Dear Alaska education allies,

The legislative session ended on May 20th and lawmakers are now in a gas pipeline-focused special session.

Thank you for all your letters, calls, and testimony. It was a hard session, and we’re still waiting to see if Governor Dunleavy will once again veto school funding approved by the legislature.

What Happened?

Unlike last year, school districts did NOT get a permanent funding increase through an ongoing mechanism like an increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA).

Here are a few key items schools did get:

• A one-time funding increase of $115 million in the operating budget (HB 263). Caveats: funding is contingent on the state generating $6.3 billion in revenue in the current fiscal year and if there’s money left after other specified expenditures. The fiscal year ends June 30th, and with the high price of oil, it seems likely that schools will receive this full amount; however, the lack of certainty continues to make it very difficult for school districts to budget and plan.

• $29 million in energy grants to help districts cope with spiking energy prices (in HB 263).

• A new energy grant program that will reimburse districts’ actual energy costs to ensure funding isn’t shunted from the classroom to cover energy (in HB 28). HB 28 also includes a pilot loan forgiveness program for teachers.

• Funds to pay for over 30 school major maintenance projects in the capital budget (SB 214)..

Note: These items are still subject to the governor’s veto. He has until June 18 to act on HB 28 (if vetoed, the legislature would have an opportunity to vote on an override before the current special session ends). The governor has through June 30 to make budget vetoes. Lawmakers would need to call themselves into a new special session to consider any budget overrides.

Senator Bill Wielechowski summed it up well when he said “this has been probably the most anti-education governor in the history of our state.” Case in point: earlier in the session the legislature passed a hard-won bipartisan compromise bill (HB 78) reinstating pensions for teachers and other public employees to help address Alaska’s ever-worsening teacher shortage. Gov. Dunleavy vetoed it, and lawmakers failed to override.

Legislative Report Card

During the 34th Legislature (2025-2026) there were four key opportunities for legislators to stand behind their commitment to our schools by voting to override Governor Dunleavy’s vetos of critical education funding bills. We gave each legislator a grade based on how the voted on:

• HB 69 (raise the BSA by $1,000 - override failed, April, 2025)

• HB 57 (raise the BSA by $700 - override successful, May 2025)

• HB 53 (fund the increased BSA - override successful, August 2025)

• HB 78 (reinstate pensions for teachers - override failed, May 2026)

Check-out our Report Card to find out how your legislator voted. (As a reminder, you can also find “who represents me” in the bottom right corner of AKLeg.gov.)

The good news

There is hope. This November, Alaskans have a chance to elect leaders who will prioritize education. With the Governor’s seat open and 50 of 60 legislative seats on the ballot in November, this is a critical opportunity for us. Start talking with candidates about why quality schools matter to you and and your family.

In the coming weeks and months we'll share more about how you can help center education in campaign discourse and hold candidates’ feet to the fire.

At Great Alaska Schools, we work for a vision of Alaska where all students have an opportunity to learn and thrive, and where great schools anchor a high quality of life and broader social and economic wellbeing.  

Thanks for sharing the load. Alaska is the biggest smallest state, and every voice truly makes a difference.

Great Alaska Schools coordinating team,

- Sarah, Megan, Matt, Emily, Becca, and many more

PS - Please share this email with friends and neighbors. If it was forwarded to you, sign up to receive Great Alaska Schools alerts. We do not rent, sell, or share our list and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Dear Education Allies,

The Legislative session ends this Wednesday, and a late-breaking bill could provide much-needed relief and structural funding improvements to our school districts!

TAKE ACTION TODAY:

Please take five minutes to contact your Senator and urge them to support HB 28.

The Senate is expected to take a final vote on a version of HB 28 on Tuesday 5/19/2026. The Bill would:

• Create a school district Energy Reimbursement Program to directly cover fuel and utilities costs. This would enable districts to put more money into classrooms.

• Creates a Pilot Student Loan Repayment Program for teachers. This will help attract and keep great teachers in our state.

• Limits the increase in Required Local Contribution to 5% year over year or 45% of ‘Basic Need.’

1. Find your Senator here (scroll to bottom for “who represents me”)

2. Find their email/phone number here [pattern: Sen.FirstName.LastName@akleg.gov].

3. Call or email today! Sample Message:

Subject: Please vote for HB 28 and support our schools

Dear Senator __,

Please support HB 28.

The bill offers a lifeline to school districts by taking escalating energy costs out of already stressful budgeting scenarios, allowing more dollars to go to classroom instruction. The student loan repayment program will help attract and keep great teachers in our state. As the session closes, please prioritize our students and our future by supporting this bill!

Thank you,

[Your name/community]

The school year is coming to an end, as is the legislative session (on Wednesday).

