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Alaska Legislature Appoints Task Force to Focus on Education Funding
The Task Force will analyze several factors, including school accountability, chronic absenteeism, and open enrollment between school districts.
Anchorage, AK - In May, the Alaska State Legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to ensure that House Bill 57 would become law. The bill included a $700 increase to base student funding and authorized a multi-year Task Force on Education Funding.
Co-chaired by Senator Löki Gale Tobin, D-Anchorage, and Representative Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, the Task Force on Education Funding membership includes:
- Senator Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau
- Senator Mike Cronk, R-Tok
- Representative Andi Story, D-Juneau (Co-chair of the House Education Committee)
- Representative Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna
“The members of this task force bring real-world experience that will be invaluable as we work to improve Alaska’s public education system,” said Senator Löki Gale Tobin, co-chair of the newly formed Task Force on Education Funding.
“This task force is an opportunity to take a deep look at the many funding challenges facing Alaska’s school districts, from energy and insurance and other fixed costs to annual maintenance and operations expenses,” said Representative Rebecca Himschoot, co-chair of the Task Force on Education Funding.
In addition to analyzing education funding, the Task Force will make recommendations related to a statewide open enrollment policy and ways to address chronic student absenteeism. The Task Force will also propose policies related to school major maintenance and construction.
The Task Force on Education Funding will hold an organizational meeting in mid-to-late August, followed by monthly meetings until the start of the 2026 legislative session.
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