learn more about the BSA here.)
Meanwhile, the Senate Education Committee is taking public testimony on Alaska’s Education Funding Crisis.
These are both great opportunities to share your concerns about the future of Alaska's schools. Choose a hearing that fits your schedule, and if possible, aim to testify at both a House and a Senate hearing.
HOUSE
Option 1: Wednesday, January 29, at 8:00 am
House Education Committee: Testify in support of HB 69 to increase the BSA
Option 2: Wednesday, January 29, 5:00 pm (sign-up by 6:30 pm)
House Education Committee: Testify in support of HB 69 to increase the BSA (same as the morning)
SENATE
Option 3: Monday, January 27, 3:30 - 5:00 pm (sign-up by 4 pm)
Senate Education Committee: Public testimony on Alaska’s Education Funding Crisis will follow a presentation on education funding by Legislative Finance Division Director Alexei Painter and a presentation by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
Option 4: Wednesday, January 29, at 3:30 - 5:00 pm (sign-up by 4 pm)
Senate Education Committee: Public testimony on Alaska's Education Funding Crisis will follow presentations by Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and the Anchorage Education Association.
Option 5: Friday, January 31, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Senate Education Committee: Public testimony continues
HOW TO TESTIFY
If this is your first time testifying, we recommend going to your local Legislative Information Office (find the closest LIO here). LIOs have staff who can help you get set up and know what to expect.
Or you can call in from anywhere using these numbers:
Juneau – (907) 586-9085
Anchorage – (907) 563-9085
All Other Locations – 844-586-9085
You may also email your testimony for entry into the public record to:
House Education Committee - House.Education@akleg.gov
Senate Education Committee - Senate.Education@akleg.gov
Be sure to also copy your Senator & Representative on your email. Not sure who they are? Scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your address in “who represents me”.
Wondering what to say? Check out our tips for testifying. The most important parts are to keep it under two minutes and tell your story.
Thank you,
- The Great Alaska Schools organizing team: Rachael, Colleen, Jessica, Polly, Sara, Emily, Rebecca, Tamara, Roz'lyn, Sarah, Kelly, Sharon, Aaron, Becca, Laura and more
P.S. - Have you signed this year’sPetition to Gov. Dunleavyyet? Last year we delivered a petition of over 1,700 Alaskans to the Governor and key legislators last year - they took notice!
P.P.S.-As Joan Baez said, action is the antidote to despair.
Join us: Advocacy Update via Zoom, 1/22/25
When it comes to legislation, policy, and funding, so much happens (and then changes!) at lightening speed, and it can feel absolutely impossible to keep up-to-date on what’s happening, what’s at risk, and how you can help.
That’s where Great Alaska Schools comes in: it’s our mission to keep the Alaskan community in the loop when it comes to public education. For a concise, straight-forward, and accessible update on the 2025 public education landscape in our great state, please join us via zoom on January 22, 2025. Everyone is welcome. Questions and conversation will follow as time allows.
Ask Governor Dunleavy to Invest in Education
In December 2024, Governor Dunleavy proposed an education budget for the 2025-26 school year that would represent a 15% CUT from the 2024-2025 budget.
If the legislature passes the Gov's budget as currently proposed, schools would receive almost $2,000 LESS in real dollars per student than they did in 2011.
Schools are closing, teachers are leaving the profession, and families are leaving the state because we have failed to invest in our kids and in our future.
If you would like to add your voice to the growing number of Alaskans who want more for our kids, please consider adding your name to our petition! To sign and submit it electronically, please simply follow this link.
The petition reads:
To: Governor Dunleavy
From: [YOUR NAME HERE]
Alaska needs strong public schools for a vibrant future. Yet your proposed budget would mean more cuts for schools. This is unacceptable. Schools are closing, teachers are leaving the profession, and families are leaving the state because we have failed to invest in our kids and in our future.
Governor, we call on you and the legislature to invest in Alaska's future by adjusting the education budget to keep up with inflation. We can't afford not to.
Good News and Bad News for Our Schools - and How You Can Help!
The following message was emailed to our Action Network subscribers on December 20, 2024.
Dear Great Alaska Schools Ally,
The legislative session begins on January 21 and we anticipate a lot of focus on education. The outlook includes good news and bad news, and it’s clear we will have to fight hard to get the investments our students deserve.
The Good News: On the state level, the November election results were a win for education. A number of legislators who failed to stand up for education funding when it counted lost their reelection bids. The result is a more education-friendly majority in the House that announced its priorities are education, energy, retirement reform and balanced budgets. The Senate will continue to be led by a bipartisan coalition that has stood strong for education funding.