Great Alaska Schools is hosting an End of School/ End of Session Gathering as a time to come together to reflect on the work we’ve done and the challenges we face. Whether you’ve been in the trenches or cheering us on from the sidelines, we invite you to come together for this community gathering.

Monday May 18, 7 - 8 pm
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89794309396
RSVP on Facebook (optional): https://www.facebook.com/share/1BSb1VQ7Mv/

What to expect:

• Reflect on education advocacy highlights from this session

• Share your local challenges and hopes for next year

• Learn about last chance legislative action opportunities

• A look ahead for Great Alaska Schools future plans and how to join in

It has been a challenging year for public schools and all of us who care about education. We are looking forward to a chance to connect, reflect, and support each other. We hope you will join us!

Megan, Tara, Polly,
and everyone on the Great Alaska Schools leadership team

P.S. If there are more opportunities to speak up for public schools in the next 48 hours, we will let you know!

Great Alaska Schools

Dear Alaska education advocates,

We are in the final days before the Legislature’s May 20 adjournment, and education funding remains undecided. At this point the most straightforward avenue for public education funding is “one-time” funding in the operating budget (HB 263). That bill is currently in conference committee – a group of six lawmakers tasked with working out compromises between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Background: The House version includes a critical $158 million boost for K-12 that is missing in the Senate version; and the Senate version includes $29 million for energy relief for schools that is missing in the House version. Districts need BOTH. (Learn why here.)

TAKE ACTION:

Please take five minutes to tell the conference committee to prioritize education funding!

• Email the operating budget conference committee members to urge them to increase education funding (copy-paste or personalize the following email):

TO: Sen.Lyman.Hoffman@akleg.gov, Sen.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov, Sen.Mike.Cronk@akleg.gov, Rep.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov, Rep.Calvin.Schrage@akleg.gov, Rep.Will.Stapp@akleg.gov

SUBJECT: Please prioritize education funding, we are counting on you!

Dear Sen. Hoffman, Sen. Stedman, Sen. Cronk, Rep. Josephson, Rep. Schrage, and Rep. Stapp,

I’m writing to urge you to prioritize education in the operating budget. In recent years, we have seen massive spending increases for our prisons while our education system suffers. Our schools are decaying, class sizes are ballooning, and families are leaving the state. Our students are losing opportunities - and so is our state. As you work through the budget in the conference committee, please approve the House’s $158 million increases for K-12 foundation formula and pupil transportation and the Senate’s $29 million for education energy relief. These increases still do not make up for 15 years of funding that has not kept up with rising costs. We are counting on you to do the right thing!

Thank you,

[your name and community]

If you have another minute, please write to your own legislators using Great Alaska Schools editable email template or find their contact info here to call or email them. We need to keep reminding all our legislators that Alaskans value public education.

There are several other bills in play that could increase funding for major maintenance (i.e., replacing aging school roofs and outdated boilers) and for spiking heat and electric costs. We’re also keeping an eye on legislation that could change how student counts are reported to help smooth districts’ budgets. If these pass, they could make the budgeting process less turbulent.

With so much in play, it’s an important time to urge your legislators to fight for our schools.

Thank you for your continued advocacy – it takes all of us pushing to move this mountain.

Great Alaska Schools volunteer leadership team

Colleen, Rachel, Tamara, Megan, Rebecca, Emily, Jessica, Polly, Sara, Sarah, Roz’lyn, Ashley, Caroline, Rachael, Tara, and more

P.S. We hope to see you on Monday, May 18th, at 7pm for our near-end-of-session/end-of-school-year virtual gathering! RSVP here or just join us on Zoom.

P.P.S. This March 2025 piece by Capitol observer Matt Buxton recently won an award from the Alaska Press Club – unfortunately it remains as relevant as ever: Let’s Be Honest About Dunleavy’s Two-Tier Education System

Please share this email with friends and neighbors. If it was forwarded to you, sign up to receive Great Alaska Schools alerts. We do not rent, sell or share our list and you can unsubscribe anytime.

The school year is coming to an end soon, as is the legislative session (next week on Wednesday).

Great Alaska Schools is hosting an End of School/ End of Session Gathering as a time to come together to reflect on the work we’ve done and the challenges we face. Whether you’ve been in the trenches or cheering us on from the sidelines, we invite you to come together for this community gathering.

Mark your calendars!

Monday May 18, 7 - 8 pm
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89794309396
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BSb1VQ7Mv/

What to expect:

• Reflect on education advocacy highlights from this session

• Share your local challenges and hopes for next year

• Learn about last chance legislative action opportunities

• A look ahead for Great Alaska Schools future plans and how to join

It has been a challenging year for public schools and all of us who care about education. We are looking forward to a chance to connect, reflect, and support each other. We hope you will join us!

