Education

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

A structural engineer address the crowd on a tour of the damage at Gruening Middle School

Gruening Middle School teachers and staff take first look at earthquake damage

Gruening suffered the most damage of any school in the district during the earthquake and will receive the bulk of the money in the school bond proposal for repairs and seismic upgrades.

Dunleavy says money set aside for Alaska schools is subject to veto. Lawmakers disagree.

A new fight is erupting in Juneau about spending on Alaska's public schools. It centers on whether Gov. Mike Dunleavy has the power to veto money state lawmakers set aside for schools last year, for the upcoming school year – a practice called "forward funding."

Anchorage teachers union approves new contract

The agreement includes health benefit increases and 2 percent salary raises in the second and third years. It also contains language allowing for more input from teachers in lesson plans and scheduling.

Otter skin sewing workshops promote ‘sustainable cottage industry’ in coastal Alaska

Sealaska Heritage Institute hopes the classes can promote cottage industries in smaller communities and maybe even offer a sustainable solution to the region’s fast-growing sea otter population.

Anchorage School Board votes to close Mount Spurr Elementary School

The board heard emotional testimony from several people opposed to the closure, but ultimately voted 5-2 in favor of shutting the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson elementary school.

In Goodnews Bay, the Pledge of Allegiance is a way to speak Yup’ik in school

There's no Yup’ik teacher in Goodnews Bay, so for now, the students practice by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Yup’ik instead. Listen now
A sign reads "Welcome to UAS" at the University of Alaska Southeast’s Juneau campus.

UAS sees increase in first-year students, career and technical education enrollment

Enrollment is down across the University of Alaska system. But at the Southeast campus, enrollment is actually up for first-year students and students enrolled in career and technical programs. Listen now

Atka school in danger of shutting down

To get full funding, schools need at least 10 students. But at the Yakov E. Netsvetov school in Atka, there are only six. Listen now

As APU seeks fiscal sustainability, tribal college transition possible

Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage is weighing its options to become more financially sustainable. Among its top prospects: to seek tribal college status. Listen now

Southeast legislators hesitant to cut education funding

Southeast Alaska lawmakers express skepticism that the Legislature should look to school funding to cut the state's budget. In fact, some legislators would like to see spending increase in some education areas. Listen now
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
Alaska News Nightly by Alaska Public Media

Mat-Su school district faces $9 million deficit

Despite a $3 million appropriation from the Mat-Su Borough, the Borough's school district is millions in the red. Download Audio

State’s largest school district, 48K students to be led by an Alaskan–but which?

A months long search has yielded two candidates with very different experience across Alaska's schools. Download Audio