2026-01 School District, State & Federal Education News

Anchorage – Record-breaking snow wallops Anchorage, closing schools early and wreaking havoc on the roads – Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage – After-school activities canceled for ASD schools; early dismissal announced – Josiah Pike and Joey Klecka, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District and teachers union reach tentative contract after months of negotiations – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage educators reach tentative contract with salary and benefit boosts – Anthony Wright, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School District, union reach tentative agreement – Makayla Clark, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District and teachers union reach tentative contract agreement – ADN

Anchorage – Hazardous roads force multiple school districts in Southcentral to close – KTUU

Anchorage – Truck catches fire after colliding with Anchorage school bus; students safe – Anthony Wright, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – ASD warns: closures mean make-up days as school canceled Friday – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage mayor proposes $12 million education levy on April ballot – Josiah Pike & Lauren Maxwell, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage leaders propose one-time tax hike to send millions to schools – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage mayor asks Assembly to set aside sales tax proposal in favor of plan to help fund schools – Bella Biondini, Zachariah Hughes, Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Class sizes likely to get bigger as Anchorage schools look to close budget gap – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Some Anchorage school bus routes are delayed due to ‘extreme cold,’ district says – Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage – Anchorage School District suffering transportation delays due to cold – Josiah Pike, KTUU

Anchorage – New Inlet View Elementary School opens for students – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska – Josiah Pike, KTUU

Anchorage – Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska – Josiah Pike, KTUU

Cordova – Cordova School District taps Unalaska educator Kim Hanisch as next superintendent – Camille Botello, Cordova Times

Cordova – Cordova School Board chooses three finalists, including one local, for superintendent position – Camille Botello, The Cordova Times

Cordova – Cordova Superintendent Search Nears Finish Line – Camille Botello, Cordova Times

Fairbanks – Alaska lawmakers hold roundtable with Fairbanks students – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Rural Alaska students embrace education – Susan Paskvan, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Juneau – Union contract negotiations spark student outrage in support of Juneau teachers – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School Board delays returning $1 million to the city due to questions about after-school child care – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School Board delays returning $1 million to the city due to questions about after-school child care – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Dzantik’i Heeni playground inches toward reality following school board funding approval – Clarise Larson, KTOO

Juneau – Schools closed in Juneau Friday, potential for remote learning next week, flood watch in effect – Mari Kanagy & Chloe Anderson, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Snow removal, roof monitoring at Juneau schools continues through weekend – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Mendenhall River Community School evacuated due to concerns over gym roof – Lisa Phu & Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School District closes elementary school for snow removal as ‘precaution’ for additional snow and rain – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School District closes elementary school for snow removal as ‘precaution’ for additional snow and rain – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau schools closed Tuesday as heavy snow cleanup continues – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Juneau – All but one school reopening, flood advisory on Wednesday; moderate to heavy rain forecast Friday – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Independent

Juneau – School closed as another winter storm brings snow, potential rain mixture to Juneau – Adelyn Baxter, KTOO

Kenai – School board meets with state legislators – Chloe Anderson, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Kenai Peninsula schools closed Friday due to icy conditions – Georgina Fernandez, KTUU

Kenai – Update: District-wide schools and activities closure in effect Friday through Saturday, Jan. 16-17 – Chloe Anderson, Homer News

Kenai – Kenai Peninsula schools closed Friday due to icy conditions – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Kenai – Facing deficit, school board revisits school closures, pool operations – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – School union seeks higher pay, benefits for paraprofessionals – Colette Czarnecki, KSTK

Kenai – Kenai charter school revives high school program request – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Ketchikan – School Board braces for tough budget season – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board selects three finalists for Superintendent position – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board advances on superintendent search – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board hires temporary business manager – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School board seeks new budget ideas at Thursday townhall – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board to discuss new business manager – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Kodiak – KIBSD school board selects new superintendent, contract details not finalized yet – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – Brigman picked as KIBSD’s next superintendent – Derek Clarkston, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – KIBSD superintendent finalist scooped up by Cordova – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – “We need stability,” parents and former employees weigh in on KIBSD budget for next school year – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – Three superintendent candidates here Thursday – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror 