Megan, Tara, Polly,
and everyone on the Great Alaska Schools leadership team

P.S. Watch for an alert in the next day or two with an update from the legislature budget and immediate actions you can take!

Dear Alaska education allies,

We’ve entered the final three weeks of the legislative session. The Senate is close to finalizing its version of the operating budget bill (HB 263), and the fate of education funding will be determined by a conference committee appointed in the coming week or so. The conference committee is a group of six lawmakers who will work out compromises on the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

This is likely our last and best opportunity to increase funding to schools this session. While we aren’t generally fans of one-time funding, this money will help bridge the gap for schools until we can get the legislature to provide more stable long-term funding.

The key decision makers in the conference committee will be the operating and capital budget co-chairs of each Finance Committee:

• Rep. Andy Josephson

• Rep. Calvin Schrage

• Sen. Lyman Hoffman

• Sen. Bert Stedman

TAKE ACTION!

1. Attend a “Dollars and Sense” zoom with Reps. Andy Josephson, Alyse Galvin and Carolyn Hall, Sunday May 3 at 1pm.

1. Register here.

2. Use the chat and Q&A to urge them to prioritize education funding in final budget negotiations. Suggested messages:

• Please fight to protect the education funding increases in the House budget!

• In my district in [where] our schools are facing [what impact], please do anything you can to increase education funding!

• Our schools are at a breaking point, please prioritize education funding!

2. If you can’t attend the zoom, remind your legislators education funding is critical!

• You can write to your legislators using Great Alaska Schools editable email template or find their contact info here and call or email them.

It is tiring, but we need to keep saying it. Over and over. As many of us as possible. We are each only one person, but together we are a force.

With appreciation,
Great Alaska Schools volunteer leadership team

Jessica, Polly, Emily, Sara, Rebecca, Sarah, Roz’lyn, Tamara, Ashley, Colleen, Rachel, Caroline, Tara, Rachael, Megan, and more

P.S. Read this excellent piece by our own Jessica Noble and Megan McBride on the real reasons our schools are struggling: The Big Shrink is Better Described as the Dunleavy Decline.  

P.P.S. Please share this email with friends and neighbors. If it was forwarded to you, sign up to receive Great Alaska Schools alerts. We do not rent, sell or share our list and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Additional Background: Bills We’re Watching

HB 374: Raise the base student allocation (BSA) by $630 [$158 million total increase]

• We strongly support this! It’s a compromise figure that gets the BSA about halfway to its 2011 value

• Status: stalled in House Education Committee

HB 263: Operating Budget; House version includes one-time $158 million education funding increase (includes $10 million increase for pupil transportation); Senate Finance version provides less for education.

• We’re not fans of “one-time” funds but if a BSA bill does not pass, funding in the House budget bill is a critical stop-gap for our schools

• Status: Senate Rules Committee. Next steps: Senate floor vote → concurrence votes → conference committee → back to House and Senate for approval of conference committee version.

HB 261: Timely education funding process

• Helpful bill for smoothing unpredictable education funding streams, could be a “vehicle” (if amended) for larger funding increase - in House Finance Committee

Item deHello Alaska education advocates,

Thanks to those of you who joined our legislative update zoom last week! We had wonderful conversation with concerned Alaskans from across the state. As we enter the final month of session, here are two important opportunities to speak up!

Two Actions to Take This Week:

1. Testify to the House Finance Committee Tuesday, 4/21 at 1:30pm on SJR 29: SJR 29 asks the public to vote in November to amend the constitution to create an Education Fund. House Finance has a lot of power in getting education funding passed (or not). They need to hear from us!

Suggested message: Thank you for taking our school funding crisis seriously! I support the creation of a dedicated fund for education. But setting up a new account is not the same as putting money in it. Our schools also need a meaningful increase to education funding NOW and in future years to catch up – and keep up – with inflation.

How to Testify:

• Call (844) 586-9085 and ask for the House Finance Committee’s SJR 29 hearing.

• Go to the Capitol (Rm. 519) or to your Legislative Information Office.  

• Email your testimony to House.Finance@akleg.gov. (If you testify by phone or in person, please also email your testimony.)

• Keep it brief (the limit is 2 minutes) and speak from the heart.

• Bring a friend and double your impact!

• See our Tips for Testifying and Resources.

    2. Tell your legislators to make education a top priority!

With a month left in the legislative session, legislators really need to hear from us. Every email and phone call keeps the pressure on. Write your legislators using Great Alaska Schools editable email template or find their contact info here and call or email them.

If you missed our legislative update zoom last week, here are key takeaways (and our presentation slides):

The Problem: Inflation has taken a nasty toll on our schools.

