By Beth Daly Gamble, Nicole Brooks and Anita YoungmanThere’s broad awareness in Alaska about the need for a strong public education system. Families overwhelmingly support restoring school funding that’s been cut over the last decade, and many business organizations have made workforce their top priority. However, there is less understanding of how the top two legislative priorities — Base Student Allocation funding and pension reform — relate to quality. Let’s dig into the data.
The average class size for K-3 classes in Anchorage last year was 24 students, nearly 50% higher than the recommended class size of 15 students per teacher for these grades. In 2024, the Legislature added $175 million in one-time funding for schools, restoring one-half of the funds that had been cut over the previous decade. If that funding is sustained and adjusted for inflation, it will reduce the average K-3 class sizes to 23 students.
Education advocates’ other top priority is pension reform. Today, Alaska has the worst retirement system in the U.S. for police officers, state troopers and teachers. As a result, we have ultra-high rates of turnover that are extremely expensive.
Scientific studies show teachers continue to learn and become more effective through their first decade of experience. Losing teachers amer three or five years of experience is devastating for education systems because our most efficient and dedicated teachers are leaving. Pension reform will extend teacher tenure and ensure Alaska students can benefit from the most experienced, effective teachers.
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