Published in the ADN March 15, 2026
Schools and families across Alaska face a range of challenges. Rural districts are struggling to fill teaching positions and keep buildings open and functional, while urban districts have unacceptably high class sizes that are driving outmigration. We can and must provide adequate, stable school funding as a foundation for our state’s economic competitiveness. As members of the bipartisan House majority coalition, here are steps we’re taking in support of schools.
Teacher retention and teacher experience are essential to improving academic achievement. When our bipartisan majority organized, we identified retirement reform as a top priority along with adequate classroom education funding. Last year, the House Finance Committee bill HB 78, a shared-risk retirement plan, passed the House with a bipartisan vote. This year, that bill has gone through extensive review in the Senate and is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. Notably, the state actuary reports this plan will not add any unfunded liability to the state. We look forward to Senate passage of this bill because every parent and administrator knows that teacher retention drives academic outcomes. Students deserve experienced, effective teachers. House Bill 78 is a critical part of our efforts to provide an outstanding public education, and we are fully committed to passing this legislation.
Last year, the Legislature passed broadly supported language in House Bill 57 to fund implementation of the Reads Act and career and technical education, but the funding vehicle for those provisions fell victim to a veto. The House Finance Committee is hearing and will advance to the floor House Bill 280, which modernizes our corporate income apportionment to reflect the realities of an increasingly digitized national and international economy. Right now, our outdated tax code means local brick-and-mortar businesses often pay a higher tax rate than digital vendors who employ no Alaskans. This bill levels the playing field for brick-and-mortar Alaska businesses, so it is good for our state as a simple matter of tax fairness. In addition, this bill would have the effect of funding the Reads Act and career and technical education. As school districts have struggled with years of inflation- adjusted funding cuts, CTE programs have been cut or eliminated. It’s imperative we end an unfunded mandate and turn the Reads Act into a funded program to help Alaska students read at grade level.
Manageable class sizes are a prerequisite for academic advancement. Extensive peer-reviewed studies from across the country demonstrate that smaller class sizes drive better outcomes, and states as diverse as Florida and Massachusetts have achieved success by prioritizing smaller class sizes, particularly inelementary school. Since personnel is the top cost in every school district, it is critical that our state funding keep pace with inflation so school districts can maintain class sizes as low as possible. After a decade of funding cuts, over the last two years we restored 40% of funding and updated our BSA formula to reverse some of the effects of inflation. It is also critical to keep pace with school maintenance needs so that our kids have a place to learn.
Our caucus organized around fiscal responsibility, supporting public education and reforming our retirement system. Strong schools and teacher retention are essential for the health of our economy, and we must make progress if we’re going to have any chance of reversing the last decade of outmigration. We will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to support our schools, recognizing that any reforms must be durable and safeguard Alaskans’ savings in the Permanent Fund. Thank you to the parents, teachers and students who work hard every day in our schools. We stand with you.
Reps. Bryce Edgmon, Chuck Kopp, Louise Stutes, Neal Foster, Andy Josephson, Calvin Schrage, Zack Fields, Ashley Carrick, Maxine Dibert, Ted Eischeid, Robyn Niayuq Frier, Alyse Galvin, Andrew Gray, Carolyn Hall, Sara Hannan, Rebecca Himschoot, Ky Holland, Nellie Unangiq Jimmie, Donna Mears, Genevieve Mina and Andi Story are members of the bipartisan House majority coalition.
[posted by Ky, March 15, 2026]