Lon Garrison, Executive Director
As winter settles in, communities across Alaska are lighting school hallways with holiday concerts, gatherings, and the final fall sports tournaments. The long nights and shorter days invite reflection—on where we’ve been, what we’ve weathered, and what we hope the new year may bring. For Alaska’s school boards and the students and communities they serve, that reflection has helped shape AASB’s 2026 Legislative Priorities.
At their heart, these priorities come down to a familiar Alaska value: investing wisely in what matters most, our kids. For public education, that means investing in students, educators, and the school buildings that anchor our communities—always with student success and well-being at the center.
First and foremost, investing in students is essential. School boards must intentionally discuss education funding as an investment, not just an expense. An investment aims to produce results—strong readers, engaged learners, and graduates prepared for work, college, or service to their communities. These outcomes should be our primary focus, and your budgets should reflect that commitment. However, it becomes extremely difficult when resources are insufficient.
While last year’s $700 increase to the Base Student Allocation was welcome, it only restored about 39 percent of the buying power schools have lost since 2011. As we enter a new year, our message must be clear: the focus is on improved student outcomes, which require steady, predictable, and adequate funding.
That investment only works if we also invest in educators. Across Alaska, districts are working hard to recruit and retain teachers, principals, bus drivers, counselors, and support staff. The challenges are especially sharp in rural and remote communities. AASB’s priorities continue to support competitive compensation, retirement options, teacher housing, and “grow-your-own” pathways that help Alaskans become educators and school leaders close to home. Students thrive when they see familiar, committed adults in their schools year after year.
New for 2026 is a stronger focus on investing in infrastructure, and for good reason. Many of Alaska’s schools are aging beyond what they were designed to handle. Roofs leak, boilers fail, and electrical systems struggle to keep up. Nearly half of school buildings are over 40 years old, and deferred maintenance across the state has become a multibillion-dollar challenge. Add in the long pause on school bond debt reimbursement, and too many communities are forced to do more with less. This directly affects student achievement and wellness.
In Alaska, school buildings serve more than one purpose. They are often the safest, warmest places in town—used for community gatherings and, increasingly, as emergency shelters during storms and floods. Recent disasters in Northwest and Southwest Alaska reminded us just how vital those buildings are when things go wrong.
Wrapping around all of these priorities is a focus on student achievement and wellness—mental health supports, culturally responsive learning, extracurricular activities, and early guidance that helps students imagine what comes after graduation. Public schools accept all students, and that means our public education system needs strong investment to ensure our schools can support everyone, from those with significant disabilities to those who far surpass the average student. They are all our responsibility.
As we look toward the holidays and a new year, AASB’s 2026 Legislative Priorities reflect a hopeful but grounded outlook. They are rooted in local experience, shared responsibility, and the belief that when we invest thoughtfully in our schools, we are investing in Alaska’s future.
Have a happy and safe holiday season. See you next year!