Kodiak – District faces budget, negotiations, superintendent hire all at once – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror 

Kodiak – School board continues budget talks – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror 

Kodiak – Three finalists picked for KIBSD Superintendent – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – School board leans toward program, staff cuts over school closures – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – Kodiak Island School Board tenuously chooses cuts over closing a school for FY’2027 – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – School board to hold budget work session – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kuspuk – Aniak Junior Senior High School closed due to structural concerns – Josiah Pike, KTUU

Mat-Su – Mat-Su school bus workers vote to OK strike if contract talks collapse – Amy Bushatz, Mat-Su Sentinel

Nome – Public comments are front and center at school board meeting – Ariana Crockett O’Harra, Nome Nugget

Nome – Student charged after bringing firearm onto Nome-Beltz campus – Ariana Crockett O’Harra, Nome Nugget

Sitka – Education commissioner recommends ad hoc committee for MEHS – Katherine Rose, KCAW

Sitka – Sitka Superintendent gets top marks in annual performance review – Katherine Rose, KCAW

Sitka – School Board Gives Jenson High Rating – Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka – School Board Adds To Capital Needs List – Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka – School Board Outlines Upcoming Budget Plans – Daily Sitka Sentinel

Skagway – Skagway students are asking for time off school to participate in subsistence activities – Avery Ellfeldt, KHNS

Unalaska – Unalaska school board narrows search for new superintendent – Maggie Nelson, KUCB

Wrangell – Unanimous vote creates new librarian and media literacy role in district – Colette Czarnecki, KSTK

Wrangell – School district will work with police to implement hostile intruder plan – Jonathon Dawe, Wrangell Sentinel

Alaska governor debuts fiscal plan, including statewide sales tax and guaranteed PFD. Gov. Dunleavy suggests 4% summer statewide sales tax, falling to 2% in winter; many municipal exemptions and caps would go away – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

State education board OKs UAA program aimed at tackling school psychologist shortage – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau Rep. Andi Story prioritizes education and housing this legislative session – Mike Lane, KTOO

New bill aims to bring stability to Alaska school districts’ budgeting process – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Dunleavy offers past highlights, future hopes in final State of the State address. Legislators say speech glosses over some hard truths, want more details about his fiscal plan and new agreements on Alaska LNG Project – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Independent

In final legislative address, Dunleavy highlights past successes and future of oil and gas projects – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s veto of a tax bill intended to help education – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

An early look at Alaska education bills for 2026: homeschool testing, curriculums, student safety – Corrine Smith, Alaska Beacon

Two Alaska school districts sue state over claims of inadequate education funding – Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media

Two Alaska school districts sue Gov. Dunleavy, State of Alaska, for ‘failure to adequately fund public education’ – Charlie Fellows, KTUU

In lawsuit, 2 school districts say Alaska fails to meet its constitutional obligation on public education – Emily Schwing, ADN

Lawmakers eye continued education funding wins for 2026 session as Dunleavy drops policy push – Corrine Smith, Alaska Beacon

From classroom to capitol, UAF fights for funding, future workforce – Amber McCain, The Sun Star

More predictable school funding sought by Juneau legislator in second batch of pre-session bills – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Independent

Opinion: Legislators have 5 days to clock an easy win – Rebecca Braun, Juneau Independent

Editorial: The Legislature is back. Don’t let one big idea eat the whole session – Anchorage Daily News editorial board

Alaska Legislature to convene session on Tuesday, with an eye toward making up for governor’s vetoes – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska lawmakers return to Juneau on Tuesday. Here’s what to expect – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Generations Southeast Vocational Training Center Signs Up to Fill Shipyard Workforce – Alaska Business

U.S. Departments of Education, Interior, and Labor Announce Tribal Consultation on Indian Education Partnership – USDE

With outgoing governor and limited revenue, Alaska legislators consider priorities in lead-up to session – Iris Samuels, ADN

Fiscal plans are built one piece at a time – Löki Tobin, Bill Wielechowski and Carl Jacobs, ADN

Residents push back on UAF’s plan to sell Bristol Bay’s Applied Science building – Margaret Sutherland, KDLG

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