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.
OPINION: Ways Alaska can address its ongoing workforce crisis
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum People of all ages are unprepared for the evolving job market, but Alaska can adopt policies to help learners prepare for good careers and meet the needs of the state’s economy. Alaska businesses are
Health Dept. warns of HIV outbreak among sexually promiscuous Alaskans
The Alaska Dept. of Health issued a warning on Jan. 31 regarding a new HIV outbreak in the Fairbanks/Interior region among people with multiple and/or anonymous sex partners, those engaged in condomless sex, and people who use apps on Grinder and Snapchat to
UAA opens ‘Pride Center’ to encourage Alaska students in exploring gender identity & sexual orientation
The publicly funded University of Alaska unveiled its new Pride Center during a flashy Jan. 17 grand opening on its Anchorage campus. Decorated in transgender, Black Live Matter, and rainbow flags, the new center is located next to the Student Union for
Alaska in 2023: Trends, predictions and prescriptions
Editor’s note: This article is adapted from a talk given for the Valley Republican Women of Alaska’s Jan. 19 meeting in Wasilla. I want to address a few major trends and developments in Alaska as they relate to our population, education and political
OPINION: Why Alaska should never pass a budget exceeding $7.7 billion in state funds
By Vance Ginn and Quinn Townsend – Alaska Policy Forum Introduction While revenue estimates for the state of Alaska hit a record high last fiscal year, this upcoming fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 – June 2024) is another story. The Fall 2022 revenue
Glen Biegel’s tribute to Dan Fagan’s ‘superhuman’ radio career
Editor’s note: Dan Fagan, a longtime conservative radio talk show host in Alaska, retired from his 20-year on-air career last Thursday. Dan Fagan. What can I say? What would you like to know about my many years with Dan as a part of my life? A couple of
Alaska’s rising education expenses fueled by benefits and a growing administrative apparatus
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum The Reason Foundation recently published the 2022 K–12 education spending spotlight examining school finance trends from 2002 to 2020. The Alaska data points, calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau, show
OPINION: Life, death and hockey huddles that transcend the game
In our times of self-indulgence and violence, rays of hope and sunshine can emerge from the most unexpected places. As a sports broadcaster for high school and junior-level hockey for over 20 years, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Forty years ago,
AK Covid Alliance: Data abounds, while truth remains elusive
By LINDA BOYLE – Alaska Covid Alliance By now, most Americans have been inundated with information on Covid but the actual facts are still nearly impossible to determine. Do you believe the government’s story? Do you believe the healthcare
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