Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/19/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB69 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 69-EDUCATION FUNDING: INCREASE BSA
3:35:00 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
69(RLS) am "An Act relating to education; relating to open
enrollment in public schools; relating to school and student
performance reports; relating to school and district
accountability; relating to charter schools; relating to an
annual report for correspondence study programs; relating to the
base student allocation; relating to reading proficiency
incentive grants; relating to wireless telecommunications
devices in public schools; relating to the duty of the
legislature to pass a public education appropriation bill;
relating to the duty of the governor to prepare a public
education appropriation bill; establishing the Task Force on
Education Funding; relating to a report on regulation of school
districts; and providing for an effective date."
3:35:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on HB 69.
3:36:41 PM
MELISSA BURNETT, School Board President, Fairbanks North Star
Borough, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation on HB 69.
She said she is a parent, community member, and president of the
Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board and testified as a
strong advocate for Alaska's students and emphasized the urgent
need for increased school funding. She stated that districts
across the state are struggling to meet rising costs while being
asked to do more, leading to larger class sizes, stretched
staff, and insufficient support for students. She urged
lawmakers to support a $1,000 increase to the Base Student
Allocation (BSA), noting it would provide real and lasting
impact. Her district has committed to lowering the pupil-to-
teacher ratio (PTR), and with additional funding, could reduce
class sizes and increase one-on-one support for students.
3:37:49 PM
MS. BURNETT reported that since 2019, Fairbanks has been forced
to close seven schools, including three this year alone. She
detailed that some grade bands now exceed 30 students per class.
Special education programs, the Extended Learning Program (ELP),
and supply and activity budgets have all been reduced, some by
half. The district has eliminated hockey, elementary band,
orchestra, and art programs, and shut down its print shop.
Administrative staff has been reduced by 20 percent, and the
district is currently considering another $500,000 to $1 million
in administrative cuts. With a loss of 650 students and a
projected $16 million deficit if funding remains flat, the
district has decided to close three additional schools and
contract out evening custodial services. Additional proposed
cuts would increase the PTR by another 2.5 students per teacher.
She stressed that every student in the district is affected by
these reductions and shared that many parents are making
difficult choices due to under-resourced schools. Teachers are
using personal funds to supply their classrooms, and school
boards are forced to make painful decisions year after year. She
acknowledged concerns about the state's budget but argued that
Alaska cannot afford not to invest in education, emphasizing
that strong schools create strong communities.
MS. BURNETT also addressed policy changes that could strengthen
HB 69. She supported open enrollment, provided local students
are given priority and school boards define capacity. She
advocated for counting correspondence students as 1.0 in the
foundation formula instead of 0.9, noting Alaska's long history
of distance education and the need to fully fund these programs.
She also called for a focus on Career and Technical Education
(CTE) policies that expand opportunities for students preparing
for trades and high-demand jobs. She emphasized that investing
in CTE supports both students' futures and the state's economic
growth.
3:41:47 PM
MS. BURNETT concluded by urging the legislature to pair
increased funding with smart, student-centered policies. She
called HB 69 a strong starting point but said it needs
additional work to ensure it passes and becomes impactful. She
asked lawmakers to build a system that truly supports all
students long term, rather than continuing to patch holes.
3:42:12 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked Ms. Burnett to confirm that Fairbanks has
closed seven schools and is planning to close three more, for a
total of ten school closures. He also requested that she repeat
the number of students the district has lost in recent years.
MS. BURNETT clarified that Fairbanks has closed seven schools in
total, four in previous years and three more this year. She
added that the district lost 650 students this year due to
declining enrollment.
3:42:58 PM
SENATOR CRONK thanked Ms. Burnett for her hard work and the
efforts of the Fairbanks School Board. He also expressed
appreciation for the policy ideas she shared, noting their
importance.
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether, under the current policy in the
Fairbanks North Star Borough, students from Nenana are able to
enroll at University Park Elementary, and if that reflects an
existing open enrollment practice in the district.
3:43:45 PM
MS. BURNETT confirmed that the Fairbanks North Star Borough
School District has a lenient out-of-attendance-area policy that
allows students from outside the district, such as those from
Nenana, to enroll in schools like University Park Elementary.
She clarified that enrollment is permitted as long as there is
available space in the school.
SENATOR KIEHL asked approximately how many students from outside
the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District are currently
attending schools within the district.
MS. BURNETT responded that she did not have the exact number but
would have the numbers sent to the committee.
3:44:37 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said Ms. Heineken from the Department of Education
and Early Development would give a review of the fiscal notes
for HB 69.
