2004 Legislative Priorities - Second Session

23rd Alaska State Legislature

Accountability

While signing the FY 04 operating budget into law, Gov. Murkowski challenged the education community to provide full accountability in exchange for full funding.

Accountability has been provided. Test scores districtwide and for each school are posted on the District’s web site and are available at schools and libraries throughout Anchorage. Each school’s goals and plans for improvement are also available. The District’s budget has been opened to the scrutiny of nearly 150 citizens involved in a budget review process. The budget is also available at schools and libraries throughout Anchorage. No other level of government is this transparent.

The Anchorage School Board, its administration, and staff have accepted responsibility for raising student achievement for all students, and for the efficient and effective use of resources to fulfill our mission to educate all students for success in life.

State and federal funding for education has lagged behind educational costs. Appropriating an adequate amount of funding for education is the responsibility of federal, state and municipal policymakers.

With today’s student achievement challenges and state and federal mandates, “full funding” or “level funding” of the education funding formula is not “adequate” funding. Meeting the needs of the Alaska Performance Standards, NCLB and IDEA requires an investment in people, process, and accountability measures. The Anchorage School Board is committed to doing its part to ensure success and calls upon the legislature to increase education funding to meet these needs through a significant increase in the education funding formula. Meeting these mandates cannot be accomplished without adequate support from all levels of government.

Accountability Debt Reimbursement Employer contribution increases to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Printable version of 2004 Legislative Priorities