Alaska House lawmakers made some modifications to a key education bill before a final House vote on Wednesday. House Bill 69 aims to increase per-student funding in public schools by $1,000, a move that has been advocated for by teachers, parents, and students for years. The bill also includes an incentive program for school districts to boost academic performance among young students.
After negotiations with Governor Mike Dunleavy’s staff, House leaders added additional policy changes to avoid a potential veto. House minority Republicans attempted to further amend the bill, with four amendments passing. One emphasizes academic progress in school evaluations, while another requires a fast-track education funding bill at the start of each legislative session.
The bill also includes provisions to prevent an education voucher system and allows charter schools to appeal contract terminations to the state Board of Education. However, many other proposed amendments were rejected, including efforts to reduce class sizes and enhance vocational training.
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon noted that while some ideas were worthy, not all were suitable for inclusion in the education funding bill. A final House vote is anticipated on Wednesday, with the bill then moving to the state Senate for consideration and potential modifications.
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Photo credit alaskapublic.org
