A group of Alaska state lawmakers will convene this summer and fall to explore ways to enhance the state’s public education system.
Recently, legislators passed a bill that increased the base funding in the state’s school funding formula by $700 after successfully overriding Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto.
In addition to the funding increase, the newly enacted legislation implements various education policy changes aimed at boosting student performance in schools that have consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation.
School leaders have continuously emphasized the urgent need for larger funding increases, declaring the public school system to be in crisis.
Discussions around educational funding have dominated recent legislative sessions, often culminating in vetoes by Gov. Dunleavy, who has expressed skepticism about the efficacy of funding boosts in elevating student performance.
Some lawmakers within the bipartisan coalition have pushed for significant funding boosts, requesting an increase exceeding $1,800 per student, with suggestions for future funding increases to be tied to inflation.
However, they scaled back their ambitions in response to the state’s financial constraints, pledging to advocate for additional funding in the future.
Senator Jesse Kiehl, a Democrat from Juneau and one of six appointees to the newly formed task force, stated the importance of the state’s investment in education.
“This is one of the biggest expenses that state government has in Alaska,” Kiehl said.
He highlighted the necessity of optimizing efforts for the benefit of students while responsibly managing public funds.
The Task Force on Education Funding, created through House Bill 57, comprises three Democrats, one independent, and two Republicans—all of whom voted to override Dunleavy’s veto.
The task force has an extensive mandate, which includes analyzing aspects of state education funding, student absences, health insurance, school maintenance, and accountability measures for underperforming schools, among other topics.
Lawmakers integrated this task force into the bill to foster bipartisan support and to forge a collaborative path forward on education issues, notably in light of Gov. Dunleavy’s continued opposition.
Representative Rebecca Himschoot, an independent from Sitka, will co-chair the task force alongside Senator Loki Tobin, a Democrat from Anchorage.
Himschoot expressed that the monthly meetings would allow lawmakers to explore various ideas, including Dunleavy’s proposal for inter-district open enrollment, without the time pressures and demands that accompany the legislative session.
“We needed to bring folks along who had ideas that are definitely worthy of a look but were too big to take on in the legislative session,” she remarked.
By establishing a task force, lawmakers aim to study these ideas in depth with the help of experts over time, ensuring thorough examination before any potential implementation.
One of the minority Republican members of the task force, Representative Justin Ruffridge from Soldotna, expressed the importance of gaining diverse perspectives throughout the two-year task force meetings.
He hopes to hear insights from economists at the University of Alaska, federal Education Department officials, and educators regarding the factors that contribute to Alaska’s struggling public school rankings.
Ruffridge pointed out that while reduced funding over the last decade likely plays a role, achieving improvements requires consideration of more than just financial investment.
“It’s important to look at the reasons why Alaska is struggling to keep up with other states,” Ruffridge noted.
He also indicated a desire for the task force to investigate and recommend changes to components of the public school funding formula, including support for correspondence homeschool programs and funding allocations for smaller institutions in high-cost areas.
Along with Ruffridge, the task force includes Representative Andi Story, a Democrat from Juneau, and Senator Mike Cronk, a Republican from Tok.
The announcement of the task force comes at a critical time, as Gov. Dunleavy is considering potential reductions to education formula funding within the state budget.
Dunleavy stated at a recent Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he plans to unveil line-item vetoes shortly, as reported by KUAC.
The task force is scheduled to begin its monthly meetings in August during the legislative offseason and is required to present its recommendations by early 2027.
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