3:44:54 PM
HEATHER HEINEKEN, Director, Finance and Support Services,
Department of Education and Early Development, Fairbanks,
Alaska, provided an overview of the fiscal notes associated with
HB 69:
• Public Education Fund, OMB Component No. 2804:
HB 69 proposes increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by
$1,000, from $5,960 to $6,960. This change creates a cost of
$253,201,200 beginning in FY 2026, with the same cost
projected for the out years 2027 through FY 2031. The bill is
set to take effect July 1, 2025.
• Foundation Program, OMB Component No. 141:
This fiscal note mirrors the Public Education Fund analysis
but shows a $0 fiscal impact because the general fund
transfers to the Public Education Fund, not directly into the
Foundation Program. It is included for informational purposes
only.
• Mt. Edgecumbe High School, a division of DEED, OMB Component
No. 1060:
This fiscal note reflects an increase in receipt authority to
align with expected allocations from the Public Education
Fund. The projected increase is $706,500 for FY 2016, and
annually for the out years FY 2027 through FY 2031.
• Student and School Achievement Allocation, OMB Component No.
2796):
• HB 69, Section 15: Adds one Education Specialist II, Range
21, to serve as a charter school coordinator at a total cost
of $158,200 in FY 2026, including $135,600 salary, $17,600 in
annual operating costs and a one-time $5,000 equipment cost.
The ongoing annual cost from FY 20272031 will be $153,200.
o Section 23: Establishes Reading Proficiency Incentive
Grants of $450 per student in grades K6 who meet
proficiency or demonstrate progress on statewide
assessments. Based on current data, 48,847 students would
qualify, with an annual cost of $21,981,200. A one-time
$6,000 legal cost is also included for regulation
development, making the total FY 2026 cost $21,987,200.
The annual cost from FY 20272031 remains $21,981,200
(noting a correction from a fiscal note error showing
$21,971,200).
o Section 25: Requires districts to adopt mobile
communication device policies, with a one-time legal cost
of $6,000 in FY 2026. No ongoing costs are anticipated.
o Total Cost for OMB Component 2796:
o FY 2026: $22,151,400
o FY 20272031: $22,124,400 annually
• Office of Management and Budget, OMB Component No. 2144:
This fiscal note addresses the requirement for a separate
education appropriation bill. OMB reported that it can absorb
the additional workload within existing resources, so this is
a $0 fiscal note.
MS. HEINEKEN stated there are additional regulations drafted in
HB 69 that do not create department level costs and can be
performed within current resources in place.
3:50:54 PM
SENATOR KIEHL questioned why the estimated cost for the reading
incentive grants remained flat over the years. He asked whether
the department expects that the number of students reading at
grade level or making progress will not increase as a result of
the grants.
3:51:20 PM
MS. HEINEKEN replied that DEED can only make projections on
information that is currently available. Ideally 100 percent of
students will qualify, and the state pay grants for all
students' achievement. She said she would give more detailed
information to the committee.
3:51:50 PM
SENATOR KIEHL acknowledged that fiscal notes are estimates based
on a specific point in time. He stated that before finalizing
work on HB 69, he would like to hear from DEED on whether the
reading incentive grants are expected to be an effective tool
for improving literacy outcomes, or if they serve primarily as a
funding mechanism without a meaningful impact on student reading
achievement.
3:52:25 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reached out to Ms. Heineken for the additional
information on the reading incentive grants and requested it
also provide a breakdown of the estimated 48,847 students
eligible for the reading incentive grants by school district.
She asked for an approximate distribution of funding to each
district to help the committee better understand how the grant
resources would be allocated across the state. She stated that
this information would be helpful for evaluating the impact of
the program.
MS. HEINEKEN said she would get the information to the
committee.
3:53:00 PM
CHAIR TOBIN concluded invited testimony on HB 69.
3:54:19 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on HB 69.
3:54:28 PM
ERIC WALTENBAUGH, representing self, Homer, Alaska, testified on
HB 69 He said he is the principal of West Homer Elementary
School and said he is testifying in support of several aspects
of HB 69, including early funding, the proposed $1,000 increase
to the BSA), the cell phone policy, and the shift from
achievement to growth data. However, he said he would focus his
remarks on concerns about educational outcomes, particularly
within homeschool and correspondence programs.
MR. WALTENBAUGH acknowledged that school choice is valuable and
that many families do homeschooling effectively, but he also
noted that many do not. He shared that homeschool families have
personally thanked him for raising concerns about the lack of
accountability in correspondence programs, expressing surprise
at how minimal oversight is, especially given the visible
neglect by some families. He questioned how many students in
these models are truly making academic progress and emphasized
that the state lacks the data to answer that.
3:56:05 PM
MR. WALTENBAUGH highlighted that only 9 to 12 percent of
correspondence students take state assessments, far below the
state's 95 percent participation goal. He also pointed out that
students homeschooling outside of correspondence programs are
not required to notify the state or participate in testing or
recordkeeping, making it impossible to know how many are in that
category.