• An increase of ~$180 to the base student allocation (BSA) is needed just to keep up with inflation since 2025.

• The BSA needs to increase by ~$1200 to match the buying power of 2011.

Solutions: Funding must catch up to costs.

• It takes money to pay for high-quality teachers, safe facilities, books and materials, and student supports. These things don’t happen by wishful thinking or unfunded policy prescriptions.

• With a month left in the legislative session, several bills could increase education funding. See below for a list of bills we’re watching.

Take Action: Use your voice!

• Tell your legislators you want increased school funding now.

• Use our letter template or find your legislators here and email or call them.

• Attend a local event with your legislator(s) like town halls and coffees. Get on their email lists so you don’t miss any opportunities!

• Watch our alerts for opportunities to testify (this week - SJR 29!)

• If you’ll be in Juneau, reach out to us at hello@greatakschools.org and we can help you have an impactful Capitol visit!

Every voice matters. Use yours!

Together for education,

Great Alaska Schools volunteer leadership team

Emily, Sara, Rebecca, Tara, Rachael, Nick, Megan, and more

P.S. Check out this letter from 24 Alaska mayors to the Legislature pushing for increased aid for education. From Aniak to Anchorage and Soldotna to Stebbins, our mayors say, “Public education is foundational to Alaska’s economic future and the strength of our communities.” Consider sending a letter from your PTA or community organization!

P.P.S. Please share this email with friends and neighbors. If it was forwarded to you, sign up to receive Great Alaska Schools alerts. We do not rent, sell or share our list and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Bills We’re Watching

• HB 374: Raise the base student allocation (BSA) by $630 [$158 million total increase]

  • We strongly support this! It’s a compromise figure that gets the BSA about halfway to its 2011 value

• HB 261: Timely education funding process

  • Helpful bill for smoothing unpredictable education funding streams, could be a “vehicle” (if amended) for larger funding increase

• SB 277: Various education funding adjustments

  • Small BSA increase, energy relief payment, pupil transportation increase

• HB 263 / SB 213: Operating Budget; House version includes one-time $158 million education funding increase

  • We’re not fans of “one-time” funds but if a BSA bill does not pass, this funding is a critical stop-gap for our schools

• SJR 29: Constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund

  • A good concept, but an account is only helpful if it’s funded

• SB 214: Capital Budget -> school major maintenance funding

  • Many districts desperately need money for repairs and major maintenance to ensure students have a safe place to learn

Dear Alaska Education Ally,

Please join us on Wednesday, April 15th, from 7 to 8 pm for a legislative update.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84601334944

With a little over a month to go in the legislative session, we’ll share the latest from Juneau and what you can do to support critically needed funding for our schools.

Can’t make it and want to take action right now?

Write your legislators now

BACKGROUND:

Why Are So Many Districts Facing Devastating Cuts?

This one chart explains a lot. Over the last 15 years, state funding for schools has not kept up with costs. The small increase in the Base Student Allocation last year helped, but the gap is still wide. It is forcing terrible choices on our school districts: Laying off teachers and increasing class sizes. Cutting programs that enrich and inspire our students. Closing schools.

Here are some examples of the impacts of underfunding:

• Anchorage School District: Facing a $90 million deficit, ASD plans to cut over 300 full-time teaching positions. The district is closing Campbell STEM, Lake Otis, and Fire Lake Elementary schools. Without increased state funding, school sports, nurses and counselors are likely to be eliminated after next year, and some elementary school classrooms could have over 40 kids.

• Kenai Peninsula Borough School District: Grappling with an $8.6 million deficit, the board plans to close Seward Middle School, River City Academy, and Sterling and Tustumena Elementary schools. They also plan to close all school district swimming pools, eliminate all library staff, and make other deep cuts to staff and programs, including many elective classes. Closing Sterling and Tustumena schools means there will be no school in Sterling or Kasilof. Children at those schools will have up to an hour-long bus ride each way.

• Mat-Su Borough School District: Facing a $22.5 million shortfall, the district proposes to close three schools (Glacier View, Larson, and Meadow Lakes) and eliminate all middle and high school librarians. Other planned cuts include reductions for student sports and activities.

• Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District: To address a $5.4 million shortfall, the district plans to close Fawn Mountain and Point Higgins elementary schools and implement a "Reduction in Force" (RIF) plan that could result in a loss of 45 employees—nearly 15% of its workforce.

• Northwest Arctic Borough School District: With a $9 million deficit, the district plans to reduce 30 certified and classified positions. High operating costs are forcing the board to choose between heating school buildings and maintaining student programs, leading to consolidated classrooms and fewer vocational opportunities.

