Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation (HB 76, SB 82) on Jan. 31 to improve educational outcomes for Alaska’s chronically underperforming public school students. His plan focuses on funding, student achievement, and expanding school choice opportunities for families and educators statewide.

“Our children’s future depends on a strong and adaptable education system,” Dunleavy stated upon announcing the bills. “This legislation is designed to ensure every student in Alaska has access to high-quality education, whether they are in a city or the most remote village. From increasing funding for correspondence and career-technical education to incentivizing reading achievement and attracting top-tier educators, this plan is about empowering students, parents, and educators alike.”

The Governor’s proposed reforms include eight key measures.

The tribal compacting provision establishes a pilot program allowing participating tribes and tribal organizations to operate public schools under negotiated compacts with the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).

Another element relates to teacher retention incentives. This would include lump sum payments ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 each year for three years to improve teacher retention and recruitment.

The governor is also looking to establish cell-phone free schools by all school districts to adopt policies that prohibit mobile device use during instructional time, with certain exceptions.

To boost reading skills, the governor’s bills would institute reading proficiency grants: These incentive grants would go to districts for students who achieve reading proficiency or demonstrate significant improvement from the current K-3 grades to grades K-6.

“We must recognize parental rights so parents may choose the best education path for their child,” he emphasized. “Focusing on the successful education of all students by meeting their unique needs is the number one priority.”

The governor also seeks to increase funding for the increasingly popular state correspondence programs and career-technical education.

With an aim at expanding school-choice, the governor’s bills would allow students to attend any public school in Alaska and expand the process for creating new public charter schools, which have far outperformed standard brick and mortar state schools.

Other aspects of the governor’s bills seek to implement student achievement grants to incentivizing students who meet key academic milestones, and to extend bond debt reimbursement to help school districts address infrastructure needs.

In announcing the legislation, Dunleavy noted that Alaska consistently ranks poorly in national educational outcome assessments, despite having twice the funding per-student of higher-performing states.

“Mississippi has proven that real education reform delivers results, even with half the per-student funding that Alaska has,” he observed. “Their focus on literacy, accountability, and teacher development has led to dramatic improvements. Alaska has the resources, but we need the right policies. That is why I support legislation that pairs smart policy changes with targeted funding increases to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

The Republican minority caucus in the State Senate immediately praised the governor’s proposals as a way to address Alaska longstanding educational woes.

“Studies show Alaskan students have some of the lowest math and literacy scores in the nation while also spending more money per student than 40 other states,” the Republican caucus stated. “Reform is needed, and the caucus would applaud a union between the House, Senate, and executive branch dedicated to fixing the issue with forward-thinking solutions.”

Sen. Mike Cronk (R – Tok /Northway) noted that lawmakers must prioritize student improvement, whether they are public, homeschool, correspondence, charter, or private school students.

“We must recognize parental rights so parents may choose the best education path for their child,” he emphasized. “Focusing on the successful education of all students by meeting their unique needs is the number one priority.”

Whether Dunleavy’s bills will gain traction in the Democrat-controlled Senate and House majorities is another matter. To date, Democrats have focused almost exclusively on increasing state education spending, while opposing any meaningful reforms or accountability measures, despite decades of failing academics.

Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), one of several GOP lawmakers who joined with Democrats to control the Senate and marginalize conservative lawmakers, immediately criticized Dunleavy’s plan.

In a statement responding to Dunleavy’s reform ideas Stevens expressed opposition to the idea of allowing parents to go around local school boards to create charter schools at the state level. He also opposed the governor’s strategy of tying additional education funds to actual improvements in student performance.

“In addition, tying educational outcomes to funding needs will not turn this crisis around, but only exacerbate it,” he claimed. “We have to provide teachers and students with the basic needs first, before we can expect them to do more with less. It is our responsibility to understand this and challenge ourselves to provide the necessary resources to allow our teachers to succeed and students to thrive.”

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