Incoming House Speaker Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau) said in a statement, “We have heard loud and clear from Alaskans that we need stable education funding for great schools with small class sizes.” Rep. Story, a former school board president, and Rep. Himschoot, a longtime teacher, will co-chair the education committee.
Thank you to each and every person who spent time this fall letting friends, neighbors, and candidates know how important education funding is.
A Little More Good News: Some amazing volunteers created a Great Alaska Schools website. Check it out and share with friends!
The Bad News: Gov. Dunleavy’s proposed budget, released last week, includes no increase for K-12 funding, and he cut the modest increase approved last year. As a result, Dunleavy’s education budget request is 15% below the current-year budget - and that’s before accounting for inflation. This is unacceptable for our schools, our students, and our state.
We Need You: We are a volunteer-led grassroots network of Alaskans. Our power lies entirely in the collective voices of everyday Alaskans - that means you! Here are several actions you can take now:
Sign the petition urging the Governor and the legislature to invest in education. (If you signed our petition previously, please sign again as this is a new one for the 2025 session.)
Arm yourself with information. Join us for a Great Alaska Schools Advocacy Update on Wednesday, January 22nd from 7 - 7:45pm. Register here for the Zoom link
Volunteer! Opportunities include tabling for Great Alaska Schools at local events, joining our organizing team, and sharing info with your network. And thanks to the Alaska Children’s Trust - and to the volunteers who wrote our grant proposal - we have some funds to help education advocates like you get to Juneau during the legislative session. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life and all parts of the state. No experience needed. Email us at hello@greatakschools.org.
Invite your legislator to visit your school. Show them what you love, and what your kids are at risk of losing (or have lost) if we continue to cut K-12 budgets. Find your legislators at the bottom of this page (“Who represents me?”) and find all legislators that represent your school district here.
Share this email! Encourage your friends and neighbors to join the 4000+ Alaskans who make up Great Alaska Schools by signing up here.
Recommended Reading: Opinion: Alaska schools are bending under the weight of an attack on public education, by Sen. Loki Tobin (D-Anchorage), education committee chair (Anchorage Daily News, Dec. 10, 2024)
Budgets are about values. Do we value our children’s futures? Do we value creating communities where families want to live and raise their kids? Do we value investing in our future workforce? Our kids & Alaska deserve better. Let’s ensure they get it.
With gratitude for your commitment,
- Colleen, Roz'lyn, Rachael, Rebecca, Emily, Sara, Sarah, Becca, Tamara, Caroline, Aaron, Jessica
How a single education vote is shaping legislative races across Alaska
photo by Emily Ferry
#RememberInNovember!
Join education advocates from across the state for a Zoom party to talk about:
What's at stake
How you can make a difference this November and beyond
When: Thursday, October 10, 7 - 7:30pm
Where: Zoom - RSVP and get the link
Brought to you by the parent volunteers that make up Great Alaska Schools
Want to learn more? Check out this article from the Anchorage Daily News
In Anchorage, 148 teacher positions were vacant at the start of the school year. In Aniak, the superintendent says school buildings are falling down. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is projecting a $17 million deficit next year. In Fairbanks, an enrichment program for gifted students is on the chopping block.
Education funding is a key issue in several legislative races across the state that could shape control of the Alaska Legislature next year.
In March, lawmakers failed — by a single vote — to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bill that would have substantially increased Alaska’s public education funding formula for the first time in years.
Since then, several candidates have said they were motivated to challenge sitting legislators because their representatives flip-flopped on the issue — voting first in favor of the bill to increase education funding, and then against overturning Dunleavy’s veto of the policy they had supported.
Incumbents who sided with Dunleavy say overriding the veto would have been futile because the governor could have again vetoed the funding from the budget. They argue that the path to a permanent increase in education funding must include agreeing to the governor’s demands — which include the expansion of charter school availability.
Challengers say that a permanent increase to the state’s education budget is urgently needed, and should not depend on the adoption of other reforms favored by the governor.
Many expect that education funding will again be a key issue in the coming legislative session. Lawmakers left Juneau earlier this year after approving a one-time funding boost for schools that educators and administrators said was insufficient.
Meanwhile, the impacts of the legislative stalemate are profound.
Kuspuk School District Superintendent Madeline Aguillard said that this school year, two-thirds of district teachers — who serve 320 students in nine schools — are international hires on visas. The district has no music or foreign language classes.