• Kodiak Island Borough School District is cutting nurses, teachers, several teacher aides, and counseling and mental health support services. KIBSD has closed North Star Elementary and is considering closing Main and Peterson Elementary.

• Fairbanks North Star Borough School District: Fairbanks is reeling from the closures of six schools in the last few years, including the high school on Eielson AFB. While the district is now in a better financial position, the losses have taken a heavy toll on the community.

• Juneau School District: After closing two schools and reshuffling programs and students, the district is still grappling with a $5 million budget deficit.

• Sitka School District: To address a $2 million deficit, Sitka is looking at cutting teaching positions.

• Lower Yukon School District: With a $5 million deficit, LYSD plans to increase class sizes and reduce programs for students.

The results are clear.

In the last 15 years, as districts across Alaska have had to cut and cut, we have watched standardized test scores fall, we have watched teacher turnover and long-term vacancies skyrocket, and we have watched participation in post-secondary education and training fall. And we are watching working-age Alaskans leave the state, with 12 consecutive years of outmigration. At the Alaska Innovation Summit, Dr. Thomas Cooke recently noted that school quality is the number one factor why families choose to stay - or leave - a community. Outmigration hurts our communities and our economy.

What now?

There are several bills in the legislature that could increase funding for schools in the coming year! Join us on Zoom, this Wednesday, 4/15, from 7 to 8 pm for more details.

And in the meantime, your legislators need to hear how important funding our schools is to you and your family, so please write your legislators! If you prefer not to use our system, find your legislators’ contact info here.

The Great Alaska Schools volunteer team,

• Jessica, Tamara, Sarah, Emily, Megan, Polly, Caroline, Becca, Rachael, Colleen and more

Item description

Dear Alaska Education Allies,

Since we last reached out, an improved state revenue outlook and legislative actions have brought new momentum to our push for the funding our schools need. With less than two months left in the legislative session, it’s time for us to turn up the heat.

TLDR: Write your legislators now.

Background: Alaska schools are underfunded because the base student allocation (BSA) has fallen behind inflation for 15 years. Last year’s increase made up for less than half the loss in buying power – and our schools and communities are hurting. See Why Alaska school districts are still facing deep cuts after last year’s funding increase.

We are calling on the Alaska Legislature, which sets the budget, to make meaningful investments in education NOW.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - key bills

BSA bill: HB 374 by the House Education Committee (led by co-chair Rep. Himschoot) would raise the BSA by $630, for a total increase of $158 million. Alaskans testified overwhelmingly in support last month - including many Great Alaska Schools members and courageous students from across the state!

Analysis: We support this bill! Our understanding is there is strong support for it in the House majority, but House and Senate leadership are concerned about whether it is “sustainable.” The increase is about half of what’s needed to get the BSA to 2011 buying power.

Operating budget: A new House Finance Committee operating budget draft (HB 263) includes a $158 million increase in “one-time” funding for education in case a BSA bill does not pass. This is equivalent to the BSA increase in HB 374 — with a major caveat: the increase would be deducted the following year, so the year after next, our schools will not only fall behind inflation but will start the budget process $158 million in the hole.

Analysis: “One-time” funding is better than nothing, but makes it very difficult for schools to budget, plan, and create stability in teaching staff, class sizes, and programs; it leads to see-sawing budgets, pink slips, and stress and uncertainty for families, school staff, and communities.

School funding process: HB 261 by the House Education Committee (led by co-chair Rep. Story) addresses structural problems with the education funding process to improve districts’ ability to plan.

Analysis: We support this bill! It does not directly increase funding but will provide more predictability and stability in funding to buffer against budget shocks that hurt our schools.    

Pension bill: HB 78 by the House Finance Committee would reinstate a defined benefit (pension) system for Alaska teachers and other public employees. In the 20 years since Alaska ended public employee pensions, we have seen a dramatic decline in teacher recruitment and retention as teachers choose better opportunities elsewhere. HB 78 passed the House last year and is now in the Senate Finance Committee.

Analysis: We support this bill! Especially as teacher pay has fallen, a reliable retirement is a critical tool for attracting and keeping quality teachers – the lifeblood of any school system.

TAKE ACTION

1) If you can do only one thing: Write to your legislators TODAY!

Click HERE to send a pre-drafted email to your state representative and senator (if you’re unsure who they are, our system will figure it out for you) - you can review and customize the letter or send as is.

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good - do it now! The critical thing is to generate lots and lots of letters so our legislators know Alaskans value education!

2) Join us for a Great Alaska Schools Advocacy Update and planning session

• April 15th at 7pm. Zoom link here.

• Ask questions, share ideas, get involved!

Coming up: The Senate Finance Committee will be taking public testimony on the operating budget in the next week or so. We will share information when we have details - this will be a key opportunity to show broad support for investing in our schools.

