Take Action
Urge legislators to protect Alaska's students and maintain their commitment to our communities and schools:
Last year lawmakers came together to pass and override the Governor on a permanent increase. Unfortunately, the $680 increase to the BSA was much less than the $1808 needed to restore ground lost to inflation. Further it was only $20 more than the one-time funding increase from the year before.
Educators are grateful for the work done last session, but we cannot afford to let Alaska’s students fall further behind. The consequences of years of flat funding are no longer theoretical—they are being felt in every corner of our state:
- In Anchorage, massive class size increases and staff reductions threaten to exacerbate the exodus of families from Alaska.
- In the Mat-Su Valley: Hard choices, including school consolidations, reduced bus routes, and deep cuts to staff, have the school board scrambling and families concerned.
- On the Kenai Peninsula, multiple school closures and the elimination of all school pool operations are being considered to address an unprecedented budget shortfall.
- In Kodiak, devastating staff cuts threaten the ability to attract and retain Coast Guard families.
- In Rural Alaska: Our students at Mt. Edgecumbe are dealing with systemic leaks and failed heating, while in the Kuspuk School District, children have been forced to go home just to use a bathroom.
The legislature has both the power and the responsibility to save our schools. An inflationary adjustment of at least $100 million to the BSA is the bare minimum required just to keep our schools functional.
Alaska’s future depends on the stability of our schools. Please join us in supporting our students and families by advocating for a sustainable funding increase in this year's budget.