“No in-person, elective-type courses are taught by certified teachers,” she said. “They’re all an online-based model, because we can’t plan long-term to hire people.”
‘Pretty much trashed’
In an open Interior race to replace GOP Sen. Click Bishop, Rep. Mike Cronk, a fellow Republican, is running against Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly member Savannah Fletcher, an independent. Both say education has been brought up repeatedly in their campaigns.
Cronk said he’s been “pretty much trashed for not overriding the governor’s veto.”
Cronk, a retired schoolteacher, said he thinks the Base Student Allocation formula is broken, because it is written in such a way that ensures schools remain open even if they are not operating at full capacity.
“Everybody thinks just writing a big check solves the issue. It really doesn’t,” said Cronk.
The state’s funding formula should be revised with the goal of improving student performance, he said, and state funding could increase “as long as we know that our kids, our students, are the benefactors.”
Fletcher said education funding is “a major reason” she is running for the state Senate.
“If you believed in legislation enough to vote for it the first time, why would you not stick to your convictions?” Fletcher said. “I am disappointed, and I promise to be a legislator that will stick to my convictions.”
The view is shared by Walter Featherly, an Anchorage independent challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Julie Coulombe for an Anchorage Hillside seat. Like Cronk, Coulombe voted in favor of the underlying bill and then against overriding Dunleavy’s veto.
Featherly, a former president of the Anchorage School Board, said that Coulombe’s vote against overriding a bill she initially supported indicated that she was willing to “cave to political pressure.”
Coulombe was not available for an interview. In a written statement, she criticized Featherly and Dunleavy’s opponents for failing to consider the education reforms the governor sought to enact.
“I am for funding and reform, but you must have both sides willing to come to the middle, and I just didn’t experience people on the funding side willing to consider any of the governor’s reforms. I do not support pouring more money into a failing system but would like to see the schools change and adapt to improve results,” she said.
On Friday, the Anchorage School District projected that the $5,960 Base Student Allocation would need to be increased by $1,526 to match losses from inflation since 2017 — the last time the BSA was substantially boosted. A school funding increase of that size would cost the state over $385 million per year.
‘Coding their language’
The 907 Initiative, a group that supports progressive causes, has launched an advertising effort targeting sitting legislators for their votes on the education funding veto.
One ad attacks several lawmakers for voting no on overriding Dunleavy’s veto, calling the underlying bill “a historic opportunity to increase education funding and get our students the support they need to thrive.” The legislators on the receiving end of the attacks include Cronk and Coulombe, along with Kotzebue independent Rep. Thomas Baker and Anchorage Republican Rep. Craig Johnson.
“When I knock on doors, there are two main issues that I bring up. The first one is school funding,” said Featherly, who trailed Coulombe by three points in the August primary.
Johnson faces a challenge from Chuck Kopp, a more moderate GOP former lawmaker with a history of working across the aisle. Kopp led Johnson by a 21-point margin in the August primary.
Baker was appointed to his seat by Dunleavy late last year, and voted in line with the governor’s positions on key issues. He was a registered Republican when selected for the seat, but switched his party affiliation to independent ahead of the election. He faces two Democratic opponents, each of whom received more votes than he did in the primary — Mayor Saima Chase of Kotzebue and Robyn Burke of Utqiagvik, president of the North Slope Borough’s school board.
“The first thing I want to see is an increase to the Base Student Allocation,” Burke said in an interview.
Chase, who had Dunleavy as her fourth grade teacher in Kotzebue, said that she supports a long-term increase to the state’s school funding formula, alongside more funding for vocational education.
“It’s tough on our kids, because we constantly get first-year teachers here, and we’re not getting enough support to get them long term,” she said. “Gone are the days of teachers that have been here for 20 years.”
Baker did not respond to a request for comment. In a July interview with Kotzebue’s public radio station, Baker reasoned that the veto override vote would have been futile because the governor would have vetoed the funding from the budget.
Some lawmakers quietly said that voting to override the governor’s veto could lead to reprisals by Dunleavy against their other legislative priorities. Other legislators told the Daily News that it was simply difficult for a Republican lawmaker to defy a sitting Republican governor. Fifty-six of 60 legislators voted for the underlying education bill. Seventeen of those Republicans voted against the measure after Dunleavy vetoed it.
Aubrey Wieber, who directs the 907 Initiative, said it was important that Alaskans know about legislators’ record on the veto override — an action they may not choose to highlight.
