National Teacher Appreciation Week
As the 33rd Legislative Session is in the home stretch, don’t forget to follow along as bills will be moving quickly.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We have definitely hit crunch time in the Alaska State Legislature. On May 6, the Conference Committee for the FY 2025 Budget was announced, which means we’ve officially entered into what is colloquially called the 24-Hour Rule.
Rule 23(d), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature: The provisions of (a) and (b) of this rule do not apply to a standing, special, or joint committee meeting scheduled after the date a conference committee has been chosen to consider amendments to or differences between versions of the general appropriation act. However, a person who chairs a standing, special, or joint committee shall post written notice of the time, place, and subject matter of a meeting on or before the calendar day [AT LEAST 24 HOURS] before the meeting.
Functionally, this means any piece of legislation can be noticed and heard the next day. Expect bills to move quickly and in some cases, be packaged with other similar bills. As always, you can follow along on AKLeg.gov or text a bill number (ex: HB1) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts.
National Teacher Appreciation Week
I have been thinking about this impending recognition week for a while. Over the past few months, I have watched and listened as teachers, especially those associated with the National Education Association, have been demonized and scapegoated for all the ills happening in the world today. I have really struggled with this, because teachers are amazing.
I have gone on the record many times talking about my love for teachers. I distinctly remember my Glacier Valley Elementary 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hackery. I have often shared about the influence my homeroom and math teacher Andre had on both myself and my best friend (who happens to be a public school math teacher). I recently ran into my high school biology teacher (and cross country coach) Mrs. Bauer (Nancy) while returning to Anchorage after visiting my dad in Nome.
Educators have enriched my life and it is hard for me to stomach the castigation of teachers I hear from some of my fellow elected officials.
Thus, I have recently made a personal promise - I will not let it slide anymore. I cannot do much, but I can stand up for the dedicated public servants doing the heavy lifting to ensure our greatest resource is well stewarded. Educators are the backbone of our society and I must do more to stand up for them.
Public Correspondence Study Programs
With the recent Superior Court decision ruling that the current statutes relating to correspondence study program allotments are unconstitutional, the Senate Education Committee has been working to reinstate the allotment program in a way that passes constitutional muster. Earlier this week, the Senate Education Committee introduced a committee substitute for Senate Bill 266, which incorporates robust public feedback the committee received and the input from committee members. Notable changes include:
Flexibility to request alternatives to statewide assessments including using a student portfolio;
Clarification in statewide reporting of demographic information and assessment performance for correspondence study program participants;
Renaming student fund balance to allotment and removal of prescriptive approved uses of allotment;
Ability to roll over 10% of student allotments annually;
Clarification in approved allotment expenditures for arts, music, and physical education.
Ensuring the constitutionality of correspondence study program allotment usage is critical to providing program stability and certainty for our public homeschool families. Nobody wants the chaos and uncertainty currently being felt by Alaska’s homeschool families. While I recognize any change to the allotment program presents challenges, I am confident that SB 266 brings our homeschool allotment program back into constitutional alignment.
Energy
As the Legislature enters the final days of the session, I have growing confidence an energy package will make it across the finish line. Stay tuned for this Sunday’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast to hear a great conversation with Senator Forrest Dunbar, who sits on the Senate Resources Committee and has been working on energy issues and legislation all session long.
