Protecting Our Classrooms

Decisions made by the Alaska State Legislature directly affect class sizes, educator positions, student supports, and the programs available in our schools. Our Legislative Priorities explain what the Anchorage School District needs from the state to protect classrooms and provide students with a strong, stable education. 

We are grateful that recent legislative investments helped the Board restore more than 100 frontline educator positions and reverse cuts to student activities, transportation, access to the Alaska Middle College, snowplowing capabilities, and building safety. But one time funding, especially when it is determined after the school year has started, does not create lasting stability. 

These priorities outline the next steps needed to protect our classrooms and plan responsibly for students. 

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Planning Responsibly for Our Students

Fiscal Plan

• Make education a guaranteed part of Alaska’s fiscal framework.

• Provide predictable funding that avoids harmful cycles of cuts, vetoes, and one-time fixes.

• Ensure commitments that allow districts, including teachers, to plan responsibly and keep services in place for students.

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Purchasing Power

• Restore the value of education dollars eroded by years of flat funding to protect class sizes and classroom supports.

• Update state funding formulas through a new district cost differential study and an updated transportation cost statute or study, so funding reflects the true cost of schools.

• Replace crisis budgets and one-time fixes with predictable, sustainable funding that allows districts to plan responsibly.

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Retirement and Retention

• Support restoring a defined benefit pension and/or Social Security option to make Alaska’s educator benefits competitive.

• Since 2006, Alaska has been the only state without these options, and the shift to a 401(k)- style plan has fueled chronic turnover at much higher rates than before.

• Rising health insurance costs, with premiums increasing by double digits for three consecutive years, are making benefits unsustainable for districts and staff.

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Transportation

• Fully fund student transportation and adjust annually for inflation.

• Prevent rising fuel and contract costs from draining classroom budgets.

• Recognize that Anchorage transports more than 20,000 students every day, requiring stable support.

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