“Everyone talks about supporting education, and even if they’re not supporting any funding increase for public education, they’re still pretty much coding their language so you can’t understand what their actual position is,” said Wieber.
Other independent groups backing candidates are also putting education front and center.
Putting Alaskans First, an independent expenditure group that funds progressive and centrist legislative candidates, received $70,000 this year from the political action committee of NEA-Alaska — a union representing most teachers in the state — and in turn contributed significant sums in key races.
Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group that urged Dunleavy to veto the bipartisan education bill and thanked legislators for sustaining that veto, has been spending money to support Republican candidates aligned with its positions. The advocacy group broadly supports expanding charter schools and sending more public funds to private schools.
Dunleavy has remained largely opaque on his education priorities after failing to gain legislators’ support for his policy goals earlier this year.
His office declined an interview request for this story. In response to emailed questions, Dunleavy spokeswoman Jessica Bowers said that the governor’s position is that “schools need funding to address inflation. However, the BSA is not a silver bullet, and funding should be targeted to where it will have the greatest positive impact on student learning.”
Fierce competition
Rep. Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent running for reelection, said the makeup of the Legislature next year — and the House in particular — will play a role in determining the outcome of the education funding debate.
Currently, the House is governed by a 23-member majority that includes 19 Republicans, along with two Democrats and two independents — Edgmon among them.
The 16-member House minority, made up mostly of Democrats and independents, is seeking to grow its ranks enough to control the chamber. Increasing education spending is one of the coalition’s top priorities.
Members of the current House majority vary in their positions on education but have been skeptical of a plain funding increase.
House Speaker Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican running unopposed, said she would support policy proposals favored by Dunleavy to increase the number of charter schools in Alaska. But when asked about whether House Republicans would support an increase to the Base Student Allocation, she declined to answer, saying that it would “certainly be a topic of discussion.”
“Although a lot of our members are being hit on not being pro-education, I would say that is totally opposite,” said Tilton.
Control is often won narrowly in the closely divided chamber, but it could take just two flipped seats to see a sea change.
The seats held by Baker, Johnson and Coulombe could all be part of determining control of the House as more moderate candidates run on a platform of boosting education funding.
The campaigns have so far refrained from talking about specific numbers. Last year, educators said they would need a boost of more than $350 million to the existing education budget of around $1.2 billion in order to make up for seven years without significant increases to the formula. The funding ultimately written into the bill vetoed by the governor included a $175 million increase to the estimated annual budget.
Edgmon said that the legislative debate next year could be all the more challenging because oil prices are currently hovering close to $70 per barrel, below past projections by the state.
“The competition for what could be a lesser amount of state dollars could be more fierce this upcoming session,” said Edgmon.
So, What Actually Happened This Legislative Session?
Dear education advocate,
Wow - This has been quite a legislative session.
There were a lot of ups and downs, but through it all, our activism - and the voices of families, students, and community members across the state - kept education on the front burner.
Governor Dunleavy’s veto of an early Base Student Allocation increase (and the legislature’s failure to override it) was a low. As a result, teachers are currently being laid off across the state. Many will likely get their jobs back once the governor signs the final budget (assuming he doesn’t veto the funding again). However, many laid-off teachers may have taken jobs elsewhere by that time.
Despite that setback, there is still a lot to celebrate.
Legislators approved $175 million in extra one-time education funding, the equivalent of $680 per student.
Legislators authorized the State Board of Education to craft regulations to bring correspondence school spending into alignment with the Constitution. This will provide stability while the Alaska Supreme Court hears the case on appeal.
The legislature rejected Governor Dunleavy’s reappointment of Bob Griffin - who champions vetoing education funding - to the State Board of Education.
Legislators passed a statutory increase to pupil transportation funding.
An additional $5.2 million was allocated to support kindergarten through third-grade reading instruction.
In an effort to help districts fill teaching positions, legislators made it easier for school districts to hire out-of-state teachers and increased the length of time retired teachers can work as substitutes.
The legislature passed a balanced budget – one that did not need to tap the state's savings or overdraw the permanent fund - preserving the state’s financial health.
Our activism made a difference: our stories, our letters, our testimony, our presence in the halls, our voices at rallies, our emails, our posts, our petitions - it was an enormous and necessary effort. The Great Alaska Schools network now includes over 4,400 Alaskans. Over 700 of you signed a petition urging the legislature to override the Governor’s veto and countless more wrote emails, made phone calls, showed up at rallies and townhalls, and testified on behalf of our students and schools.
Our work is not done. We still need to get the budget signed by the Governor without a veto for education items. We will be calling on you to bring your influence to bear on the Governor.
