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
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
Sit-ins to protest Alaska Supreme Court’s interference with grand jury investigations of corrupt judges
A rapidly growing and politically active judicial watchdog organization claims the Alaska Supreme Court has unconstitutionally changed the rules governing grand juries, which effectively blocks the ability of citizen grand juries to investigate and indict
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
Anchorage School Board Member: District must be held accountable, before seeking more money
The Anchorage School District, which has been mired in disastrous student educational outcomes over the past several years, should not ask state lawmakers for increased state funding without first being willing to demonstrate accountability for the millions
With 29 Alaska judges on the ballot, only one vote matters
We’ve been inundated with questions about how to vote on the long list of 29 Alaska judges up for retention this year. Like past elections, there is precious little information about these men and women, and that’s by design. While the Alaska Judicial
More than 70% Alaska students fall below ‘proficient’ in reading and math
Alaska’s schools are among the worst performing educational institutions in the nation. According to the latest report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Alaska fourth and eighth grade students are near the bottom of the country
JIM MINNERY: There are a few Alaska judges worth keeping, but…
“No State Constitution has ever gone this far in placing one of the three coordinate branches of government (the Judiciary) beyond the reach of democratic controls. We feel that in its desire to preserve the integrity of the courts, the
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