2025-04 School District, Federal & State News
Alaska School District News
Anchorage – Anchorage School district officials say window for reversing teacher layoffs is closing – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media
Anchorage – Anchorage School Board meets for first time since school funding veto – Joe Allgood, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Uncertainty in education funding means less art, music and gym for Anchorage elementary students next year – Zachariah Hughes, ADN
Anchorage – East Anchorage choir teacher retiring, leaving future of program uncertain amid budget deficit – Cassandra Manci, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage School District responds to governor’s veto of education funding bill – Your Alaska Link
Anchorage – More Anchorage educators face displacement due to lack of state funding – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link
Anchorage – Uncertainty in education funding means less art, music and gym for Anchorage elementary students next year – Zachariah Hughes, ADN
Anchorage – More Anchorage teachers receive notice of displacement – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage School District students raise concerns over BSA funding – Ian Stewart, Your Alaska Link
Anchorage – ASD superintendent stresses crucial education bill to avoid cuts to staff, special programs – Joey Klecka, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage School District ‘displacements’ could shutter or shrink 5 high school choir programs – Jenna Kunze, ADN
Anchorage – Anchorage schools approved to spend more, if state increases funding – Joe Allgood, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Letter on job cuts sent to ASD staff citing lack of state funding. District spokesperson says ‘hundreds’ of jobs could be part of staffing cuts – Leah Thom, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage School District notifies hundreds of educators and staff of potential ‘displacement’ – Jenna Kunze, ADN
Anchorage – Anchorage lawmaker seeks to boost Alaska early education funding – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Anchorage – Anchorage’s school language immersion programs — among the nation’s most robust for a city its size — are at risk – Jenna Kunze, ADN
Anchorage – Data breach affects thousands of Alaskan students & school staff – Quinn White, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – ASD pilot lunch program offers food cooked from scratch, more student choice – Alaska’s News Source
Delta-Greely – Delta High School hiring committee selects new school principal – Michele Trainor, Delta Wind
Fairbanks – A closing North Pole school to be repurposed for alternative learning programs – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source
Fairbanks – FNSB school district fields Assembly questions on budget, homeschooling and school closures – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – Fairbanks school board prioritizes class sizes in memo, pending $1,000 BSA – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – Alaska Legislators visit Fairbanks to address the House Education Bill – Kirk Chaves, KTVF
Fairbanks – Assembly sets minimum local education funding at $60 million – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – Fairbanks businesses donate $500K in gift cards to 1,700 school staff members – Adrian Peterson, KTUU
Fairbanks – Fairbanks borough mayor requests at least $60M in local education funding – Alex Bengel, KTVF
Fairbanks – Increased Fairbanks class sizes included in school district’s budget proposal – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source
Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district announces boundary changes for next academic year – Alex Bengal, Alaska’s News Source
Fairbanks – Fairbanks School District submits recommended budget to borough – Alaska’s News Source
Fairbanks – New school boundaries announced for Fairbanks students – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Haines – Manager’s budget similar to last year, grants school district half of its ask – Will Steinfeld, Chilkat Valley News
Juneau – Contract negotiations grow tense between Juneau School District and teachers union amid funding uncertainty – Jamie Diep, KTOO
Juneau – Assembly begins budget review process at April 5 Finance Committee meeting – CBJ
Juneau – Value of Alaska Native education emphasized by Sealaska Heritage Institute president at US Senate hearing – Jasz Garrett, Juneau Empire
Kenai – School board OKs next round of teacher contracts – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL
Kenai – School district budget closes schools, cuts programs and staff – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL
Kenai – District adopts budget with severe cuts, school closures – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Capitol Corner: Failure of HB 69 takes us back to square one – Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – KPBSD budgeting in ‘no-win situation’ – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Students, others rally behind school programs proposed for cuts – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL
Kenai – Micciche says borough budget will include $57 million for schools. The mayor’s budget still has to be approved by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Students, parents speak against proposed defunding of Quest gifted program – Jacob Dye, Alaska’s News Source
Kenai – KPBSD considers 4 candidates for Homer High School principal position – Chloe Pleznac, Homer News
Kenai – Tułen Charter School set for fall opening – The school’s curriculum integrates Dena’ina language, culture and traditional values – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – ‘We just need more time.’ Nikolaevsk advocated keeping their school open during a KPBSD community meeting last week. – Delcenia Cosman, Homer News
Kenai – Nikolaevsk advocates for school at school district meeting – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL
Kenai – School district, unions talk through contract proposals – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL
Kenai – Education hot topic at legislative town hall. More than 100 people attended a three-hour meeting where 46 spoke. – Jacob Dye, Homer News
Kenai – Cuts & displacements: A waiting game in Southcentral for education funding – Georgina Fernandez, Alaska’s News Source
Kenai – School board says no cuts to Homer Flex – Delcenia Cosman, Peninsula Clarion