Every House member and half of the Senate will be up for reelection in November. As candidates campaign this summer and fall, we have an opportunity to hold incumbents accountable for their actions, to support those who championed education, and to keep education at the forefront.
There are some seats that don’t yet have contenders. If you are interested in running for a seat in the legislature or know others who are, please consider running. There is a strong contingent of education supporters, but we need more. The filing deadline is June 1st…
Thank you again for your efforts for education - together our authentic, sustained, statewide demands made a difference.
— Polly, Erin, Emily, Sara, Becca and the Great Alaska Schools volunteer team
PS - Drop us a line if you’d like to get more involved. Our volunteer leadership team is planning to meet monthly, with our next meeting on Monday, June 26th at 7.
What The Heck is Going on With School $$?
Hello awesome advocates,
There’s been a lot of news about school policy and funding over the past week. We’ve tried to answer some questions below. TLDR: Our schools continue to operate in an environment of extreme uncertainty, and our advocacy is more important than ever.
Here are three actions you can take this week:
Join the live Zoom with Rep Alyse Galvin and other Alaska legislators on Monday, April 22, from 5 - 6:30pm to listen and ask questions about education today… and tomorrow. Register here.
Continue to contact your legislators with your concerns. (See suggested language and contact info below.)
Share this letter with your charter school contacts and encourage them to sign on by the end of the week.
Q&A:
What is the status of school funding?
Right now there is a one-time $680 increase to the base student allocation (BSA) in the operating budget. It seems likely the legislature will approve this. We don’t know if Governor Dunleavy will veto some or all of that funding. The fight to raise the BSA will continue next year, and our schools will continue to operate in a landscape of scarcity and uncertainty, as described here.
What’s happening with correspondence school allotments?
Early this month Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman found that legislation championed by then-Senator Dunleavy in 2013 violates Alaska's Constitution and in doing so, undermines public education.
Lawyers, legislators, and others are still trying to figure out what will happen next. The plaintiffs have requested that the Judge issue a “stay” through the end of this school year so districts can continue to issue reimbursements to families. The Anchorage School District has also asked for a stay.
What did the ruling say?
The judge agreed with the plaintiffs who argued the State violated Alaska’s constitution by allowing correspondence school allotments to be used to pay for private and religious schools. Many articles go into more depth, including this one and several columns here.
What does the Alaska Constitution say?
Alaska’s Constitution has clear language around education. Article 7, Section 1 says:
The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public educational institutions. Schools and institutions so established shall be free from sectarian control. No money shall be paid from public funds for the direct benefit of any religious or private education institution.
What's wrong with private or religious schools?
Nothing is wrong with sending your child to a private or religious school; you just can't use public education dollars to pay for it.
The allotment program has been called a "shadow voucher program." What's the problem with vouchers?
In other states, vouchers have been used to systematically undermine public education by moving public dollars to private institutions. This article examines the impact of vouchers in Arizona and Ohio and this letter highlights the inequities that can arise when the only option for a quality education is at a private school.
Great Alaska Schools advocates for a quality public education for all Alaska children and families, whether that’s at a neighborhood school, a charter school, or a correspondence school.
I've used allotments; have I done something wrong?
No. Parents who have used allotments were following the rules as they were interpreted and implemented at the time.
If I'm home-schooling my child right now, what happens to the allotment I've been using?
Many believe the court will offer a stay, which means the ruling won't go into effect until a later point in time such as after the school year ends.
Will this put an end to homeschooling?
No. Alaska has long allowed families to teach their kids at home. Many school districts have and may continue to offer correspondence programs that provide curriculum and support for homeschooling families.
What about charter schools?
The Superior Court ruling doesn’t impact charter schools. Governor Dunleavy continues to advocate to make the Governor-appointed State Board of Ed the sole authorizer of charter schools. Some have speculated that the Governor is pushing this to create yet another pathway to funnel public funding to private schools. Find out what reforms charter school parents actually want to see in this letter. Please also pass the letter on to other charter school parents who may be interested in signing it before it is delivered at the end of the week.
What's next?
The judge indicated that it is up to the legislature to fix the laws so they align with the Constitution. We also know we need to fix education funding by raising the Base Student Allocation and improving teacher retirement. These fixes could happen together as part of a comprehensive package, if state leaders prioritize great schools for all Alaska students.
What can I do?
