2026-02 School District, State & Federal Education News

Anchorage – Anchorage students and families coping with closure of elementary schools – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Tears and tough choices: ASD closes three elementary schools, cut programs – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board votes to close 3 schools amid $90M deficit – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board approves ‘severe’ budget with hundreds of staff layoffs and 3 school closures – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board passes budget with closures and significant staff cuts – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage community pushes back ahead of school board vote on sweeping cuts – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – ASD sets midnight deadline for comments on school closures plan – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board to vote on budget amid funding uncertainty – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Parents, nurses oppose Anchorage School District nursing model proposal – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage school lottery changes for 2026: Waitlists reset annually, deadline extended – Dani Tompkins, KTUU

Anchorage – A guide to proposed cuts and changes in the Anchorage School District budget – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School District’s proposed budget cuts encounter wave of opposition – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Alaska’s first STEM school placed on closure list with little advance notice – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage community pushes back on proposed school, program cuts – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board to begin discussing closures amid budget woes – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – A guide to proposed cuts and changes in the Anchorage School District budget – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School District considers three elementary school closures as part of addressing budget shortfall – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – The Anchorage School District is proposing to close three schools – KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage schools face more closures amid budget struggles, officials warn – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – What to know about the Anchorage School District’s $90M budget gap — and what comes next – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – ASD proposes 3 elementary schools to close in latest consolidation plan – KTUU

Anchorage – 3 Anchorage elementary schools proposed for closure in latest consolidation plan – Joey Klecka, KTUU

Anchorage – School district revives proposal to close several Anchorage elementary schools – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – What to know about the Anchorage School District’s $90M budget gap — and what comes next – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Fire Lake and Lake Otis schools could close, parents worry – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board asks for new school closure recommendations to help fill $90M budget gap – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board approves resolution to identify consolidation options in face of $90M deficit – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – ASD calls special meeting as $90M deficit threatens sweeping cuts – Lars Hanson, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District adds days to calendar after weather-related closures – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – More school closures possible as Anchorage School District seeks to address $90M budget deficit – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage teachers union ratifies 3-year contract with school district – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board takes deeper look at budget cuts – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board approves new 3-year teacher contract – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School District proposes budget with 500 staff cuts, larger class sizes – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – ASD superintendent: It will be ‘very difficult’ to restore programs, reverse cuts facing $90M budget deficit – Lauren Maxwell, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage parents, students react to potential sports cuts amid ASD budget snag – Charlie Fellows, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District faces $90M deficit, proposes cutting hundreds of positions – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District proposes major cuts to positions, programs, sports and more – Tim Rockey, ADN

Anchorage – Second ASD cancellation this month: Students and parents make the most of it – Dani Tompkins, KTUU

Cordova – District updates school calendar mid-year to ensure state compliance – Camille Botello, The Cordova Times

Cordova – The clock ticks for Joy: Borough seeks future for vacant ‘spaceship’ school – Matt Mertes, KTUU

Delta-Greely – Inside a rural Alaska high school welding program building skills – Darla Welton, The Fabricator

Fairbanks – As state education commissioner grants charter appeal, Fairbanks school board president stands by earlier denial – Patrick Gilchrist, KUAC

Fairbanks – Fairbanks borough claws back $11.4 million in school district funds – Alex Bengel, KTUU

Fairbanks – School district seeks to restore some funding in 2026-27 budget – Anna Lionas, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – School board budget stability brings opportunity to district – Bobby Burgess, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – State education commissioner overturns Fairbanks school board’s denial of charter school application – Patrick Gilchrist, KUAC

Haines – Haines special ed teacher from abroad to leave after work permit denial. District will no longer pursue applicants who need visas to work due to difficulty of approval – Rashah McChesney & Will Steinfeld, Chilkat Valley News

Juneau – Juneau school board adds nursing, homeschool positions to proposed budget – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School Board to consider adding positions in next year’s budget – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Resiliency in funding requested for Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Program – Jasz Garrett, Juneau Independent

Juneau – Juneau School Board continues to seek public input after superintendent application period closes – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau legislators hear from constituents about governor’s proposed fiscal plan – Jasz Garrett, Juneau Independent

Kenai – Public weighs in on school district budget shortfall at Kenai town hall – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – Facing $8.6 million shortfall, school district asks for community input – Chloe Anderson, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Lower Kenai Peninsula schools to close for parent-teacher conferences – Simon Lopez, KBBI

Kenai – Kenai Peninsula schools face $8M shortfall for 2026-27 budget planning – Anthony Wright, Your Alaska Link

Kenai – State school board approves Nikolaevsk charter – Delcenia Cosman, Homer News

Ketchikan – Edgecumbe bill advances – Anna Laffrey, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School board selects next superintendent – Sydney Dauphinais, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board selects Kara Four Bear for superintendent – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board to consider budget items – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Superintendent interviews begin Tuesday – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Kodiak – Kodiak High School’s Davis making the most of every opportunity – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – School Board to cut staff, create advisory committee as it selects a FY’2027 budget plan – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – School board focuses on three budget options ahead of final decision on FY’2027 budget – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – CAPITOL REPORT: Beginning my final year serving in the legislature – Senator Gary Stevens, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – School Board to hold second budget retreat Saturday – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kuspuk – Aniak school prepares for the worst as crews work to shore up gym roof – Evan Erickson, KYUK

