OPINION: When it comes to funding schools in Alaska, students come before politics

Updated: 2 hours ago Published: 2 hours ago

Last legislative session, our lawmakers had a historic opportunity to change the trajectory of school funding and stop the steady and deliberate decline of public education in Alaska. Instead, they did the opposite.

Communities across the state breathed a sigh of relief when lawmakers cast their first votes to increase the basic student allocation funding formula. Those crucial votes meant schools in our communities didn’t have to close, staff didn’t have to be laid off, and our children didn’t lose educational opportunities because districts can’t afford critical programs. There was real hope. A sense that our state was finally putting our children first and was back on track to support our communities and families with the education funding our children deserve. But all that changed when our governor vetoed the education funding and our lawmakers then ignored the overwhelming support for public education in their communities and failed to override the veto. The results were devastating. Schools are closing. Districts are making cuts to programs. Vacancies are going unfilled. Our children’s class sizes are getting bigger again.

Class size is the most important indicator of student academic success. Wonderful, qualified, and caring teachers and support staff are critical to creating supportive learning environments. But student success, especially to the extent desired by the state, cannot be achieved in environments where there are more students in a classroom than there are desks to sit at. Class sizes in the state of Alaska have been increasing. Our state is among the top 15 largest classes in the country. In 2022, an average kindergarten class in Anchorage had 21 students. That means 21 brand new learners are being taught and cared for throughout the day, usually by just one adult. In a daycare center in our state, the ratio considered safe for this age group is 14 children to one adult. Class sizes get even larger as students get older. The average high school class size in 2017 was 27 students. In 2022, 46% of high school classes in Anchorage had more than 30 students.

In classes this large, children fall behind. They don’t get the one-on-one or small group instruction time they need to master difficult content. Students who struggle continue to struggle and often fall behind. Qualified, caring adults and small class sizes are needed to develop confident learners who become productive citizens. To create these environments, we must increase BSA on a permanent basis. Without guaranteed funding for the people and programs our children deserve, we cannot grow our state’s economy. School districts cannot fully dedicate themselves to workforce development and early learning programs. It is not possible to do more with less. We are past the point as a state where we can expect educators to do miracles for our children without having the manpower or resources to do so. With programs like the Academies of Anchorage, there are so many exciting things ahead for our community and our businesses that will give our students the professional skills they need to be successful. In turn, our local economy can then have the skilled and experienced workforce we need. Programs like this require consistent and reliable funding. This funding comes from an increase in the BSA.

So what can we do to ensure smaller class sizes, quality programs, and the funding our schools need? The short answer is vote. In every election this year, we must remember who voted against funding the future of our children and our schools, and we must vote them out. Accountability begins at the ballot box. Our children deserve better, and so does our state. Our communities overwhelmingly support our schools. We want students who graduate ready for their careers and life. We must start electing people to our state legislature who value the same things our community does. People before politics, always. Our schools and children before political sensationalism. Let’s vote for our values ​​and support what’s important. It’s time to change who we send to Juneau.

Michaela Kolerok is a native Alaskan, a special education teacher for 11 years, and the mother of two children who have thrived thanks to Alaska public schools.

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