Contact your State Legislators

Dear ASD Families and Community,

This is not the kind of message I expected to send in mid-July. Just weeks before students return to school, we are being forced to issue layoff notices and reassignments across the Anchorage School District. This is happening only because public education in Alaska is being actively undermined by unstable decision-making, delayed funding, and systemic negligence.

Many in our community are only now learning how serious the situation has become. That is understandable. Summer in Alaska is short, and families rightfully take this time to rest, not monitor legislative backchannels. But while our community was enjoying the holiday weekend, federal education funding was quietly frozen just before July 4, leaving districts and students stranded without warning.

This letter is not just an update. It is a warning, and a call to action.

What Just Happened, and Why It’s Alarming

On July 3, the U.S. Department of Education froze nearly $46 million in federal education grants statewide, including more than $14 million for ASD. These funds were already budgeted to support after-school programs, special education, English learner services, and Alaska Native student services. Now, with the school year weeks away, we are scrambling to preserve critical supports while losing staff and resources.

At the state level, the Governor vetoed bipartisan school funding twice, after districts had already finalized their budgets. When the Legislature overrode his veto by a 46–14 vote, the Governor still slashed an additional $200 per student without warning, creating a $4.3 million shortfall for ASD with no time to prepare. A special session is now scheduled to give lawmakers a chance to override the veto. 

The DEED Commissioner presented a proposal to the State Board of Education to cap how much local communities can contribute to their own public schools—a move that would strip even more funding from urban districts like ours.

This is not a coincidence. It is a pattern. These decisions reflect a coordinated failure of leadership that disregards the will of Alaskans and jeopardizes the foundation of our public schools.

Standing with Courage and Thinking Beyond the Crisis

Some state and local leaders have had the courage to speak out. They have called this pattern what it is: reckless, short-sighted, and devastating to Alaska’s students—our future. But speaking out is not enough. We must act. And we must hold ourselves accountable for what happens next.

We have to hold two truths at once:

• Yes, our schools need more funding, greater predictability, and protection from decisions made in bad faith.
• Yes, we also need a long-term, coherent strategy to ensure every dollar is aligned to student needs and our shared values.

These truths are not in conflict. They are both essential. We must advocate and plan. Defend and lead. React and rebuild. That is what this moment requires.

What We Have Already Done, and Why It Was Not Enough

Earlier this year, ASD approved one of the leanest budgets in district history. We cut 42 central office positions. We reduced more than $30 million in salaries, benefits, and services. We drew down reserves below our policy minimum. After exhausting these options, we had to make agonizing decisions to increase class sizes, and pause enrichment programs. These decisions were not made lightly. They were made to protect the classroom and preserve core services.

But even those deep cuts were not enough to absorb the shock of frozen federal funding and last-minute state reductions.

That is why today, layoff notices and staff reassignments were issued. These are not abstract policy outcomes. They are real people. These are real losses. And students will feel the difference when they walk into school in August.

This Is What Happens When Systems Fail Students

When school districts are blindsided by mid-year funding losses, school districts cannot plan, cannot hire, and cannot deliver the consistent services that students need. These disruptions weaken everything from after-school programming to counseling to special education. 

We are being asked to run a modern school system with unstable and unpredictable resources. This is not sustainable, and this is not acceptable.

If we don’t stop this trend now, it will continue. The proposed cap on local education contributions would make it harder for communities like Anchorage to invest in their own children. If approved by the State Board of Education, it could remove millions more from our schools in the years ahead.

What You Can Do Right Now

There is still time to act, but not much. Here’s how you can choose to make a difference:

• Submit public comment to the State Board of Education at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov  by 5:00 p.m. on July 25 regarding the proposed regulation on local funding contributions for education.
• Contact your state legislators before August 2 to share your perspective ahead of the upcoming special session. 
• Reach out to Alaska’s congressional delegation to let them know how you feel about the federal funding freeze. 
  • Senator Dan Sullivan
  • Senator Lisa Murkowski
  • Representative Nick Begich
• Share this information with others who may want to stay informed or participate in the process. We’ve created a frequently asked questions (FAQs) webpage with more information and details.

We Are Not Backing Down

To Team ASD: Thank you. Your commitment, even in the face of disruption and uncertainty, is extraordinary. You should not have to carry this burden. 

To our families: Thank you for your trust and for your growing advocacy for excellent public schools for every child. We need your voice now more than ever.

To our students: You deserve stability, opportunity, and a system that is worthy of your potential. This is not your fault, and we will not stop fighting for you.

We are not just managing a crisis. We are resisting the slow dismantling of public education in Alaska. And we are doing it with clarity, courage, and purpose.

When this moment passes, Anchorage will still be standing. That is because we will not be silent. We will not be passive. We will lead. 

In solidarity and resolve,

Dr. Jharrett Bryantt
Superintendent, Anchorage School District