Education

University of Alaska regents adopt per-program tuition and seek $49 million more from state

UA regents approved one tuition rate per program starting fall 2027 and asked the state for $413 million, $49 million more than this year.

by Walter AlaskaNews7h ago4 min readFrom Nov 6

Alaska school leaders tell education task force to raise funding and fix buildings

School leaders praised the education funding task force's draft, then asked for $254.6 million, pensions and roofs. Comments run until Dec. 8.

by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago3 min read

Homeschool parents object to a task force line on correspondence programs

A legislative task force floated folding homeschool correspondence programs into "a broader brick-and-mortar framework." Homeschool parents lined up to say no.

by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago3 min read

Valdez school board advances two-week spring break for 2028, wants one week after

Valdez students could get two weeks off in March 2028. Enjoy it, kids: the school board says it wants to stick to one-week breaks after that.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

State tells Alaska schools how its hands-only CPR requirement will roll out in 2027

Alaska schools must offer hands-only CPR where practicable starting in 2027. The state, still picking which grades, told districts its plan Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Sitka High's random drug tests could expand beyond sports and add alcohol and nicotine

Sitka High's random drug tests could expand beyond sports and start checking for alcohol and nicotine. Families would pay for lab tests that confirm a positive.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

AFN delegates back Alaska Pacific University's new Tribal governance model

AFN delegates backed APU's plan to bring Tribes, Native corporations and allies into its leadership as the school seeks to be an Alaska Native University.

by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readFrom Oct 24

Petersburg School Board to vote on contractor to install adaptive playground

Petersburg School Board votes Thursday on a contractor to install the adaptive playground at Rae C. Stedman Elementary.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min read

State says Hydaburg school district owed about $400,000 in retirement contributions

Hydaburg school district heads to mediation over about $400,000 in unpaid PERS retirement contributions plus interest. Missed payments directly hit employees' retirement savings.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readFrom Sep 14

Fairbanks school board member Tim Doran wins statewide governance award

Fairbanks school board member Tim Doran won a statewide award for board service. His board president's take: he asks more questions than anyone.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Nome school board named Alaska's outstanding school board for 2026

Nome's school board was named Alaska's 2026 Outstanding School Board, with the state association pointing to reading gains among its youngest students.

by Maggie AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Four in 10 Nome Elementary students are chronically absent so far this year

Nome Elementary counted 114 of its 281 students as chronically absent this year, including half of first graders, and is reaching out to affected families.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

University of Alaska says 29 federal grants restored, 32 terminated since 2025

A tells regents 29 federal grants are restored and credits Sen. Dan Sullivan. A tracker still lists six as terminated, most for Indigenous or STEM work.

by Melinda Communities.News6d ago3 min read

A Kodiak student's suicide-prevention resolution goes before Alaska's school boards

A Kodiak student's resolution would have every Alaska middle and high school run a student-led mental health or suicide-prevention group. Vote is Sunday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 7

Kodiak schools approve 4-1, $100,000 more for international teachers' green cards

Kodiak's school board approved another $100,000 for lawyers to help its international teachers get green cards and stay past their visa limits.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Sep 21

Kenai Peninsula school board rejects Soldotna Elementary charter, citing no building

The Kenai Peninsula school board turned down Soldotna Elementary's charter bid 8-0, citing the building and the budget. An appeal is still possible.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Follows: Kenai Peninsula district leaders urge school board to reject Soldotna Elementary charter

Three Alaska high school seniors are among 161 named 2026 US Presidential Scholars

Students from Soldotna, North Pole and Anchorage were named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars, three of 161 picked from more than 6,700 candidates nationwide.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage teacher tells school board two behavior staff have quit since September

A Tyson Elementary teacher told the Anchorage School Board two behavior support staffers quit since she testified in September, and asked what's changed.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

University of Alaska regents vote Thursday on one tuition rate per degree program

University of Alaska regents vote Nov. 5 on program-based tuition starting fall 2027, folding in surcharges and ending higher nonresident rates at UAA, UAF and UAS.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Alaska Railroad recruits Anchorage high schoolers to train as tour guides

Alaska Railroad wants Anchorage juniors and seniors for its King Tech tour guide class, applications due Dec. 3. Finishing it can lead to a paid summer job on the railroad.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Borough presentation says Soldotna Elementary rebuild stays within voter-approved bond

