Alaska deaths outpace births by widest margin since 1951
Alaska’s natural population increase, which is births minus deaths, has fallen to its lowest level since 1951. This is expected to translate into a dramatic decline in the overall school age population, alongside a sharp rise in the number of senior
Is the Anchorage School District breaking the law by offering graphic sex books to kids
Under the guise of “free access to information” the Anchorage School District has allowed its school librarians to order and display books for minors which depict or describe graphic scenes of sexual intercourse, masturbation and oral and anal sex. The
Research suggests Alaska should not simply advance failing readers to the next grade
By Quinn Townsend – Alaska Policy Forum Ten years ago, Mississippi implemented a statewide early literacy policy similar to the Alaska Reads Act enacted here in 2022. One controversial portion of both bills is a retention requirement — in Mississippi, if
Emails reveal names, titles of Anchorage educators who support graphic sex books in schools
When a particularly offensive and sexually graphic book lands on the shelf of an Alaska school library, or is included in a district’s collection, outraged parents understandably ask, “Who’s responsible?” In most cases, it is extremely difficult to
Fox picks up story on dad who challenged Anchorage school board over explicit sex books
A father’s quest to warn fellow parents about explicit sex books being pushed in the Anchorage School District has made national news. First reported by the Alaska Watchman, the story of Jay McDonald’s testimony at the Anchorage School Board’s Feb. 7
Anchorage schools exclude parents from child’s gender ID plan document
When it comes to the controversial practice of affirming a students preferred gender identity, Alaska’s largest school district is careful to keep parents out of the loop. In fact, the Anchorage School District provides no role for parents in the official
OPINION: Alaska’s disastrous public schools need competition, not a $250M bonus
With Democrats controlling the Alaska State Senate, and a narrowly divided State House, activists are mobilizing all their considerable resources to push through Senate Bill 52 which includes a massive $250 million increase for government-run schools.
AK lawmaker demands more educational funds, while deriding calls for greater accountability
State Sen. Loki Tobin (D-Anchorage) blasted her fellow lawmakers who are wary of pumping hundreds of millions in additional funding into Alaska’s failing public education system without added accountability measures. Tobin’s Feb. 13 speech on the Senate
Alaska’s labor crisis spurs Dunleavy to nix 4-year degree requirement for most state jobs
In hopes of mitigating an unprecedented workforce shortage in state government jobs, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered the removal of four-year college degree requirements for most positions. Dunleavy’s Feb. 14 order amends state personnel rules to place an
70% of Alaska’s public school students fail reading and math
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum INTRODUCTION Results from Alaska’s new statewide standardized assessment, the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR), offer a glimpse of how Alaska’s students are doing post-pandemic.