If you would like to weigh in on this topic, please consider writing or calling your legislators with a message like:
I believe all students deserve access to a quality education, whether families choose to enroll in a neighborhood school, a charter school, or to home school. I'm a fan of Alaska's Constitution and believe that public dollars should be used for public education and not funneled to private or religious institutions.
Alaska's schools have been steadily eroded by chronic underfunding. It's time to fix that. As you look at how to preserve home school options for families, please consider those fixes as part of a comprehensive package that also raises the Base Student Allocation and improves Alaska's worst-in-the-nation teacher retirement package.
You can find who represents you at the bottom of this page.
What else can I do?
This spring and throughout the summer, legislators and candidates will be in campaign mode. Keep an eye out for those opportunities to talk with your legislators. Please show up and share your concerns.
You can also write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper expressing your opinions on education funding. Those get read and help to shape public perception!
Thanks for all of your advocacy efforts; we will need to continue to lean into ensuring that all students have access to quality public education.
Sincerely,
Emily, Sara, Sharon, & Rebecca
PS - If you’d like to get more involved with Great Alaska Schools, check out our help menu.
Parent Press Conference in Fairbanks
Parent Press Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska April 10, 2024.
WTF! (Where's The Funding?)
Were you inspired by the students across the state who walked out of class in this week in protest of the state’s abject failure to invest in their future?
Whether carrying signs exclaiming WTF (Where’s The Funding!?) or making all five floors of the capital reverberate with chants of “Raise the BSA”, our students made their voices heard!
Now it’s time again for us to back them up.
The House Education Committee will be taking public testimony on CSHB 392 – Education Funding, which would raise the Base Student Allocation to $680.
When:
Monday, April 8 at 8:00 am
Wednesday, April 10 at 8:00 am
By Phone
You can testify from your local Legislative Information Office or call in at the following numbers:
Juneau – (907) 586-9085
Anchorage – (907) 563-9085
All Other Locations – 844-586-9085
Please keep your comments to two minutes maximum
By Email
You can also email your testimony to the House Education Committee at House.Education@akleg.gov (be sure to copy your legislators; email addresses listed below)
Suggested talking points:
Please provide positive examples of how a increasing school funding will benefit your school(s), family, and community and support aspects of the bill that would:
Raise the Base Student Allocation of at least $680
Fund pupil transportation (funding for buses is in addition to the BSA increase.)
Provide an additional $180 for each Kindergarten through 3rd grade student who needs additional readying support.
You may want to oppose aspects of the bill that would:
Allow the Governor-appointed State Board of Education to authorize charter schools rather than locally-elected school boards. (This would take away local control and collaboration and could pave the way to further siphon-off public education funds for private interests.)
The most important thing is to let legislators know that the public - students, families, and employers - want to see the state invest in our schools!
Thank you for your commitment to Alaska's students!
- The Great Alaska Schools parent volunteer team
PS - A few reminders from our recent emails:
Join the Alaska Education Industry Lobby
Among the tortured justifications legislators have offered for not supporting increased education funding is criticism of the “powerful education lobby” in Alaska - as if we are some greedy special interest rather than everyday Alaskans fighting for our schools and our communities.
Let’s show them what Alaska’s “education-industrial complex” really looks like! Here's how you can help:
1. Take a photo or selfie of yourself in the midst of life - doing laundry, dishes, homework, etc.
2. Upload it to your social media platforms. You can say something like, “Governor Dunleavy and legislators, I am the face of Alaska’s education industry lobby”
3. Add hashtags like: #akeducationlobby #akleg
4. Share this with your friends!
Check out the GAS action menu
Click here for a few other ways we can get connected
Continue to remind legislators we will hold them accountable!
YES on the veto override (pro-education thank yous!)
Representative.Jennie.Armstrong@akleg.gov
Representative.Ashley.Carrick@akleg.gov
Representative.Maxine.Dibert@akleg.gov
Represenative.Bryce.Edgmon@akleg.gov
Representative.Zack.Fields@akleg.gov
Representative.Neal.Foster@akleg.gov
Representative.Alyse.Galvin@akleg.gov
Representative.Andi.Story@akleg.gov
Representative.Andrew.Gray@akleg.gov
Representative.Cliff.Groh@akleg.gov
Representative.Sara.Hannan@akleg.gov
Representative.Rebecca.Himschoot@akleg.gov
Representative.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov
Representative.CJ.McCormick@akleg.gov
Representative.Donna.Mears@akleg.gov
Representative.Geneveive.Mina@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov
Representative.Justin.Ruffridge@akleg.gov
Representative.Calvin.Schrage@akleg.gov
Representative.Will.Stapp@akleg.gov
Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov
Representative.Jesse.Sumner@akleg.gov
Representative.Stanley.Wright@akleg.gov
Senator.Click.Bishop@akleg.gov
Senator.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov
Senator.Forrest.Dunbar@akleg.gov
Senator.Cathy.Giessel@akleg.gov
Senator.Elvi.Gray-Jackson@akleg.gov
Senator.Lyman.Hoffman@akleg.gov
Senator.James.Kaugman@akleg.gov
Senator.Scott.Kawasaki@akleg.gov
Senator.Kelly.Merrick@akleg.gov
Senator.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov
Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
Senator.Bill.Weilechowski@akleg.gov
Example Message: Thank you for standing behind your vote and standing for Alaska’s kids by voting to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto. I’m not going to give up on our kids or our schools and I hope you don’t either.
