The Importance of School Board Advocacy
Advocating for public education at the legislative level means using your voice to take action on behalf of your school district. AASB depends on school board members to speak up for Alaska’s students, schools, and communities.
As elected officials, school board members have a deep responsibility to represent the needs of students, staff, and families. Advocacy isn’t optional, it’s a key part of your role in ensuring strong, effective public education in Alaska.
What Legislative Advocacy Involves
- Understanding AASB’s Legislative Priorities
Each year, AASB develops legislative priorities that guide our advocacy efforts—these are your starting point for action. - Staying Informed
Keep up with proposed legislation that could impact your district, from funding to policy changes. - Building Relationships with Legislators
Get to know your local legislators and their staff. Invite them to visit your schools and share key information about your district’s needs and successes. Your advocacy helps shape education policy in Alaska—your voice matters.
AASB Legislative Priorities
AASB’s legislative priorities are rooted in the core resolutions adopted by our statewide membership each year during the Delegate Assembly, held in conjunction with our Annual Conference. These resolutions serve as the foundation for AASB’s advocacy work, guiding our positions on legislation introduced during each session of the Alaska State Legislature.
Advocating for Alaska’s Public School Students
The AASB Board of Directors has reaffirmed three top legislative priorities for this session, reflecting the most urgent challenges facing Alaska’s schools and communities:
- Sufficient and Sustainable Public Education Funding
- Retention and Recruitment of Teachers, Administrators, and Staff
- Student Wellness and School Safety
Legislative Priorities Summary
AASB will be actively advocating for these issues throughout the session. Use the links below to access a one-page summary of this year’s priorities and the resolutions that support them.
Who Represents Your School District?
A searchable guide to current legislators representing each Alaska school district, with links to their contact information, education-related committee membership, and more.
Advocacy Services
Stay Informed and Engaged During the Legislative Session
AASB offers a range of services, resources, and advocacy opportunities to help school board members stay informed and connect directly with your legislators.
Lobbying
AASB’s Executive Director leads our Advocacy team, coordinates lobbying efforts, and ensures school board members are equipped to advocate effectively. We promote pro-education legislation and defend the principle of local control of public education.
The Session Legislative Publication
Each Monday morning during the legislative session, members receive The Session, AASB’s legislative publication. It provides timely updates, bill tracking, committee and floor session activity, and analysis of key education issues that impact your district.
Committee Testimony & “Call to Action” Alerts
AASB regularly provides expert testimony on education-related bills and issues. When your voice is needed most, we send targeted email and text Call to Action alerts to encourage school board members to contact legislators or submit testimony on priority education bills.
Legislative Fly-Ins & Youth Advocacy Institute
Each session, AASB hosts a Legislative Fly-In in Juneau, giving board members and district leaders the chance to meet face-to-face with legislators and advocate with a unified voice. Participants collaborate with AASB to shape talking points, attend briefings, and provide testimony at committee hearings.
During the Fly-In, AASB hosts the Youth Advocacy Institute (YAI), a hands-on program that teaches students how to engage with the legislative process. Through workshops on bill research, advocacy, and testimony, students build public speaking and leadership skills. The experience concludes with participation in committee meetings at the Capitol, with opportunities to testify and learn about the legislative process in “real time.”
"Attending the AASB Legislative Fly-Ins built confidence in being able to address legislators on key educational issues that will affect all of us."
– Alaska School Board Member
Federal Relations Network
AASB connects Alaska school board members to the National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network (FRN), offering a direct way to engage in the federal legislative process. Through the FRN, local board members can build relationships with Alaska’s congressional delegation and advocate for national education priorities.
"Learn the processes of being ready to speak with legislators about what bills are important to your district."
– Alaska School Board Member