Education

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

From behind, a young boy is pictured reading a picture book.

Anchorage School District is again considering changes to class start times

The school board voted down a proposal to change start times in 2018, but officials say the issue has remained important post-pandemic.
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.
Petersburg elementary students

Petersburg schools scramble to pay for new Alaska READS Act requirements

Alaska schools are preparing to meet requirements of the READS Act this fall — a costly mandate amid flat state education funding.
A crowd skates on an ice rink on a school basketball court.

Mountain View Elementary celebrates the opening of a new community-funded ice rink

Teacher James Cornelison set up a GoFundMe that raised $8,000 to help students get outside and on the ice for the winter.
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 Glenn Highway

Mat-Su schools closed Tuesday amid Southcentral rain, icy roads

Light rain is expected to fall across much of the region Tuesday, with a storm possibly bringing more rain to Anchorage on Wednesday.
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.
A mirrored building.

What do you want to ask Anchorage Assembly and school board candidates?

What issues matter most to you? Help us create our candidate questionnaires.

Newtok’s school loses power plant in fire

The Western Alaska village of Newtok has lost power at its local school due to a Thursday fire, according to state officials.
A sign displaying "Anchorage School District" with snow on the letters.

Anchorage schools now prepared for remote learning during snow days

The move comes a month after a trio of winter storms closed schools for six days.
A female teacher points to a word projected on a white board in a classroom with three students sitting a tables facing the front of the classroom

For students at 8 Anchorage schools, chicken jerky and crackers are replacing hot lunches

An Anchorage Daily News report found staffing shortages mean the district can't provide hot lunches to hundreds of students.
Mat-Su Borough school bus drivers picket

Mat-Su bus drivers declare midday strike after dropping students off at school

The school district said parents and guardians must now pick up their students at the end of the day.
people wave signs on a picket line

No new offer in Mat-Su school bus drivers’ strike as parents’ anger builds

The bus strike has tangled transportation in a district that serves roughly 19,000 students across a region about the size of West Virginia. 
people stand with signs

Alaska senators say $1,000 increase to per student funding is ‘beginning of a conversation’

A bill introduced Wednesday proposes the highest single-year increase to the base student allocation, but some say it’s not enough.
people in yellow shirts in a meeting room

Contract negotiations to resume after striking Mat-Su bus drivers pack school board meeting

“This bus company does not care about the safety of these children as much as we bus drivers do,” Alice Smith told the school board.
Juneau School District offices

Juneau leaders begin talks over $4.7M school district deficit

A $30 increase to base student allocation isn't enough to keep the district out of a deficit as costs go up and enrollment goes down.

As state grapples with food stamp backlog, an Anchorage middle school steps up to feed families

When principal Marcus Wilson found out about one student’s family struggling to get food, he sent out a message to all families to see if it was a bigger issue. And it was.
Alaska 2005 high-school yearbooks

Catching up: Researchers track 6,000 Alaskans’ paths after their 2005 high school graduations

Nearly 18 years ago, about 6,000 young Alaskans left high school and launched into adulthood. Where did they end up?
The Bartlett High School class of 2022 commencement.

Alaska lawmakers work to lower barriers to eligibility for in-state scholarships

The Alaska Performance Scholarship reported its lowest eligibility rate ever last year.
Petersburg's high school

Petersburg schools concerned about spreading trend of travel-fueled absenteeism

School administrators in Petersburg have been alarmed this year by how many families are taking extended vacations outside of school breaks.