Kuspuk – Community hears plan as Aniak school sits in ‘imminent danger’ of partial roof collapse – Lars Hanson, KTUU

Mat-Su – Mat-Su School District plans closures amid funding shortfall, names third school – Amy Bushatz, Mat-Su Sentinel

Mat-Su – ANSEP Acceleration Academy opens applications for Fall 2026 – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Mat-Su – Mat-Su high schoolers learn firefighting skills in a one-of-a-kind class – Tim Rockey, ADN

Mat-Su – Alaska superintendent apologizes after citing wrong school district in criticism of Galena programs – Jonson Kuhn, KTUU

Mat-Su – Mat-Su superintendent cites incorrect data in homeschool funding presentation after AI use – Mat-Su Sentinel

Mat-Su – Mat-Su school survey asks residents to rank cuts as district faces $23M shortfall – Amy Bushatz, Mat-Su Sentinel

Nome – Budget shortfall dominates school board meeting – Ariana Crockett O’Harra, The Nome Nugget

Nome – Budget dominates discussions of school safety, building maintenance at Nome Public Schools – Ariana Crockett O’Harra,

Nome – Inside the struggle to fund Nome Public Schools – Ben Townsend, KNOM

Sitka – MEHS Students Testify in Front of Legislature – Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka – Conservative enrollment estimate leaves school board with additional funds – Katherine Rose, KCAW

Sitka – State board to probe concerns at Mt. Edgecumbe High School – Anna Laffrey, Daily Sitka Sentinel

Unalaska – City seeks to accelerate Unalaska Elementary School playground replacement project – Maggie Nelson, KUCB

Unalaska – Former Unalaska teacher and administrator selected as island’s new superintendent – Maggie Nelson, KUCB

Wrangell – Chronic absenteeism persists in Alaska schools; Wrangell better than statewide average – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

UA Board of Regents to continue anti-DEI policy, despite federal court ruling – Corinne Smith – Alaska Beacon

ANSEP honored by Alaska State Legislature – Katie Stavick Frontiersman

Rural leaders tell lawmakers that schools face infrastructure crisis far worse than Mt. Edgecumbe – Hannah Lee, KTUU

Revived Mt. Edgcumbe funding bill clears Senate, moves to House – Wil Courtney, KTUU

Alaska legislators press Mt. Edgecumbe officials after over 100 students disenroll this school year – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Legislators ask why so many students are leaving Mt. Edgecumbe school – Michelle Theriault Boots, ADN

Mt. Edgecumbe bill vetoed by governor returns with vote scheduled Wednesday. Lawmakers uncertain if teacher housing funding bill can survive another veto override – Wil Courtney, KTUU

Schools cancel class pictures after online claims surrounding Lifetouch, Jeffrey Epstein – John Hannah & Kendria LaFleur, Associated Press

Governor’s race survey: How much money would you propose for schools? And: cars – Nathaniel Hertz, Northern Journal

Rat holes and decay: Lawmakers release 25 pictures of ‘deplorable’ Mt. Edgecumbe conditions. Mt. Edgecumbe superintendent responsible for two schools after HS was $1.6 million over budget – Wil Courtney, KTUU

‘It’s cold out here.’ Students, teachers warn of an education system in crisis – Matt Acuña Buxton, The Alaska Memo

Alaska Senate votes to require public schools to teach CPR – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Lawmakers Prioritize More School Funding Amid Budget Constraints. Majority coalition says education remains top priority, but path to increased funding unclear – Anchorage Today

Alaska school maintenance backlog has reached a crisis, students and school boards tell lawmakers – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Commentary: Investing in Alaska’s students – Lon Garrison, Cordova Times

Majority lawmakers say Alaska schools need more money from state – Iris Samuels, ADN

Legislators probe conditions at state boarding school where a quarter of students have disenrolled – Michelle Theriault Boots, ADN

Lawmakers call Mt. Edgecumbe conditions ‘deplorable’ – Wil Courtney, KTUU

Alaska House approves university fee transparency act, sends it to state Senate – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Majority lawmakers say Alaska schools need more money from state – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska House leaders commit to passing pension reform amid concerns from Senate budgeters – Iris Samuels, ADN

Millions Missing: Alaska school districts struggle to balance budgets – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Juneau bill aims to stabilize education funding. House Bill 261 would change how schools rely on student counts – Chloe Anderson, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai student to advise state education board – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Alaska legislators say governor’s fiscal plan is likely dead after first week of hearings – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Statewide sales tax gets almost no support during first public testimony on Dunleavy’s fiscal plan. Income tax widely preferred, along with higher corporate and oil taxes – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Independent

Would Gov. Dunleavy’s fiscal plan solve Alaska’s long-running budget issues? – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Dunleavy calls fiscal plan a ‘sacrifice’ of political goodwill as it meets tepid response from lawmakers, industry – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska schools projected to lose 1,500 students, state says – Hannah Lee, KTUU

Inside an Anchorage private school as public education faces financial strain – Nathan Espindula, Your Alaska Link

Alaska lawmakers consider strategies to boost attendance as chronic absenteeism persists – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Dunleavy opts Alaska into federal tax credit scholarship program that could benefit private schools – Tim Rockey, ADN

A $50M literacy grant is helping Alaska schools, but some districts say it’s tough to access funds – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Raising oil, corporate taxes is least-painful option for reducing Alaska deficits, ISER concludes – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Bill would increase education options for deaf students in Alaska – Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media

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