NO Votes on the veto override (failed to vote for education funding when it mattered most):
Representative.Jamie.Allard@akleg.gov
Representative.Thomas.Baker@akleg.gov
Representative.Ben.Carpenter@akleg.gov
Representative.Julie.Coulombe@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Cronk@akleg.gov
Representative.David.Eastman@akleg.gov
Representative.Delena.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Craig.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Kevin.McCabe@akleg.gov
Representative.Tom.McKay@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Prax@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Saddler@akleg.gov
Representative.Laddie.Shaw@akleg.gov
Representative.Cathy.Tilton@akleg.gov
Representative.Frank.Tomaszewski@akleg.gov
Representative.Sarah.Vance@akleg.gov
Senator.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov
Senator.David.Wilson@akleg.gov
Example Message: By supporting Governor Dunleavy’s veto, you have put our children’s future at risk. I appreciate that many of the floor speeches centered on finding out routes for increasing school funding. Have no doubt, we will hold you accountable to those promises.
The override to Dunleavy’s SB140 veto failed by one vote
Let us start by saying thank you for signing the petition to override the Governor’s veto. We hand-delivered the petition (all 34 pages with 1,588 signatures!) to every legislative office before yesterday’s vote.
Thank you too to everyone who called, wrote, and showed up to support funding for our schools.
Because of the incredible support from parents, teachers, and students, we came very, very close to overriding Governor Dunleavy’s veto.
Unfortunately, the veto override fell short by 1 heart-breaking vote.
This is disappointing, to say the least.
But there are some silver linings:
The majority of legislators did vote to override the Governor; there is clearly a mandate from the people to invest in education.
During the joint session debate today, multiple legislators who did not vote to override the veto promised to support increased education funding, via another bill or route.
We now have to hold them accountable.
Please take a moment to say THANK YOU to those who voted yes, especially those who challenged the party line and made powerful floor speeches, including Representatives Ruffridge and Edgmon and Senators Bjorkman, Stedman, Kaufman, Bishop, Hoffman and Tobin. We’ve included some sample messages for you below.
Representative.Jennie.Armstrong@akleg.gov
Representative.Ashley.Carrick@akleg.gov
Representative.Maxine.Dibert@akleg.gov
Represenative.Bryce.Edgmon@akleg.gov
Representative.Zack.Fields@akleg.gov
Representative.Neal.Foster@akleg.gov
Representative.Alyse.Galvin@akleg.gov
Representative.Andi.Story@akleg.gov
Representative.Andrew.Gray@akleg.gov
Representative.Cliff.Groh@akleg.gov
Representative.Sara.Hannan@akleg.gov
Representative.Rebecca.Himschoot@akleg.gov
Representative.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov
Representative.CJ.McCormick@akleg.gov
Representative.Donna.Mears@akleg.gov
Representative.Geneveive.Mina@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov
Representative.Justin.Ruffridge@akleg.gov
Representative.Calvin.Schrage@akleg.gov
Representative.Will.Stapp@akleg.gov
Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov
Representative.Jesse.Sumner@akleg.gov
Representative.Stanley.Wright@akleg.gov
Senator.Click.Bishop@akleg.gov
Senator.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov
Senator.Forrest.Dunbar@akleg.gov
Senator.Cathy.Giessel@akleg.gov
Senator.Elvi.Gray-Jackson@akleg.gov
Senator.Lyman.Hoffman@akleg.gov
Senator.James.Kaugman@akleg.gov
Senator.Scott.Kawasaki@akleg.gov
Senator.Kelly.Merrick@akleg.gov
Senator.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov
Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
Senator.Bill.Weilechowski@akleg.gov
Example Message: Thank you for standing behind your vote and standing for Alaska’s kids by voting to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto. I’m not going to give up on our kids or our schools and I hope you don’t either.