3:56:40 PM
MR. WALTENBAUGH suggested policy solutions, including requiring
any homeschool or correspondence student receiving a state
allotment to participate in state assessments or Measures of
Academic Progress (MAP) testing as outlined in HB 69. He also
proposed incentivizing correspondence programs to reach the 95
percent testing participation rate by granting them a full BSA
instead of 90 percent, but only if that benchmark is met. He
concluded that meaningful and consistent outcome data is
essential for making fiscally responsible investments in school
choice programs.
3:57:48 PM
MADELINE AGUILLARD, Superintendent, Kuspuk School District,
Aniak, Alaska, testified in support of HB 69. She said she is
also a board member of the Alaska Superintendent Association.
She stated the district's and board's positions of support had
already been outlined so she would like to focus on the
taskforce. She stated that the task force is a much-needed
component of the bill but recommended that its composition go
beyond just a legislative committee. She encouraged including
representatives from the Alaska Council of School Administrators
and the Alaska Superintendents Association. She also emphasized
the importance of involving outside school finance experts to
provide critical support and expertise.
3:59:30 PM
CAROLINE VENUTI, representing self, Homer, Alaska, testified
with concerns on SB 69. She said she is a graduate of Kotzebue
High School, and the University of Alaska. She testified as a
lifelong Alaskan and a product of the state's public education
system. She shared that she served as a teacher and
administrator in both rural and urban schools in Alaska for 40
years. Referencing the phrase "No Child Left Behind," she
emphasized that while it originated as a federal education law
in 2002, it should also serve as a guiding principle to ensure
equity for all students, including those from low-income
families, minority groups, and students with disabilities. She
expressed concern that underfunding public schools while
increasing funding for homeschool programs with no required
student testing risks creating a two-tiered system in Alaska.
She warned of developing "apartheid schools" where village and
low-income students face overcrowded classrooms, outdated
textbooks, no science labs, no music or art, and a constant
turnover of untrained teachers.
MS. VENUTI proposed a solution in the form of a modest statewide
school tax, suggesting a $50 or $75 deduction from every working
Alaskan's first paycheck of the year, including oil field
workers and legislators. She recommended this revenue be placed
in a dedicated fund to improve education access and equity
statewide.
4:01:55 PM
ANDREA GARDNER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 69 with concerns.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Chair Tobin, Vice Chair Stevens, and members of the
committee,
My name is Andrea Gardner. I live in Anchorage and
teach in the Anchorage School District. I have
rewritten this testimony countless times, trying to
wholly capture why HB69 is so critical. I realize
though, all I can do is share my own story of how
underfunding affected me.
Last year was my tenth year as a classroom teacher. I
hold a master's degree in elementary education, am a
certified reading specialist, and have extensive
training in supporting neurodiverse students.
But in the 2023-2024 school year, I faced my largest
class ever35 kindergarten and first-grade students
without enough materials, space, support, or even
chairs. Out of respect for my students' privacy, I
won't share many details. But I can tell you this:
many were twice-exceptional, needing both academic
enrichment and behavioral accommodations Thirty-five
five- and six-year-olds may not sound like much.
Imagine three cartons of eggsminus one. Now place
each egg on the floor, and make sure you keep every
single one from breaking. Or picture hosting a dinner
for 20. You have food, space, and settings for exactly
that. But guests keep arriving. You welcome them,
because it's what you do. Soon, you're hosting 35
people with resources meant for 20. Would you like to
host that party? Would you like to attend it? Now
imagine doing that every day for 180 days with five
and six year olds
This isn't a partisan issue. It's a logistical one
just because you CAN fit 35 bodies in one room doesn't
mean you should. Overcrowding made it harder for my
students to focus, self-regulate, and feel safe. It
lowered their engagement and test scores. I had to
spend more time managing behaviors than delivering
actual instruction. It felt like the difference
between teaching swim lessons and lifeguarding.
As a reading specialist, I can assure youraising
reading scores really isn't possible in overcrowded,
unsupported classrooms. Teachers need time, resources,
and capacity to provide the systematic, research-based
instruction young learners deserve.
Twice-exceptional students experience the world
intensely. In my overcrowded classroom, many students
became overwhelmed, leading to escalating vocal,
physical, and destructive outbursts throughout the
day. An education system starved of funding doesn't
just struggleit wears down teachers, limits student
potential, and makes meaningful learning harder every
day. HB 69 isn't an upgradeit's what stands between
instability and total collapse. It's the bare minimum
our students and teachers deserve.
