2009 Legislative Priorities

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Funding

Forward Funding

The 25th Alaska Legislature adopted a base student allocation amount in statute for the subsequent three years. With the money currently in the Education Fund, the Legislature has a unique opportunity to institute forward funding by actually appropriating funds one year in advance. Forward funding of the state education budget would eliminate much wasted effort in local district budgeting, provide greater stability, and permit more long-range planning and give districts a full year to prepare for any increase or decrease in funding levels. Forward funding would also allow districts to hire earlier in the year, helping them to attract candidates in hard-to-fill positions as well as more diverse candidates who are in high demand. Forward funding is vital to enable districts to make the multi-year changes required to advance student achievement, increase the graduation rate, and meet the changing needs of today’s students. Advance appropriation will not cost any additional money. At a time of such instability in our local, national, and global economy, predictability in education funding is critical to investing in the future of Alaska.

Early Learning

All children should have opportunities to learn during the formative early childhood years. Children who have not had access to early learning opportunities are at risk for failure in school. As noted in the draft goals from the Education Summit, Alaska must create a seamless education system from infancy to grade 12, providing for early child care and education that is affordable, high-quality, and staffed by well-trained people. The Anchorage School District supports legislation to add additional funding for planning, programming, and implementation of voluntary early learning and family support programs for all pre-school children as an important long-term investment in Alaska’s future workforce and citizenry.

Workforce Development

Government can be a supportive and galvanizing force behind systemic change to address the workforce development needs in our state as demonstrated by recent joint efforts between the Department of Education and Early Development and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Continued investment in projects such as the Anchorage Construction Academy is critical to the ongoing development of necessary workforce development programs and partnerships in our schools, as well as addressing dropout and graduation rates. Workforce development programs inevitably result in additional expenses that are not part of the standard budget schedules of school districts. Increased costs include the purchase of equipment and materials related to occupations, transportation for students between schools and workplaces, training for staff members, release time for staff members, new staff positions (school-to-work coordinator, transition specialist, job coach/career guide), and capital costs related to building retrofits.

Innovative/Best Practice Programs

School districts around Alaska have unique needs when it comes to educating all students. Some face challenges associated with high mobility, some with high poverty rates, others with burgeoning immigrant populations. Whatever the combination of needs, school districts need assistance from the legislature beyond the funding formula to institute innovative or best practice programs in their districts to meet the unique needs of all their students. Such programs might include summer school or extended day programs, added days for necessary professional development or collaborative staff planning, innovative use of technology, credit recovery programs for high school students at risk of dropping out, or expanded programs for mentorships or apprenticeships. The Anchorage School District supports the concept of funding, outside the current funding formula, for innovative project proposals that include accountability measures.

Other Legislation

The Anchorage School Board looks forward to working with the Alaska Legislature as it addresses other bills affecting a range of other education issues. Board members and the administration welcome questions and requests for information from legislators on any education issue, but requests particular focus on the following:

• Modification of parent permission requirements for student surveys
• PERS/TRS – Bring forward for reconsideration a return to a defined benefit or hybridized program.
• Debt reimbursement
• Compulsory education age
• Revenue sharing
• Adequate funding for the Department of Education and Early Development
• to provide necessary technical support as required by SB 285 (state-supported oversight for struggling schools)
• other critical support for local school district

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