Ketchikan – School Board advances $42 million budget – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – After restructuring vote, School Board to move on to bus scheduling – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – School Board continues with restructuring plan – Maria Dudzak, KRBD
Ketchikan – School Board vote results in proceeding with schools restructuring – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – School Board to begin board member, superintendent searches – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – Borough Assembly directs action on education funding – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – Assembly to consider Local Education Fund – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – Ketchikan principal tells lawmakers that the kids aren’t alright – Jack Darrell, KRBD
Ketchikan – School Board accepts president’s resignation, begins searches – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News
Kodiak – YMCA-Alaska wants to run after-school programs in Kodiak but it’s not a done deal yet – Davis Hovey, KMXT
Lower Kuskokwim – A New School in Mertarvik Takes Shape – Samuel John, KYUK
Mat-Su – Mat-Su schools transgender bathroom policy lawsuit trial underway, Quinn White, Alaska’s News Source
Mat-Su – New Mat-Su diploma option would drop AP class requirement, boost electives – Amy Bushatz, Frontiersman
Mat-Su – Mat-Su Central School celebrates ribbon cutting – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman
Nome – Dunleavy vetoes $1,000 increase to school funding – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget
Nome – School district blindly balances budget – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget
Nome – ANSEP Acceleration Academy coming to Nome Schools – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget
Petersburg – Schools officials respond to governor vow to veto education funding bill – Orin Pierson, Petersburg Pilot
Petersburg – Assembly urges Alaska Legislature to increase education funding – Orin Pierson, Petersburg Pilot
Sitka – With state funding still uncertain, Sitka School Board rolls back staff cuts for next year – KCAW News
Sitka – Gov. Dunleavy’s BSA proposal could mean more cuts for Sitka’s schools – Katherine Rose, KCAW
Sitka – School District Pre-K Wins Board Approval – Garland Kennedy, Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka – Sitka School Board expands its tuition-based preschool program – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Unalaska – Unalaska superintendent previews plans for upcoming school year – Sofia Stuart-Rasi, KUCB
Unalaska – Unalaska students rally for education funding days before Gov. Dunleavy vetoes bill – Sofia Stuart-Rasi, KUCB
Wrangell – Bill Burr resigns as schools superintendent after 4 years on the job – Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel
Wrangell – Wrangell school district meets with borough about budget; both face deficits next year – Colette Czarnecki, KSTK
State and Federal News
After governor’s veto, Alaska Senate approves smaller education funding boost. A technical error will force a re-vote on Wednesday before the state House gets to vote on the idea and send it to the governor – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska Senate passes compromise bill including $700 school funding boost with broad support – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Effort to rush compromise education bill through Legislature hits snag due to ‘drafting error’. Bill returned to Senate, which passed it 19-1, to fix error in amendment; House vote expected by Wednesday – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Student government convention in Sitka petitions for $1,000 BSA hike, inflation adjustments. About 250 high schoolers seek same funding vetoed by governor, as Legislature now eyes lower amount – Anna Laffrey, Daily Sitka Sentinel
19 states sue Trump administration over push to end diversity programs in public schools – Holly Ramer, Associated Press
Why judges blocked the Trump admin’s school DEI crackdown – Cory Turner, NPR
Alaska Legislature could vote soon on $700 per-student funding increase with ‘compromise’ education reforms added, lawmakers say – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska Senate committee advances education bill, with per-student formula boost and policy changes – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Education Department cuts threaten to deepen local schools’ woes – Russell Contreras, Axios
Alaska Senate plans to vote Monday on new education bill with $700 funding boost – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska Legislature could vote soon on $700 per-student funding increase with ‘compromise’ education reforms added, lawmakers say – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska Senate committee proposes $700 per-student school funding formula increase, following veto – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska lawmakers’ biggest education funding bill is dead. Now what? – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska school districts face tough choices after funding veto stands – Ian Stewart, Your Alaska Link
Senate adds $700 BSA hike to school phone policy bill a day after veto override on $1,000 increase fails. Lawmakers say quick floor vote by Senate, concurrence by House may set up another override session – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Alaska House Passes Mandates for Wireless Telecommunication Devices in Alaskan Schools – Alaska Native News
Following governor’s veto of HB 69, meeting between lawmakers and Alaska’s largest school districts rescheduled – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source
Alaska House Majority Coalition Responds to Failed Education Funding Veto Override – Alaska Native News
Lawmakers fail to override Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of school funding bill – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska House encourages school districts to limit students’ cellphones, with some exceptions – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s school funding veto – Sean Maguire
