Legislative Advocacy
Advocating at the legislative level for education is about making your voice heard and taking action that involves acting on behalf of your school district. AASB relies on school board members to use their voice to advocate for students and public education in Alaska.
As elected officials, you have the utmost responsibility to the students and staff in your schools, as well as the communities they serve, which is why a school board member’s role as an advocate for public education is a fundamental responsibility of every school board member.
Legislative advocacy includes:
- Becoming familiar with AASB’s legislative priorities [insert link] that are developed each year for AASB’s legislative advocacy focus.
- Staying informed of proposed legislation that may impact your school district.
- Getting to know your legislators and their staff. Invite them into your schools and provide them with important information about your districts.
Advocacy Services
AASB provides a variety of services to help school board members stay informed during legislative sessions, and opportunities to connect with your legislators.
Lobbying
AASB’s Executive Director coordinates AASB’s grassroots lobbying efforts and works to ensure school board representatives are prepared to lobby during each legislative session. AASB promotes pro-education legislation and protects the principle of local control of public education.
“The Session” Newsletter
To keep you informed of the latest developments, all members are emailed The Session newsletter each Monday morning during legislative sessions. It contains up-to-date information and analysis of current priority education issues, bills, and committee actions impacting your district.
Committee Testimony & Text Alerts
AASB’s Executive Director is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony and input on education legislation.
At key points during the legislative session AASB will issue email and text Calls To Action to alert board members of opportunities to offer their testimony on priority education bills.
AASB Text Alerts keep members informed of opportunities to testify on key education legislation.
“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
Legislative Fly-Ins & Youth Advocacy Institute
Each legislative session, AASB hosts a fly-in that offers board members & district leaders the opportunity to speak with a unified voice as they meet face to face with legislators and governmental officials. Your voice is heard as you collaborate with AASB to identify legislative talking points and provide testimony at committee hearings.
During the fly-in, AASB also hosts a Youth Advocacy Institute (YAI) where students attend workshops on bill research, advocacy and how to give testimony. Students develop skills in legislative advocacy, while building confidence to make an impact in their state. The students’ experience culminates with participation in committee meetings which offers them opportunities to testify and learn about the legislative process in “real-time.”
Federal Relations Network
AASB is your link to the National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network (FRN). This is your opportunity to become involved with the legislative process at the national level. The FRN provides a unique opportunity for local school board members to be engaged with their members of Congress.
Learn more about NSBA’s Federal Relations Network
“Learn the processes of being ready to speak with legislators about what bills are important to your district.” – Alaska School Board Member
Advocacy Resources
These legislative resources are designed to help school board members become more effective education advocates. They provide valuable insights into current policies, funding mechanisms, and key issues affecting Alaska’s public schools, equipping you to engage confidently and knowledgeably with both legislators and your community.
AASB Legislative Priorities Explained
Learn the significance of AASB’s Legislative Priorities, their relevance, and why they’re important to the public school students in your school district.
Who Controls Alaska School Funding?
This graphic shows how funding reaches Alaska’s public schools and the impact each player has on ensuring that every student has access to a quality education.
As a locally elected official, your influence is influential. AASB is committed to providing you with factual and impactful information to strengthen your effectiveness in this role. We encourage you to actively engage in advocating for public education, and offer these suggested actions to support your advocacy efforts.
How do your local legislators view Alaska’s public education system? These sample questions reflect AASB’s legislative priorities and key issues to help ensure legislators understand the challenges facing Alaska’s schools and are prepared to support policies for a strong, equitable education system.
The About AASB card provides a brief overview of AASB’s history, our work supporting Alaska’s school boards, and links to advocacy resources for effective engagement in educational policy.
The School Funding card highlights the impact of underfunding, advocates for investing in Alaska’s public education, and links to research on the connection between funding and student outcomes.
An Overview of the Foundation Formula
AASB created this 10-minute video and one-page summary to help explain the Foundation Formula and provide a better understanding of its functioning:
The video simplifies the funding formula into clear, easily understandable terms, highlights key elements and mechanisms.
The one-page summary sheet offers a quick reference guide for anyone looking for a concise overview.
Your Guide to Alaska Legislators
NEW for 2025! This AASB guide includes biographies, backgrounds, and more for all Senators and Representatives during the 1st Session of the 34th Legislature.
AASB Legislative Priorities
Legislative Session
- Find My School District’s Legislators A guide to the state Senators and Representatives who currently represent each Alaska school district. Includes legislator contact information.
- Education Bills introduced during the 2025 Session
- Education Bills from the 2024 Session
- Your Guide to Lobbying the Alaska Legislature – A Primer for Alaska School Board Members Learn the essentials of communicating with lawmakers, including an overview of the legislative process, Capitol visit logistics, meeting preparation, testifying at hearings, the committee process, and more.
- Legislative Testimony Template – Fillable PDF
Useful Links
- Alaska Legislature home page
- View live and recorded Floor Sessions and Committee Hearings:
- House and Senate Daily Committee Meeting Schedules
- House and Senate Floor Calendars
- Alaska Legal Resource Center Provides free access to public legal resources, such as case law, court rules, statutes and regulations.
AASB’s History of Alaska Education Policy Series:
- What Does Alaska’s Constitution Say About Education?
- Alaska Constitution (Downloadable PDF)
- Creating REAAs and Settling Molly Hootch, Marshall Lind, former Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education, 1971-1983, 1986-87
- Transitioning to a Standards-Based Education System, Jerry Covey, former Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education, 1991-95
- Origins of the Children’s Cabinet and Quality Schools Initiative, Shirley Holloway, former Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education, 1995-99, 2001-03Shirley Holloway, former Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education, 1995-99, 2001-03
- Collins Helped Create the School District He Served for 43 Years, An interview with Ray Collins of Iditarod Area School District
- An Overview of the Foundation Formula
- What Is Tribal Compacting of Education? Joel Isaak, State-Tribal Education Compacting Project Coordinator, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Publications
Alaska Legislature Mobile App
BASIS Navigation Tips
BASIS (Bill Action Status Inquiry System) BASIS has been designed to help the public access legislative information. Inside BASIS you can find information on Bills, Schedules, and Legislative Members, and watch live and archived video coverage of floor sessions and committee hearings.