One more easy action: Sign up for your legislators’ email or newsletter list to find out about events like constituent coffees and town halls and to receive surveys they may send out (and to get insight into your legislators’ views). Call or email your legislators and ask to be added to their list (go to akleg.gov and scroll down to Who Represents Me or use this contact list). Reach out to us at hello@greatakschools.org for help!

Thank you for your advocacy! Every phone call, email, letter, and action matters. Together our actions create a tsunami of support for education.

In solidarity for Alaska’s schools,

Great Alaska School coordinating team
Sarah, Colleen, Tamara, Roz’lyn, Polly, Rachael, Tara, Rachel, Megan, Emily, Caroline, Becca, Ashley, Anna Rose, Jessica and others

P.S. In case you missed it, our own Colleen Bolling published a fantastic op-ed: Alaska’s public schools were once incredible. They can be that way again. If you’d like support in writing a letter to the editor or opinion piece, reach out to us at hello@greatakschools.org.  

P.P.S. Please share this email with others who care about education! And if you’re not on our email list, sign up for our action alerts. (We do not sell, rent, or share our list and you can unsubscribe any time.)

Dear Alaska Education Allies,

This is a big week for us to press the case that Alaskans care about our schools! There are two important opportunities to make your voice heard.  

We worked hard to win a funding increase for schools last year – but it didn’t make up for years of inflation.

GOOD NEWS: Last week, the House Education Committee introduced HB 374, raising the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $630. This increase will help save schools from closure, keep high-quality teachers in our classrooms, and help Alaska build opportunity rather than dismantle and destroy.

A BSA increase benefits charter schools, homeschools, and neighborhood schools statewide.

TAKE ACTION!

1) Testify on HB 374 to the House Education Committee (Capitol Rm. 106)

• WHEN: Wednesday March 11, 5 pm

• Core message: I support HB 374! We need to adjust the BSA this year and every year so our schools, our students, and our state can thrive.

• If you can’t make it, email your testimony to House.Education@akleg.gov

2) Testify on the FY 2027 operating budget to the House Finance Committee (Capitol Rm. 519)

• WHEN: Wednesday-Friday, March 11-13 as follows:

• Wednesday 1:30-3:30pm: Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glennallen, Valdez, Wrangell, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward, Tok, Offnets (Remote)

• Wednesday 4:30-6pm: Offnets (Remote)

• Thursday 1:30-3:30pm: Fairbanks, Kenai, Bethel, Cordova, Kotzebue, Nome, Utquigvik, Offnets (Remote)

• Friday 1:30 pm (sign up by 3pm): Anchorage, Mat-Su, Offnets (Remote)

• Core message: Please prioritize education in the budget! Invest in a significant funding increase so our schools, our students, and our state can thrive.

• If you can’t make it, email your testimony to House.Finance@akleg.gov

HOW? For both of these opportunities, you can testify at your Legislative Information Office (LIO), in person at the Capitol, or call in:

• From Juneau – (907) 586-9085

• From Anchorage – (907) 563-9085

• From all other locations – (844) 586-9085

Tips for testifying:

• Limit your testimony to 2 minutes.

• Say your name and community, and thank the committee for taking your testimony.

• Clearly state what you want lawmakers to do.

• Share why you value our schools! Speak from the heart.

• See our Resources and Tips for Testifying.

• Suggested Talking Points at the bottom of this email.

Amplify your impact!

• Share this email with three friends. And if you’re not on our email list, sign up for our action alerts. (We do not sell, rent, or share our list and you can unsubscribe any time.)

• Join other Great Alaska Schools members to strategize and plan local actions. Email hello@greatakschools.org for upcoming meeting times.

Thank you for your advocacy – EVERY VOICE MATTERS!

Great Alaska Schools coordinating team

• Rachel, Megan, Tara, Emily, Sarah, Tamara, Rebecca, Colleen, Cheryl, Caroline, Roz’lyn, Rachael, Jacque and others

P.S. While we hate to share bad news, this op-ed by Ben Walker and Catherine Walker is a must-read and a clarion call: We were honored as Alaska Teachers of the Year. Now we can no longer stay (Anchorage Daily News).

Suggested talking points

• Invest for success. Funding matters! Alaska’s test scores, participation in postsecondary training and education, and teacher retention were significantly higher when our schools were better funded.

• Strong schools keep working families in Alaska – impoverished schools drive outmigration and economic decline.

• Business and labor leaders support investment in education – because a strong economy requires a trained and educated workforce.

• Public schools serve ALL kids. Many families rely on and love neighborhood schools - and our neighborhood schools are required to serve all kids regardless of their needs.

