Education

All Alaska education news stories including child care, K-12 schools, university and policy.

Two young boys smile at the camera while playing with play-doh at a kitchen table

With uncertainty about how school will look in the fall, Anchorage parents turn to home school

Some parents are concerned about health, others are looking for educational certainty.
A student sitting on the shoulders of another student holding up a sign in protest.

Alaska students stage statewide walkout to protest education funding veto

Students protested Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill and the Legislature's failure to override the veto.

A former student speaks out about racism in Juneau schools; administration says it’ll do better

After watching protests unfold for Black lives in Alaska and across the country, Lacey Davis posted a video on Facebook about her experiences of growing up Black in Juneau.
flowers at the state Capitol

Alaska legislators lack the votes to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes

Support for an override is short of the 40 votes needed to call a special session, and shy of the 45 needed for an override.

Anchorage School District superintendent expects to postpone start of in-person classes

Anchorage Schools Superintendent Deena Bishop said she'll likely push back the return to in-person schooling because of a surge of COVID-19 infections in the city.
students in a hallway

Lawsuit says Alaska statute allowing public funding to go to private schools is unconstitutional

Some private schools publicize how state program can offset tuition.
an abandoned school

Newtok residents say a portion of the public school will be demolished this summer

Newtok's school was also the center of local social events, until a January generator fire. Now residents have nowhere to gather.
A school building

Ketchikan community members raise Title IX concerns to school board

Representatives of Ketchikan High School’s volleyball team came to the Ketchikan School Board on Wednesday with a long list of complaints, including gender bias, alleged violations of Title IX, and objectification of the athletes involved in volleyball. Listen Now
a building with a mountain in the background

Sitka Fine Arts Camp files rare immigration lawsuit in support of theater manager

The camp, which operates the 145-year-old campus of Sheldon Jackson College, was seeking a technical expert.
hearing room

Alaska school administrators urge action on ‘crisis’ in teacher hiring and turnover

"We are struggling in the worst crisis Alaska has ever seen in terms of turnover. We can't recruit teachers," said Lisa Parady, who leads the Alaska Council of School Administrators.
Young students sit behind desks in an elementary school classroom.

Alaska lawmakers look to increase school funding in upcoming legislative session

State funding to school districts has, essentially, not changed since 2017. At the same time, the cost of pretty much everything has gone up.
children

Lingít scholars document traditional hand gestures that could be used in language learning

Using old recordings, language experts are documenting birth speakers' hand gestures that have contextual meaning in Lingít.
High school kids waving protest signs.

Hundreds of Mat-Su students stage walkout to protest school board decisions 

The protests follow recent controversial decisions by the board, including the removal of its student representative.

Here’s how the Anchorage School District will create a plan to restart school this fall

The district will provide updates throughout the summer and hopes to have a plan in place by mid-July.
a trooper car

Former Mat-Su substitute teacher charged with sexually abusing 2 children

Court records show Scott Anthony Pezzini, 31, of Wasilla is charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Divided Alaska House calls for stay of homeschool decision until mid-2025

The two-page “sense of the House” approved by a 20-18 vote Wednesday supports a stay of the judge’s ruling through the end of June 2025.

Palmer to set up interim library after roof collapse

Residents of Palmer have rallied to support the Palmer Public Library since the building suffered a partial roof collapse on Feb. 15.
A snowplow pushes through thick snow on a residential street.

From next week to March 9, Anchorage school days will be 30 minutes longer

The Anchorage School Board approved the plan to make up for class time lost due to an unprecedented string of snow days in December.
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy reappoints Bethany Marcum to state redistricting board

A day after lawmakers declined to confirm Bethany Marcum to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, she was reappointed to her former job.
A woman stands in front of an elementary school.

Anchorage School District announces new safety upgrades as schools prepare to welcome students

As Anchorage students prepare to go back to school next week, several schools have new safety upgrades.