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Update on Education Funding
As we move through the first week of session, public education funding is at the forefront of our agenda. This topic continues to be politically contentious. Here is more information about the current issues:
The Legislature Did Not Override the Governor's Education Veto
Last year, the Senate and House budgets included $175 million in one-time funding for Alaska's public schools. The Governor used the line-item veto authority to cut 50% of that funding, about $87.5 million dollars.
The Alaska Constitution, Article II, Section 16, establishes that the Legislature can override a Governor's line-item budget veto in the first five days of session if three-quarters of all legislators vote to do so in a joint session. That equates to 45 of the 60 legislators. Compared to other states, this 3/4 vote is a high threshold and is one reason why Alaska has a "strong governor" structure.
On Thursday night, the Senate joined the House in joint session to consider restoring the $87.5 million for one-time education funding that the Governor vetoed in the budget last year. I voted for "yes" to override the veto, but the total of 33 "yes" votes was short of the 45-vote requirement. The motion to override did not pass.
Public Testimony on Senate Bill 140 and the House Majority's "Education Package"
Senate Bill 140 passed the Senate last year as a bill to expand broad-band internet access for school districts in rural Alaska and qualify for federal broad-band access funds. In the House, the Finance Committee amended the bill to add a permanent increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) of $680 per student, which equates to a total increase of $175 million annually-- the same amount proposed in one-time funding last year. The House Finance version of the bill is now in the House Rules Committee, where all bills go to be scheduled for a vote on the floor. The Rules Committees in both the House and the Senate rarely hold hearings.
On Wednesday night, the House Majority introduced a new version of Senate Bill 140 in the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee proposal seeks to align the broad-band access legislation with many of the Governor's education priorities by adding additional proposals.
Here are some important features of the newest version of the bill:
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A reduction in the Base Student Allocation from $680 per student to $300 per student. This reduces the annual increase to public education via the BSA to $77 million per year.
- Bonuses for teachers, included as an action to enhance teacher recruitment and retention. This proposal is estimated to cost the State $58 million. At prior hearings, the proposal received substantial criticism.
- Adds a special needs factor to the calculation of public funding for correspondence programs when they provide advanced placement or vocational-technical education. This proposal is estimated to provide an additional $23 million of public funding to the State's charter schools.
- Gives the State Board of Education the authority to authorize new charter schools. Currently, local school boards are the only entities that hold this authority. The legislation would reduce local control of these decisions.
- Establishes a deaf and hard-of-hearing children's bill of rights and creates a centralized state program for deaf students.
In summary, on Saturday, the House Rules Committee is hearing a very different version of the bill that passed the Senate or the House Finance Committee.
The House Rules Committee will hear Senate Bill 140 at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 20th. There will be an opportunity for public comment. If you would like to testify, you can speak in person or call in over the phone.
In-person: Room 205, 120 4th St. Juneau AK, 99801
By phone:
Juneau - (907) 586-9085
Anchorage - (907) 563-9085
Outside of Juneau or Anchorage - (844) 586-9085
You can find more information about testifying at this link.
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