• Education is an obligation. Alaska’s constitution requires the Legislature provide for a system of public schools open to all children, defined by the courts to require “adequate funding so as to accord to schools the ability to provide instruction in the standards.”

• Education funding falls behind inflation every year that we don’t raise the BSA. Since 2011, per-student funding has risen 17% while inflation has risen 45%.

  • Last year’s $700 BSA increase amounted to only $20 more than the prior year, thanks to the wacky way we fund education. That’s why many districts are still hurting.

    • The Anchorage School District is looking for ways to cut its school budget by $88 million.

    • The Mat-Su Borough School District is considering cutting 55 positions.

    • In Fairbanks, high school class sizes are up to 40 due to cuts and consolidations.

• Families are leaving the state, and doctors, nurses, and military families are turning down positions in Alaska because of our long-term failure to invest in education. Our nonresident workforce is at a record high as people choose not to raise their families here.

“Our schools are doing good things. We do need to do things better. But, you know, starving them to death doesn’t do that for us.” -Sen. Mike Cronk (R-Tok), August 2025 (Alaska Beacon)

Dear Public Education Ally,

We are more than a month into the legislative session, and it’s time to speak up for schools!

Around the state, many districts are facing devastating shortfalls and making wrenching decisions to close schools, cut programs, and lay off staff. These decisions harm our students and tear at the fabric of our communities.

Our voice made a critical difference last year, but the modest increase did not make up for 15 years of under-investment in our schools. Since 2011, state education funding has fallen behind inflation by 30%. The squeeze has become a chokehold, and our schools are at a breaking point.  

TAKE ACTION!

>>> Testify to the Senate Finance Committee THIS THURSDAY, 2/26, AND FRIDAY, 2/27! The committee is taking public testimony on the budget - urge them to increase investment in our schools! See our Tips for Testifying and details at the bottom of this email.

>>> Join Great Alaska Schools for a Zoom workshop Monday, March 2, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. to learn about what’s happening with education funding and how to level-up your engagement. Register here.

Thank you for your continued advocacy! Together, we are a powerhouse.

In solidarity for schools,

- The Great Alaska Schools coordinating team
We are parents and community members from across the state who believe education is a foundation of a thriving future for Alaska

P.S. If you’ll be in Juneau for your kid’s activity or anything else, visiting the Capitol is a great way to make your voice heard! Juneau volunteers are happy to help - email us at hello@greatakschools.org

P.P.S. One last request - Please help us amplify our impact by sharing this email with three friends. And if you are not on our email list, please sign up for our action alerts. (We do not sell, rent, or share our list and you can unsubscribe any time.)

Information for testifying on the budget:

The Senate Finance Committee is taking public testimony on the FY 2027 operating and capital budget bills and FY 2026 supplemental budget on Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27 as follows:

• Thursday 9 a.m (sign-up by 10:15).: Juneau, Southeast, Kodiak, Prince William Sound, Offnets (Remote)

• Thursday 1:30 p.m. (sign-up by 2:45): Nome, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, Offnets (Remote)

• Friday 9 a.m (sign-up by 9:45).: Fairbanks, Interior, Copper River Valley, Offnets (Remote)

• Friday 1:30 p.m. (sign-up by 2:45): Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kenai, Offnets (Remote)

Testify from your Legislative Information Office (LIO), in person at the Capitol (Rm. 532), or by phone:

• From Juneau – (907) 586-9085

• From Anchorage – (907) 563-9085

• From all other locations – (844) 586-9085

Urge the committee to prioritize a meaningful increase to education funding this year. Share why you value our schools! Testimony is limited to 2 minutes per person. See our Tips for Testifying.

**If you can’t make it (or if you can’t say it all in 2 minutes), email your testimony to Senate.Finance.Committee@akleg.gov.

Dear education advocate,

The Alaska Legislature gavels in on January 20, 2026 for the second session of the 34th Legislature. While we celebrate the historic override of Gov. Dunleavy’s education funding vetoes last year, we are also painfully aware that our schools continue to struggle with insufficient resources. WE HAVE WORK TO DO!

Please join us 7-8pm Wednesday January 21 on Zoom. You will come away with:

• An overview of education funding (or Why A $700 Increase Is Actually A $20 Increase)

• Update on Alaska’s legislative landscape

• Inspiration and connection with others who care

• Specific ways YOU can make a difference!

Register here to join us, and please share with your networks!

Last year was proof that when we rise up together to demand the state provide for our schools, WE GET RESULTS. Every voice matters!

