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Over the 33rd Legislature, I voted in favor of a $680 increase to the Base Student Allocation at every opportunity—in SB 52, in the compromise version of SB 140, and in the vote to override the Governor's veto of SB 140. Although $680 falls short of what many education advocates say is necessary to repair seven years of flat-funding public education, it was an amount that garnered bipartisan support in the Senate Majority Caucus. I'm disappointed that the effort to pass a permanent increase to the BSA failed this year.
On the bright side, however, both the House and Senate approved the operating budget, which includes a $175 million one-time boost in funding to Alaska's public school system. Although this funding is outside the permanent formula, it's equivalent in value to a $680 increase in the BSA. This funding will go to Governor Dunleavy for approval. The Governor recently indicated in recent press conferences that he will support the $175 million one-time boost.
In response to the Superior Court’s recent ruling about unconstitutional spending through Alaska’s correspondence school allotment program, the Legislature passed an amendment to House Bill 202. HB 202 is a bill about opioid overdose prevention in public schools. The amendment to HB 202 directs the Department of Education and Early Development to write regulations that align Alaska's correspondence allotment program with the Alaska Constitution's prohibition on spending public funds at private or religious educational institutions. The Alaska Supreme Court plans to review the Superior Court decision over the summer. Given the upcoming Supreme Court decision, the Legislature will likely review this issue in the future.
Public education is our best investment in Alaska’s future. I will continue to support laws that ensure stability and opportunity for all of Alaska’s public-school students, whether they’re in correspondence, charter, or neighborhood schools.
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