Mat-Su School Board candidate ditches event amid question about supporting LGBTQ agenda
In an attempt to persuade Mat-Su voters into electing him to the local school board, Ben Kolendo is downplaying his leftist ideology while visiting churches and other religious venues to raise support for his candidacy in the overwhelmingly conservative
OPINION: Alaska’s standardized test labels can mislead parents on students’ performance
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum The Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessment, administered for the first time in the spring of 2022 to Alaskan K-12 students, promises continuity with mid-year assessments and less testing time —
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.
Alaska students are a year behind U.S. average in reading, math
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum Introduction Late October brought the release of the 2022 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card. The NAEP is a nationwide assessment
Rainbow wave reached Alaska as national LGBTQ strategy evolves
With the midterm ballot tabulations finally winding down, it’s clear that the LGBTQ political and cultural strategy has entered a new phase both in Alaska and across America. Increasingly, candidates are being elected to public office who openly identify as
Most NEA-Alaska spending goes to staff, not dues-paying school employees
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum The National Education Association-Alaska (NEA-Alaska) claims that it “advocates for an excellent public education” and “advances the interests of public-school employees.” Yet, its tax records
Report: Anchorage School District pays teachers not to teach
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum Should public school teachers be paid not to teach? School districts and other government bodies often pay employees full wages and benefits for performing union work instead of their official duties.
Alaska elections: Murkowski, Peltola, Dunleavy in the lead, sort of
Election results in Alaska’s Aug. 16 special ranked choice election and statewide primary have been updated with 80% of precincts reporting as of Aug. 17. In the special election to choose a temporary replacement to fill out the remaining months of late
National Right to Life endorses Palin for Congress
National Right to Life has endorsed Sarah Palin for the Aug. 16 special election to replace the late U.S. Congressman Don Young. “Governor Palin is a champion for unborn children and their mothers,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to
Poll shows Begich, Murkowski & Dunleavy winning in ranked-choice voting
A new political survey by pollster Ivan Moore shows that Alaska’s new ranked choice voting scheme would help U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski retain her seat, and would boost U.S. House candidate Nick Begich to victory. It also indicates that Gov. Mike Dunleavy
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