Together for education,

- Great Alaska Schools leadership team - Alaskans from across the state who love our kids, our schools, and our state

Dear friends of Alaska schools,

We are gearing up for next year’s legislative session and we are more energized than ever to fight for our schools. We are motivated by two big facts:

1. TOGETHER, WE ARE POWERFUL. Our collective voices helped push Alaska legislators to override Gov. Dunleavy’s education funding vetoes – the first time in four decades legislators have overridden a sitting governor’s budget veto. Every one of us who wrote an email, testified, called, visited a legislator, attended a town hall, rallied, marched, or signed a petition made a difference.

2. THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO. The override vote increased education funding by just $20 per student over the prior year. This isn’t even enough to keep up with cost increases. We must keep fighting for our schools.

Our strength lies in the power of our collective voices. There are nearly 6,000 people on our email list. We will need every one of us and more to keep up the momentum for our schools and make up for years of underfunding.

TAKE ACTION:

As we prepare for the legislative session, we want to be sure we are communicating with you in the most strategic and effective ways.

1. Please update your address and volunteer interests here. Your physical address enables us to match you to your legislative district and alert you to strategic opportunities for action. If you’re interested in leveling-up your engagement, you can indicate that on the form as well.

2. Please share this email with five friends. The more people who speak up for our schools, the more powerful we are. Learn about Great Alaska Schools at greatakschools.org.

Note: We do not rent, share, sell or lend our list, and we work hard to ensure our communications are helpful. You can unsubscribe at any time and we welcome feedback.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. We truly believe strong public schools offer opportunity to all - they are a bedrock of our communities and our economy, and the smartest investment we can make in Alaska’s future.

- Great Alaska Schools Leadership Team

We are a statewide group of volunteers who love our schools, our state, and all of Alaska’s kids!

P.S. Check out this NPR story highlighting the impacts of state neglect on our schools: Alaska owns dozens of crumbling schools. It wants underfunded districts to take them on

Was this email forwarded to you? Join our email list here. We do not rent, sell, or share our list and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Dear Alaska Education Supporters,

WE DID IT! On August 2, legislators gaveled into a special session and overrode Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of $51 million for Alaska schools in a bipartisan vote of 45-14. The vote marked the first successful budget override of a sitting governor in almost 40 years - and it is a sign that Alaskans have had enough of the attacks on our schools.

TAKE ACTION: Thank your legislators if they voted to override (see list below) - positive reinforcement is important!

• Find their email and phone number here.

• Consider sending a handwritten thank you card.

“Thank you for standing by your vote and overriding the Governor’s education funding veto. Please keep fighting for our schools!”

Unsure who your legislators are? Go to akleg.gov and scroll down to “Who Represents Me?”

Our Advocacy Made A Difference

“I heard from many, many, many (of my constituents) that said, ‘stay on the right track.’”  

-Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna)

We showed up at town halls, rallies, and in the halls of the Capitol. We sent more than 500 emails to legislators in the days before the vote. We wrote, we called, we texted, we stood up for Alaska’s students and WE WERE HEARD.

In this Alaska Beacon story, Reporter James Brooks asked all ten minority Republicans who voted to override the Governor’s veto about their vote - every one of whose vote was critical. Here is a sampling of their responses:

• Rep. Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage, House District 11): “For me and my district, class sizes are a big problem. … Why would I cut the funding when I’m trying to get my class sizes down?”

• Sen. Mike Cronk (R-Tok, Senate District R): “Our schools are doing good things. We do need to do things better. But, you know, starving them to death doesn’t do that for us.”

• Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna, House District 7): “I think we really had to move away from this idea of one-time funding, which I think is really an irresponsible way of funding schools, and get back to stability.”

• Sen. Robert Yundt (R-Wasilla, Senate District N): “This is only 0.3% more than was put into education last year.”

Indeed, the funding legislators restored is only a $20 per-student increase over last year - not enough to make up for a single year of inflation, much less almost ten years of virtually no inflation adjustments for education.  

The tide has turned. Legislators understand that we are not ok with starving our education system - and we will hold them accountable.

Together, we will continue to fight for the funding and support our schools need. Please thank your legislators if they stood by their override vote, and share this email with your friends and neighbors who care about Alaska’s future. We have work to do, and the bigger our network, the more powerful our voices are!

With appreciation,

Great Alaska Schools leadership circle

P.S. Really helpful reporting from the Alaska Beacon: In veto override, some Alaska Republicans say they saw an opportunity for education compromise

YEAS (voted for the override = for school funding)

Senators: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt  

Representatives: Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Nelson, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Stapp, Story, Stutes                                                              

NAYS (voted against the override = against increasing the BSA)

Senators: Hughes, Myers                                                                                                          

Representatives: Allard, Costello, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, Prax, Rauscher, Schwanke, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance                                                                                                      

TOTAL: YEAS: 45   NAYS: 14   EXCUSED: 1   ABSENT: 0

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