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Alaska Senate Majority Unveils New Education Funding and Policy Legislation
Juneau, AK – Today, the Senate Finance Committee advanced a new version of House Bill 57 to increase education funding and pupil transportation. Increasing the BSA improves every form of public education in Alaska, including correspondence programs, which serve Alaska’s growing homeschool student population. The bill would also incorporate policy initiatives to support Alaska’s charter schools, increase accountability by gathering data on students post-graduation, and establish an Education Task Force to analyze the state of public education funding and the current accountability provisions for schools.
The committee substitute for House Bill 57 has six main components, in addition to the bill’s original goal of regulating the use of cellphones in schools.
- Increases the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $700
- Increases pupil transportation by 10%
- Simplifies the process to renew charter schools
- Directs school boards to accept charter school applications year-round
- Authorizes the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to gather data on students post-graduation from an Alaska high school.
- Establishes a Legislative Public Education Task Force
“This proposal isn’t the final word, but it’s a serious step toward addressing the challenges in our education system. It reflects a willingness to engage, to put forward ideas, and to keep moving the conversation toward meaningful solutions,” said Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. “We may not all agree on every piece, but we all recognize the need to act—and this bill is part of that ongoing effort.”
“Increasing the BSA and boosting pupil transportation funding are essential to meeting the real, in-classroom needs our students face every day,” said Senator Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, Senate Finance Co-Chair. “Without timely support, schools are forced to cut the very programs and instruction that keep students engaged and on track. We need to get this funding into classrooms now—our students can’t wait.”
Earlier this month, House Bill 69, which was a straight BSA increase of $1000, was vetoed by Governor Dunleavy. On Monday, the effort to override the veto failed. The new version of House Bill 57 is a compromise incorporating many of the Governor’s policy initiatives to support charter schools and regulate the use of cellphones in schools.
“The new version of House Bill 57 renews hope for Alaska’s students. Every aspect of this bill seeks to strike a balance. The BSA increase is smaller than what our public schools need, but they need resources now,” said Senator Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, Senate Education Chair. “Adequate funding for our public schools is the most significant policy decision the legislature faces regarding improving public education outcomes for Alaska’s students. It is the only mechanism that, when altered, impacts every single public school student in Alaska.”
“This compromise doesn’t go as far as many of us hoped in terms of fully funding what our schools truly need, and I share that disappointment,” said Senator Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage. “But it’s a step forward, and time is running short. School districts need predictability so they can make hiring decisions for the fall, and this bill gives them that opportunity. The policies improving application timelines and simplifying renewals will help streamline the charter school process for districts, while taking a smart step by collecting better data on how our students do after graduation, and where they end up. These are thoughtful measures that balance immediate needs with long-term planning, and I’m committed to continuing the conversation of more investment in the future.”
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