Gov. Dunleavy Introduces Game-Changing Education Legislation to Empower Alaska Homeschooling and Charter Schools: A Clash with Lawmakers Ahead

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently rolled out a new education package. This announcement promises to spark a lively discussion about education policies in the legislative session ahead.

Both House and Senate leaders have vowed to boost education funding without linking it to reforms. Alaska’s schools are facing financial challenges, impacting everything from teacher salaries to building upkeep.

Senator Löki Tobin, who leads the Senate Education Committee, emphasized the need for urgent support. He said, “We need to stabilize our schools before we can think about other changes.”

Dunleavy, who has experience as a teacher, is proposing specific funding tied to policies he favors. These include revising how charter schools are approved and increasing funding for homeschooling.

One proposed bill aims to inject over $460 million into education, while ensuring future funding keeps pace with inflation. Currently, the education budget stands at around $1.2 billion, and the funding formula hasn’t been significantly updated since 2017.

“You can’t keep cutting school budgets and then criticize the system,” noted Representative Rebecca Himschoot, co-chair of the House Education Committee.

Dunleavy’s plan offers targeted funding without adjusting the Base Student Allocation, resulting in an annual cost of about $117 million. This includes $43 million for homeschooling, $31 million for vocational education, and $22 million specifically for reading programs in elementary schools.

The legislation would let students choose any school to attend, with transportation support if needed. There’s also a proposal to give teachers bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, based on whether they work in rural or urban areas.

Additionally, the bill aims to restrict cellphone use in schools. During a live-streamed presentation, Dunleavy characterized the legislative debate as a showdown between his administration and the National Education Association (NEA) of Alaska, which has frequently opposed his education proposals.

NEA-Alaska President Tom Klaameyer stated the union aims to ensure every Alaska student has access to quality education. He emphasized, “We will always fight for improvements in our public education system.”

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon described Dunleavy’s rhetoric as “passionate” and expressed a commitment to find common ground.

On the subject of teacher vacancies, Alaska has reported a record high of 598 open positions at the start of the school year. This marks a staggering 230% increase since 2020. Lawmakers are concerned that while bonuses may attract some teachers, they do little to keep them long-term.

Charter schools currently serve just 4% of public school students in Alaska. Dunleavy proposes expanding how charter schools can be formed, easing the process for their approval. He believes that increasing the number of charter schools is vital, citing studies that suggest they perform well. However, this view is contested, with some lawmakers voicing their desire to maintain local control over schools.

In addition to charter schools, a significant portion of the proposed funding would support publicly funded homeschooling programs. However, concerns arise due to the lack of participation in state testing, leaving the outcomes uncertain.

Dunleavy has also pointed to recent data indicating that Alaska’s students are lagging behind nationally, particularly in reading and math. He argues for policy changes to improve these results, while many educators insist that sufficient funding is essential for any meaningful reform.

The state already initiated policy reforms in 2022 aimed at enhancing reading skills among students. However, there are ongoing calls for increased funding to fully implement these reforms.

This ongoing educational debate will shape the future of Alaska’s school system. As the session progresses, it will be interesting to see how these competing visions for education funding and policy evolve.

Reported from Juneau and Anchorage, this story is evolving and will be updated as new information becomes available.

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