Members of the Anchorage Education Association (AEA) have ratified a new three-year contract agreement with the Anchorage School District (ASD). The contract now moves to the Anchorage School Board for final approval at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

“Anchorage is fortunate to have excellent public school teachers whose skill and dedication make a real difference for students every day,” said ASD Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt. 

“I’m encouraged by the support educators showed for this agreement, which reflects our shared commitment to retaining our community’s high-quality teachers and supporting our students in the classroom.”

The agreement includes a higher district contribution toward health insurance, salary increases and updates to more than 20 contract provisions aimed at improving day-to-day working conditions. It applies to roughly 2,800 educators and would run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. 

The agreement also includes a short-term extension of the previous contract to ensure continuity through the end of this school year.

"Throughout this lengthy negotiation AEA members have stood up for a contract that represents the hard work and dedication they devote to Anchorage students every day," said Christi Sitz, President of the Anchorage Education Association. "Ratification will allow us to move forward while acknowledging there's still work to do at the state level to adequately resource our public schools and provide true stability for our public education workforce."

Schools cannot function without qualified teachers, principals, and support staff. Over the past several years, Alaska has struggled to recruit and retain educators, and turnover directly affects students. This contract reflects negotiated commitments to staff and will make ASD a more competitive employer for educators.

Even in difficult budget years, maintaining competitive compensation helps retain experienced educators, recruit qualified teachers and school leaders, and reduce turnover and disruption in classrooms. When schools lose experienced staff, students feel it first.

Both the district and AEA believe the ratified contract honors educators’ contributions to Anchorage classrooms while recognizing the significant budget challenges ahead.