Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

August 12, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Anchorage School District resumes classes for students on Thursday, August 14th, Friday, August 15th and Thursday, August 21st. If you have school-aged children, make sure they have the what they need to succeed in the upcoming school year!

Back to School

ASD is staggering the first day of school in August 2025 to support students in a new school environment - sixth-graders in middle school and ninth-graders in the Freshman Academy. All neighborhood and comprehensive schools will follow the staggered first day schedule. Classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. for Elementary, 9:30 a.m. for middle school and 8:45 a.m. for high school.

By providing students in grades 6 and 9 a day at school with smaller student populations, schools can prioritize onboarding activities and support.

This will include:

Assisting students with locker and classroom navigation
Team-building activities
Discussions on successful academic practices and clear behavior expectations
Additional activities appropriate to grade level

Due to the staggered start date where all school staff will be on hand to support students, middle and high schools will not hold optional orientations or camps for students prior to the first day of school.

ASD Back to School Information

-> ASD Cellphone Policy

The Anchorage School District has a new cellphone policy starting with the 2025-26 school year. Under the new ASD policy, use of cellphones and other electronic communication devices isn’t allowed in class at any time, in any grade. Students must put them away, and they must be off or in airplane mode. Administrators may require cellphones to be placed in a secure location such as a student locker or other specified location within the school.

Elementary and middle school students are not allowed to use their cellphones at any time during the school day, including lunch and recess.
High school students are allowed to use their phones during passing time and lunch.
Some exceptions may be approved, on a case-by-case basis, for students with medical needs, translation needs, or as part of a student’s Individualized Education Program, or IEP.

School principals may institute additional rules beyond what the district requires. ASD recognizes the role of technology in the classroom has evolved. And with middle and high school students now having access to district-provided Chromebooks, putting phones away helps students focus, collaborate, and succeed, both academically and emotionally.

-> Eligible Schools for Free Breakfast & Lunch

The ASD recently added 13 schools to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program for the 2025-26 School Year, including some in District H. The CEP program is part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which allows schools with a high percentage of low-income families access to free healthy breakfasts and lunches at no charge and no meal application required. All enrolled students at the schools listed are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no cost every day of the 2025-26 school year. This program includes one full breakfast and one full lunch and does not cover a la carte items such as milk purchased alone to be served with a packed lunch. For a full list of schools, click here.

-> ASD Vaccination Clinic

When: Wednesday, August 13 from 12:00 to 6:00 PM

Where: ASD Education Center Atrium (5530 E. Northern Lights Boulevard)

The first day of school is rapidly approaching! ASD Healthcare Services will host a free Back-to-School Immunization Clinic on Wednesday. The clinic will be open to all ASD students, with no insurance required. All state required vaccines will be offered, including:

DTap
Tdap
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
MMR
Polio
Varicella

💉If your student is in need of vaccinations, come on over so they’ll be ready for school next week!

Contact Healthcare Services at 907-742-4136 for more information or click here.

-> Transportation Updates

New Route Tracker! ASD is excited to launch StopFinder, a new transportation app designed to provide families with bus stop locations, pick-up/drop-off times, and customizable GeoAlerts for school bus notifications.

ASD will begin phasing in/launching to families at the start of the 2025-26 school year. To learn more about the app and how to use it, click here.

Community Events

CITC Back to School Social

When: Tuesday, August 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 PM

Where: Denełchin Lab (7710 Grass Creek Rd)

Join our Youth Education in the Back to School Ice Cream Social! There will be ice cream, school supply distribution, STEAM activities and more! Activities, supplies and sweets are on a first come/first served basis while supplies last. Registration will be at the door. For more information, click here.