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Alaska political foes unite on proposed statewide school cell phone ban
A proposal to prohibit Alaska students from using their private cell phones during regular school hours, including lunch and classroom breaks, has united traditional social and political
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OPINION: Incentivized homeschooling can solve Alaska’s school funding dilemma
With increased homeschooling, fewer schools and fewer teachers would be needed. If the state could shift more students out of public schools, it could give the students an education of their choice and save money at the same
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UPDATE: Kenai hand-count-only group successful in getting proposition on Oct. ballot
Kenai residents will vote on a ballot proposition this October which aims to amend borough code to require that all ballots “cast in person on paper ballots on election day shall be hand counted only, counting shall occur upon closing of the polls on
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SEN. HUGHES: Despite union claims, growing Alaska school choice options helps all students
This week I expect much of my focus to be on policy and funding discussions to help our students and teachers achieve better outcomes as we move forward. Governor Dunleavy held a lengthy press conference on the topic late last week, and I agree that it is our
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Gov. Dunleavy introduces education reform bills to expand school choice
Gov. Dunleavy introduces education reform bills to expand school choice in
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Public hearing set for Alaska bill to require ‘all ballots’ be counted on election day
Alaska Senate Bill 52 requires that all ballots, including absentee and early voting ballots, be counted by 11:59 p.m. on election day. This replaces previous rules that permitted counting to extend indefinitely beyond election
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Poll: Alaskans oppose tax hikes to flood state pension plan and public schools
A new statewide survey commissioned by Americans for Prosperity-Alaska (AFP-Alaska) makes it clear that Alaskans oppose new taxes for costly state pension plan proposals or expanded spending on state-funded education. Public opinion seems to contrast with
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![](https://alaskawatchman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fairbanks-superintendent.jpg)
Failing Fairbanks District set to shutter 5 schools as enrollment plummets
Facing rapidly declining enrollment, poor student test results and a growing number of families who have opted to leave standard public schooling for homeschool, the Fairbanks School District is set to permanently shutter five schools. The school board will
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OPINON: Alaska’s GOP could take a page from Trump on how to flex political power
There was a short but interesting lesson on the effective use of political power over the weekend. When ICE sent two planeloads of illegal immigrants back to Colombia on Sunday, Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, refused to allow the planes to land and
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Kenai hand-count ballot effort makes final push for initiative signatures
Kenai residents who want borough elections to be hand-counted have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 30 to turn in an additional 190 signatures for their ballot petition. Earlier this month, Duane Edelman, who has spearheaded the petition effort, was notified by the