|
Hello!
Yesterday the State Senate passed House Bill 57 by a vote of 19-1. This bill provides a small increase to per-pupil K12 education funding as well as multiple school policy reforms that will lead to better outcomes.
These reforms include reducing barriers to begin and renew charter schools, target class sizes, school cell phone policy, looking at trends for what happens to Alaska’s high school graduates, and a task force on education funding. If HB 57 becomes law, the Base Student Allocation formula spending will increase by 0.29 percent and pupil transportation funding will increase 10 percent, for a total increase for those two items of $11.9 million as compared to last year. However, after declining enrollment across the state is calculated into the cost of K12 education, the State of Alaska is projected to spend 2 percent less on K12 education for next school year (FY26) than it did this school year (FY 25).
HB 57 also includes two provisions that will improve learning opportunities and outcomes. The first provides per pupil reading grants awarded for elementary students that show growth or proficiency in reading. The second is an increase of $10 million in funding for career and technical education.
Because of our current budget constraints, funding for these two items is contingent on the passage of Senate Bill 113 which would change the corporate income tax structure so that companies selling goods and services online in Alaska pay a proportionate corporate income tax in Alaska instead of another state. This is not a new tax. It simply changes the jurisdiction of where an online sale happens from outside to inside of Alaska. Currently other states are taking Alaska’s corporate income tax dollars. This must stop.
I am honored to be your effective advocate in Juneau. Please contact my office when you have ideas or concerns by calling 907-283-7996 or by email at sen.jesse.bjorkman@akleg.gov
|
