Education

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

Citing CARES Act funding, ASD School Board votes to restore funding for health educators

The funding will save 28 health instructor positions and retain dedicated health instruction for all Anchorage School District elementary schools.

Recruitment opportunities dry up, teachers back out as districts look to hire for fall

In Alaska, where more than half the teachers come from outside the state, recruitment and retention becomes even more of a challenge during a pandemic.

After hours of public comment, Mat-Su school board’s vote to rescind book removal is pushed to later this month

The school board will now decide later in May whether to rescind its vote to remove the books, including “The Great Gatsby,” “Catch-22” and “Invisible Man.”

‘There’s no consideration of cultural needs’: Rural teachers discuss alternative to Florida Virtual School

Teachers in Alaska are concerned that the Florida Virtual School isn't a useful solution in off-the-road-system communities and are discussing what Alaska-made curriculum might look like.

Anchorage high school seniors begin pandemic-style pomp and circumstance ceremonies

Students and teachers mourn the loss of the traditional ceremony and search for ways to mark the occasion.

This 80-vehicle car parade drives around Anchorage celebrating high school graduates

It's yet another way the community is celebrating the class of 2020 in lieu of a traditional ceremony.

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 sign reads "Welcome to UAS" at the University of Alaska Southeast’s Juneau campus.

University regents decide to put the brakes on campus merger plan for UAS

University of Alaska regents have put the brakes on a plan to merge University of Alaska Southeast programs in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka into either the Anchorage or Fairbanks operations.
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.

UA president Jim Johnsen withdraws from Wisconsin job

In a press release Friday morning, Johnsen wrote “After deep reflection as to where I am called to lead a university system through these challenging times, it is clear to me and my family that it is in Alaska.”

Amidst calls for police reform, Anchorage School District opts to keep School Resource Officer program

The program is used across the country and stations local police officers in public schools.

Anchorage School District reopening plans for fall start to come into focus

The district presented proposals for fall scheduling and instruction to the school board.

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.

Class of 2020 teaching graduates feel just as prepared for fall as previous classes, research shows

Despite missing some student teaching hours, the pandemic did not have any significant impact on new Alaska teacher's preparedness.
Classroom

Alaska pediatricians agree with national org, encourage in-person school this fall

They say it's important to consider the risks of keeping children out of school; schools can and should reopen where it's safe to do so.
aerial photo of buildings and trees

Anxiety, then relief for international college students in Alaska after week of changing rules

The rules, issued by ICE, said students would need to take classes in-person this fall or leave the country.

LISTEN: With the school year weeks away, teachers contemplate returning to the classroom during a pandemic

The decisions on how to educate students during the pandemic are difficult and teachers are caught in the middle. So how do teachers feel about the upcoming school year?

LISTEN: We’re celebrating 50 years of public radio in Alaska. Share your stories with us.

Public radio came to Alaska in 1970, providing a vital link between rural communities at a time when there were none. How was Alaska’s public radio network built?

‘Enrollment is significantly down’ says Anchorage School District two weeks before school start

Hundreds of students have already chosen other programs while thousands have yet to verify their enrollment with the district.