Borough officials are set to tell the Kenai school board Nov. 2 that the Soldotna Elementary rebuild stays within its voter-approved bond.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula schools run 258 students short in the count used for state funding

Kenai Peninsula schools were running 258 students under projections late in the state count used for funding, in a district already projecting a shortfall.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kenai Peninsula school board votes Monday on 10-year renewal of Fireweed Academy charter

Kenai school board votes Monday on a 10 year charter renewal for Homer's Fireweed Academy, through 2037. • Same meeting, district leaders recommend denying a proposed Soldotna Elementary charter over budget and compliance issues.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kenai Peninsula district leaders urge school board to reject Soldotna Elementary charter

District leaders urge the school board to reject turning Soldotna Elementary into a charter school. They cite a $1.1 million budget gap and no secured building. Board votes Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Soldotna Elementary parents and staff propose a charter that keeps neighborhood enrollment

Free Wasilla summit Monday helps students with disabilities plan for life after school

Mat-Su students with disabilities can practice job interviews and get help planning for life after high school at a free summit Monday in Wasilla.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula graduates 84.1% of Class of 2026, but slides use last year's state rates

Kenai Peninsula schools graduated 84.1% of its Class of 2026, topping the state's 80.52% rate. Its presentation compares district data to last year's state rates, not this year's.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Fairbanks mayor proposes waiving school district's pool fee to keep kids learning to swim

Fairbanks' mayor wants to drop the school district's $2-a-student pool fee this year when it brings its own lifeguards, calling swimming a critical skill.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Tuluksak School's new hydroponic tower is growing tomatoes, onions and basil

Tuluksak School has a new hydroponic tower growing tomatoes, onions and basil, part of a Yupiit School District project to get fresh produce to its schools.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Alaska high schoolers have until Nov. 16 to sign up for Poetry Out Loud

Alaska teens who can memorize a poem and really sell it have until Nov. 16 to sign up for Poetry Out Loud. The state winner heads to the national finals in D.C.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Alaska's first school construction rankings under new scoring rules come out Nov. 5

Alaska's school construction rankings come out Nov. 5, the first under scoring rules rewritten to help rural districts. Districts can appeal theirs by Dec. 1.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Alaska Gateway School District and Upper Tanana slated to sign agreement Nov. 13

Alaska Gateway School District and the Upper Tanana region plan to sign an agreement Nov. 13 at TCC's Fall Summit. The agenda doesn't say what it covers.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Kenai Peninsula kindergartners gain on reading, but third grade stays flat near 59%

Kenai Peninsula kindergartners went from 49% to 72% at the reading benchmark in three years. Third grade, the Alaska Reads Act's target year, stayed near 59%.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom Oct 5

Chatham schools could serve salmon, venison and seaweed under new wellness policy

Chatham's school board votes Tuesday on a policy calling for foods like salmon, halibut, venison, seaweed and berries in school meals where practicable.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

A new Deering school is estimated at $64 million, and the building isn't funded yet

Northwest Arctic's school district puts a new Deering school at $64 million, with $6 million to start. The building, utilities and teacher housing are unfunded.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min readFrom Sep 29

Homer's Fireweed Academy asks Kenai Peninsula school district to renew its charter for 10 years

Fireweed Academy asked the Kenai Peninsula school district to renew its charter for 10 years, through 2037. The district board and state board of education must still approve it.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Soldotna Elementary parents and staff propose a charter that keeps neighborhood enrollment

Soldotna Elementary parents want a charter where neighborhood kids skip the lottery, application and parent contract. The school board reviews it Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Follows: Soldotna Elementary parents and staff seek to convert their school to a charter

Tlingit & Haida brings its Juneau early learning programs under one roof

Tlingit & Haida put Head Start, Early Head Start, child care and its Lingít immersion nest under one roof in Juneau. The kids call each other "nesty besties."

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Mat-Su school board denies community bid to reopen Meadow Lakes Elementary as a charter

Mat-Su's school board formally turned down a community plan to reopen closed Meadow Lakes Elementary as an outdoor charter school. The group can appeal.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Mat-Su parent asks school board to protect the school nurses her son relies on

A Mat-Su mom told the school board her first-grader needs trained care every two hours and asked it to keep school nurses. A committee is weighing options.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Alaska summer meal sponsors will apply on a new state platform in 2027

Summer meal sponsors will switch to a new state system for applications and claims in 2027. Last summer the program served 1.3 million meals to Alaska kids.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readFrom Sep 9