Alaska Legislature votes to uphold governor’s veto of significant education funding boost. For the second year in a row, the Legislature failed to override Gov. Dunleavy’s veto, leaving public school finances uncertain – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Education bill veto leaves Alaska school leaders disappointed, frustrated and confused – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy presses school policy changes with funding increase, after vetoing larger boost. Dunleavy introduced a new education funding bill with a $560 per student boost, plus policy changes like additional funding for homeschool students – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
‘Facing an emergency’: Mixed reaction from state education leaders on governor’s veto of funding bill – Alex Bengel and Jonson Kuhn, Alaska’s News Source
Opinion: Alaska is dying a slow death. Here’s how we can change course. – Andy Warwick, ADN
Governor vetoes education funding bill, sending HB 69 back to state lawmakers – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy vetoes education funding boost for second year in a row – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes school funding boost but promises a new plan – Sean Maguire & Iris Samuels, ADN
In veto of education funding bill, Dunleavy points, in part, to sinking oil prices – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source
Dunleavy vetoes education bill, announces competing bill – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska House passes operating budget with $1,400 PFD and a roughly $450 million deficit – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska Senate unanimously advances slim capital budget with school maintenance focus – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska House approves draft budget with large deficit and estimated $1,400 dividend. The under-construction state operating budget now goes to the Senate, which is expected to make further cuts – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska lawmakers say pension reform is a ‘2-year project’ – Iris Samuels, ADN
Education funding, the budget, and other legislative priorities – Lori Townsend, Talk of Alaska
Alaska education funding boost, sent to governor, awaits his veto – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Education funding boost advances to governor’s desk – Meredith Redick, KCAW
Alaska Head Start programs in limbo after regional office closed – Corrine Smith Alaska Beacon
Opinion: Help the Alaska education funding bill get across the finish line – Kelly Lessens, ADN
Gov. Dunleavy promises veto as education funding bill passes Legislature – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Students stage statewide walkout urging BSA increase as education funding bill passes – Quinn White & Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source
The outrageous and effective 1946 Anchorage High School student strike – David Reamer, Histories of Alaska, ADN
Alaska Legislature narrowly approves $1,000 BSA boost after Dunleavy vows veto – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska Legislature passes $1,000 per student funding boost, despite governor vowing to veto it – Corinne Smith & James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
House education funding bill advances from Senate committee with $1K per-student payment; Dunleavy calls it ‘a joke’. HB 69 is slated to be taken up by Senate lawmakers Friday, while governor threatens to ‘veto immediately’ – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source
Alaska Senate poised to pass stripped-back education bill with $1,000 BSA boost as Dunleavy threatens veto – Sean Maguire, ADN
Alaska Senate prepares to vote on public education funding boost as Dunleavy vows veto – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Funding for Alaska’s schools remains a question mark. Here’s where things stand – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska Senate poised to pass stripped-back education bill with $1,000 BSA boost as Dunleavy threatens veto – Sean Maguire, ADN
Whether a ‘pickle’ or a ‘crisis,’ the Alaska House is struggling with a deficit budget – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Bill offers relief for Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s maintenance backlog – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Opinion: Alaska has an education crisis. As lawmakers, it’s past time that we took action. – Sen. Löki Gale Tobin, Rep. Rebecca Himschoot & Rep. Andi Story
As key bills advance, here’s an update on the Alaska Legislature’s biggest issues. Lawmakers still haven’t resolved the looming deficit caused by a collision between education spending, the PFD, and lower oil revenue – James Brooks & Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Funding for Alaska’s schools remains a question mark. Here’s where things stand – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Alaska House advances deficit-fixing budget bill, but there’s a catch: The House failed to pass a supermajority vote that unlocks a key state savings account – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska House panel advances draft budget with full PFD and $1.9B deficit – Sean Maguire, ADN
$3,892 PFD advances as part of House committee’s deficit-laden budget draft – Alaska’s News Source
Alaska House passes FY25 budget, CBR draw vote splits legislature – Your Alaska Link
Alaska Senate committee advances school funding bill with $1,000 per student formula boost. The Senate Education Committee amended House Bill 69 with policy changes, including capping class sizes – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Alaska Senate Education Committee advances new school funding bill with $1,000 per-student boost – Sean Maguire, ADN
Key school funding bill advances from Senate education committee – Joe Allgood, Alaska’s News Source
Alaska school officials say layoff notices are going out, budget uncertainty costing districts. Education officials and advocates testified Monday to the high costs of teacher layoffs, budget uncertainty and difficulty of recruiting new educators to Alaska – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Education bill advances with homeschool testing requirement and UA Regents rebuked for anti-DEI measure – Matt Buxton, The Alaska Memo
Tribal education leaders speak out against Trump’s plan to close the Department of Education – Alena Naiden, KNBA
Value of Alaska Native education emphasized by Sealaska Heritage Institute president at US Senate hearing – Jasz Garrett – Juneau Empire
New bill proposed to require financial literacy class to graduate high school in Alaska – Jonson Kuhn, Alaska’s News Source
Thirteen Alaska schools earn Purple Star designation for military support – Your Alaska Link