No issue has taken precedence this session like the issue of education. It’s often a substantial topic in the legislature, but it has absolutely dominated the work in the Capitol building.
In fact, I worked through the weekend trying to get agreement to get an education bill across the finish line and implemented. HB 69 failed to get us there. HB 57 as written doesn’t get us there.
I have been back and forth in conversations with my House and Senate Majority and Minority colleagues and the governor (not just this weekend but all session) with the end goal of providing much-needed funding to our schools and much-needed policies to help our students and teachers.
On a quick side note, you may or may not know that I grew up attending public schools and my children all attended public schools in various communities throughout Alaska (we lived in Hoonah, Bethel, Fort Yukon, Fairbanks, and Seward before coming to Palmer in 1990). I deeply care about our students. Education is a game-changer. I want every student in Alaska to have a real opportunity to learn and succeed.
Naysayers, this is for you
For the naysayers angry that I upheld the governor’s veto of HB 69 (the bill with zero policy and without a revenue source to cover the large funding increase), you should know that I have offered amendments the last few years to require districts to prioritize teachers and classrooms over administration because research shows that this approach will improve student outcomes. I have offered amendments to provide teacher classroom accounts for teachers, to direct increased funding to teachers/classrooms, to put a minimum of 70% of funding toward teachers/ classrooms, to provide retention bonuses to teachers, to provide incentive bonuses to teachers as students outcomes move up the ladder toward proficiency. All these amendments have failed because the NEA did not support them.
Please understand that even the Democrat senators who co-chair the Senate Finance Committee voted against the $1000 BSA because it would be like writing a check that would bounce. We have to find compromise on an amount that we can afford this year and that can be sustained in future years.
Not just a nice idea but a constitutional obligation
We also have to recognize the constitutional obligation we have that is outlined in Judge Gleason’s 2007 Moore vs State of Alaska ruling – that it is not all about funding, that if a substantial majority of students are not reaching proficiency, the state must intervene. That’s what we did when we passed the 2022 Reads Act that I was honored to bring forward with then Democrat senator from Anchorage, Tom Begich. 70% of our K-3 students were not on grade level so we intervened; already, the most recent data shows our rate of improvement growth was among the top in the nation – still more climbing needed but we have turned the corner for this group of students in the area of reading. We need additional reforms that will help all students, all subjects, all grades.
DMV comparison 🚘
I liken the situation to what would we do if the lines at DMV were three hours long but if DMV were also issuing licenses to people who didn’t know how to drive. We wouldn’t just increase their budget to address the long wait times; we would also address their policies to make sure they were meeting their mission.
Because our schools are ranking 51st out of 53 states/territories with only about 30% of our students on grade level, and the amount of our public tax dollars for K-12 education in Alaska is approaching $2 billion, it’s time for a reset. We have a constitutional responsibility to ensure our K-12 system is meeting its mission to prepare students for life as adults. Yes, funding is necessary so districts can keep the lights on and pay the bills, but good policy is also absolutely essential at this time to turn the trajectory of student learning upward.
Not a solo operation
As I said last week, and even more so since HB 69 failed and is out of the picture, the House and Senate Majorities can no longer fly solo on this; they need to work together with the House and Senate Minorities and the Governor to actually get the votes needed to pass and implement an education funding and policy bill!
Writing a check that would have bounced, like House Bill 69, was not the answer. Writing a bill without adequate reforms like HB 57 in its present form is not the answer either. We must take action within our fiscal reality and include policy focused on student learning and supporting teachers. I can’t make it happen alone but please know I am working to try to bring key advocates to the table.
Tipped in one direction
I hope we can get there but it’s not a sure thing at all. The current HB 57 leaves out 85% of the policy baseline but includes all of the Senate Finance co-chairs funding baseline (they have insisted on $680 BSA from day one – and there was always consensus and agreement in the building that this was the realistic number that could actually be afforded). It also includes an extra $20 BSA and an increase to bus transportation funding. It clearly tips heavily to the funding side.
A fair compromise would include the policy requested because the funding went up above the starting point of $680.
So far the majorities haven’t indicated publicly that they are willing to add the missing policy pieces – so sadly we aren’t at a place I can say that the education bill will cross the finish line and be implemented.
Can it? Will it?
There’s still a chance though that it can and will happen. If the majorities decide on this particular issue that they aren’t going to play politics and let the effort fail for 2026 election purposes, we can turn the corner and get this done. If a bill isn’t successful, it will hurt our K-12 students. If the majority will do what is right to help our teachers and students by adding the needed reforms, we can get the funds and good policies out the door to the schools this year.
This approach is what we’re now hearing that many of the districts and the various education organizations want. Let see what happens with HB 57.
