Building Pathways for Alaska Students: AASB’s Commitment to Postsecondary Success
Conditions for Learning Team
In 2022, AASB held a public conversation to explore ways to prepare students now for what’s next. Building on that, we released a this detailed report and bridging framework. in 2023, both emphasizing the importance of nurturing a positive cultural identity and guiding students in planning for life beyond high school. This year, we’ve continued developing these strategies.
In October, AASB joined over 20 state and national organizations at the Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education’s Professional Development Conference in Anchorage. The gathering focused on learning about current trends, challenges, and solutions in post-high school career and technical education, aiming to better meet the needs of Alaskan students.
One participant, rootEd, a philanthropic organization that works with rural communities to improve postsecondary outcomes, found that by ensuring all students have a plan for life after high school, postsecondary training rates increased by 33% and attendance increased by 10.5% with the support of a career guide*.
Despite these collective efforts, there continues to be room for improvement. For multiple years, Alaska’s submission rate has been the lowest in the nation for completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a key step to accessing Pell Grants for low-income students, school-based scholarships, and the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Check out the FAFSA Tracker to see what percentage of seniors in your school district completed this critical step last year.
On a positive note, the Alaska legislature increased the amount of funding for the Alaska Performance Scholarship for the first time in a decade, while also reducing barriers to accessing it. However, students are still required to complete four years of courses that will qualify them for the scholarship and apply for the FAFSA with their families.
For more tips on how your school board can help ensure that students are accessing opportunities for life after high school click here.
*(Vandeven, Margie, Sept. 8, 2022, U.S. News and World Report, Missouri Placed Postsecondary Advisers in Rural Schools. College Enrollment Increased, retrieved Oct. 24, 2024.)