News
Report: Despite new initiatives, most Alaska students are still failing
50+ min ago (349+ words) A new document from the Alaska Board of Education paints a sobering picture of persistent and ongoing failures of public education in teaching Alaska students basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. Education officials released a draft strategic plan last month,…...
New policy lets qualified Mat-Su teachers and staff conceal carry in schools
3+ week, 4+ day ago (444+ words) In an effort to increase student safety across the Mat-Su School District, trained and qualified teachers, board members and school employees will be permitted to carry concealed weapons in Mat-Su schools, after the board passed a new resolution on June…...
Kenai's standard gov't schools report mounting losses while homeschool surges
1+ mon, 6+ day ago (228+ words) If the last few enrollment reports from the Kenai School District are any indication, correspondence and homeschooling appear to be the future of public education. Earlier this month, the district reported that its overall student enrollment had plummeted to just…...
Univ. of Alaska hosts race-based, gender queer graduations that exclude straight, white, American Christians
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (305+ words) The so-called "Community and Belonging" department at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) recently put on two events to celebrate a long litany of various races and genders, while excluding straight, white, American Christians. The events caught the attention of…...
Mat-Su looks to let qualified staff conceal carry on school grounds
2+ mon, 2+ day ago (561+ words) The Mat-Su School Board is looking to update its school safety policy by permitting qualified district employees, board members, and contracted individuals to carry concealed handguns on school property. The draft policy will be introduced at the May 6 school board…...
Debunking false narratives about Alaska's correspondence schools
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (385+ words) Editor's note: This column was first published by Alaska Families for Education Freedom, a new group that works to support and expand school choice options for families across Alaska. The Alaska Association of School Boards recent chiding of correspondence school…...
Alaska school board assoc. director claims homeschoolers need more oversight
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (932+ words) Lon Garrison, who serves as executive director of the influential Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB), thinks Alaska's nearly 24, 000 correspondence students require more state oversight, testing and tracking. In a recent column sent to AASB followers, Garrison suggested that policymakers…...
Alaska Senate passes bill to "normalize" mental health education
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (132+ words) In 19-1 vote, the Alaska State Senate passed a bill on April 10 that seeks to empower educational bureaucrats with the authority to craft and implement mental health guidelines for all public school students. The lone legislator to vote against the bill…...
Anchorage voters split on whether to pump more money into struggling public schools
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (325+ words) While Anchorage voters appear to have approved a slew of new bonds for roads, parks and public safety, they are sharply divided on whether to increase property taxes and take on nearly $80 million in new school debt. According to early…...
OPINION: Fairbanks schools" $11. 4 M surplus undercuts funding "crisis" narrative
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (306+ words) Here are the clear budget lessons this event offers for the current Assembly and mayor: 1. Reserves are not a dirty word. Healthy fund balances signal efficiency, not greed. Locking in higher baseline spending just because "extra" money exists invites future…...