And for those who voted no, please let them know that you are disappointed they didn’t stand behind their vote; and that you will hold them accountable for improving outcomes.
Representative.Jamie.Allard@akleg.gov
Representative.Thomas.Baker@akleg.gov
Representative.Ben.Carpenter@akleg.gov
Representative.Julie.Coulombe@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Cronk@akleg.gov
Representative.David.Eastman@akleg.gov
Representative.Delena.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Craig.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Kevin.McCabe@akleg.gov
Representative.Tom.McKay@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Prax@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Saddler@akleg.gov
Representative.Laddie.Shaw@akleg.gov
Representative.Cathy.Tilton@akleg.gov
Representative.Frank.Tomaszewski@akleg.gov
Representative.Sarah.Vance@akleg.gov
Senator.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov
Senator.David.Wilson@akleg.gov
Example Message: By supporting Governor Dunleavy’s veto, you have put our children’s future at risk. I appreciate that many of the floor speeches centered on finding out routes for increasing school funding. Have no doubt, we will hold you accountable to those promises.
Non-profit group Coalition for Education Equity of Alaska to sue the Dunleavy Administration
See Alaska Pubic Media’s coverage of the Coalition for Education Equity of Alaska’s intent to sue the Dunleavy administration for inadequate school funding here.
January 21, 2024 Call for Action
Dear Education Supporters,
We have good news and bad news. The bad news is we are facing a critical situation regarding Senate Bill 140, that needs your immediate action. Despite the overwhelming opposition expressed during over 8 hours of testimony last Saturday, the bill has passed out of the House Rules Committee and is headed to the full House this Tuesday afternoon.
We are disappointed by this outcome as Senate Bill 140 as amended, would cause 3 major harms for public schools. The good news is the full House represents a broader spectrum of Alaskans than the small Rules Committee, and there's significant widespread opposition to the bill. This means we have an important opportunity to influence this broader group and must keep up the pressure against the bill!
We can’t do this alone; we need you!
1. **Call or Email Your House Representatives:** Urge them to support real funding for ALL Alaska's public schools through a significant BSA increase ($1413) without compromising local control or introducing a divisive bonus system that neglects the many hardworking classified educators that contribute significantly to the education of our youth.
2. **Emphasize Your Role as a Parent:** Legislators have indicated that they want to hear directly from PARENTS. If you are a parent, highlight this in your communication.
3. **If You're a Charter School Parent:** It's even more important that you speak up in support of local control of charter schools and increased BSA funding. Charter school families are going to be pivotal in getting a meaningful increase to the BSA this session. Charter schools are public schools, and an increase to the BSA benefits ALL Alaskan public schools.
*It’s easy to find your Representative and their contact info at the bottom of the Legislature’s page with the Who Represents Me tool.
For more on SB140 and to inform your message to your Representative, please see below. Don’t forget to share your note on social media to encourage others to get involved!
SB 140 actually spends less on our schools than last year
Though it’s being spun as a ‘funding increase,’ a BSA increase of $300 actually translates to a funding cut that will lead to school closures, program cuts, fewer teachers, and bigger class sizes because it is less than what the legislature passed last year which was ultimately vetoed by the Governor. Further, statewide education organizations have already recommended an increase of $1,413, making this “increase” painfully inadequate and taking support for our schools backward.
SB 140 takes away local control from communities
Under this proposed bill, an unelected state board, appointed by the Governor, would have all authority to approve, renew, and terminate any charter school in Alaska, removing an authority that has been held by locally elected school boards for 30 years. Charter schools provide important alternative approaches to education that support diverse learning styles and offer unique language and cultural focuses. Even if your family isn’t using a charter school, this provision will affect you because this board would have unchecked authority to create new charters, diverting funding away from your family's schools which, as we know, are already struggling under flat funding.
SB 140 creates a divisive bonus system for school employees
This bill proposes cash bonuses for teachers from $5,000 to $15,0000, costing $58 million. No other support staff or paraprofessionals are included. This means the proposed incentive program risks violating the Alaska Constitution’s equal protection clause and violating local collective bargaining agreements. Bonuses would also have to be applied for, and are "subject to appropriations" so the legislature or the Governor has the power to pull the plug at any time. Most concerning, at the end of the year a teacher may get a pink slip with their bonus check because, without a significant BSA increase, schools can’t pay a teacher’s contractually obligated salary.