4:04:55 PM
CAROLINE STORM, Executive Director, Coalition for Education
Equity of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB
69 with suggestions. She stated that after over a decade of
advocacy, the need for increased education funding is well
established. She noted that school districts continue to
struggle with inflation, rising energy and insurance costs, and
an inability to offer competitive wages. She pointed out that
unlike education, most other state departments have seen 2 to 4
percent increases in their personnel budgets, and the Department
of Corrections budget has doubled in five years without calls
for increased accountability. She urged the legislature and
governor to meet students' needs by passing HB 69 with a $1,000
BSA increase and to amend the bill to include a comprehensive
school funding adequacy study.
4:06:32 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN arrived at the meeting.
4:07:30 PM
MIKE BRONSON, Education Committee, National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 69 as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Hi, I'm Mike Bronson. I'm a volunteer with the NAACP
in Anchorage. My daughters went through public schools
in Anchorage and recently graduated from West High.
I'm speaking in favor of HB 69 to increase the base
student allocation. You can think of the increase as a
downpayment toward a long-overdue debt to students.
You also can think of raising the BSA as an important
step for the legislature to comply with its education
duty under the constitution.
Under the state constitution, you have to provide for
funding for every child to have the opportunity to
meet the state's performance standards in reading,
writing, arithmetic and science. You're far behind in
your duty because only a minority of Alaska's 130,000
students have had the chance to achieve to the state
standards since 2012.
Instead, for a substantial majority of students to
meet the standards, you'll have to be even more
generous than HB 69 in the future. But the bill's
funding this year is a step in the right direction.
4:007 PM
JENNA FABIAN, State Representative, Alaska Association of
Elementary School Principals (AAESP), Nikiski, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 69. She provided her brief work history as an
educator. She emphasized that funding public education is a
constitutional responsibility. A BSA increase is essential to
address inflation and avoid cuts that lead to larger class sizes
and the loss of experienced educators. In her district, a $17
million deficit could result in the loss of three to nine of 18
certified teachers at Lathrop High School. She also stressed the
importance of passing education funding by March 15 to allow
districts to plan and retain high-quality staff. She urged the
legislature to invest in Alaska's students by passing HB 69 and
ensuring timely, stable funding.
4:11:26 PM
VICKI TURNER MALONE, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 69. She stated that underfunding
public schools over the past seven years is like "starving a kid
to death and then blaming them for being too skinny." She
emphasized the strong link between funding and student
performance and said that while parents should have choices,
closing their local school should not be one of them. She urged
the legislature to act quickly before more teachers leave and
stated that in the Mat-Su Valley, they are prepared to work with
their legislators to override a veto if necessary.
4:12:46 PM
ELLEN JAIMES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, Testified in
support of HB 69, expressing deep concern about proposed class
size increases in Anchorage's FY 26 budget, which would raise K
3 class sizes from 22 to as many as 30 students. She compared
teaching 26 kindergarteners to trying to transport 26 kids in a
24-seat bus with one driver, saying it simply doesn't work. She
noted that nearly a dozen U.S. states cap K3 class sizes
between 15 and 20 students and argued that larger class sizes
will harm education quality, worsen teacher burnout, and
increase vacancies. She shared that her daughter's current
teacher is a long-term substitute and stressed that without
adequate funding, schools cannot attract and retain qualified
educators. She concluded by urging the legislature to pass HB 69
with no less than a $1,000 increase to support Alaska's
children.
4:15:22 PM
LADAWN DRUCE, representing self, Sterling, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 69. She said she is a retired teacher who has lived
on the Kenai Peninsula for over 30 years, She and her husband,
also a retired teacher, have remained active in Alaska's public
schools since retiring in 2013 and 2016, working part-time or
full-time, primarily in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School
District. She shared her personal experience witnessing the
impacts of underfunding, including lack of support, overcrowded
classrooms, and cuts to extracurricular programs. She expressed
appreciation for the inclusion of a common-sense cell phone
policy in the bill, calling it an important issue for educators.
She concluded her testimony with a quote from Nelson Mandela,
stating, "Education is the most powerful weapon which one can
use to change the world," and affirmed her wholehearted belief
in that message.
4:17:51 PM
KORTNIE HORAZDOVSKY, representing self, Chugiak, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 69 with concerns. She said she is a
lifelong Alaskan and parent of four childrenthree currently
enrolled in the Anchorage School District. She expressed her
desire to raise her family in Alaska with better opportunities
than she had and noted that the state has not prioritized
education in recent years. She emphasized that class sizes of
over 30 students, including in her second grader's class, are
incompatible with a serious focus on student achievement. She
shared that her son, who has dyslexia, made significant reading
progress this year thanks to the support of his teacher, and
warned that such progress will be harder to achieve under
crowded conditions. She urged that reading incentives be
targeted toward students who need the most help, rather than
those already at grade level, and cautioned against treating
education as a commodity. She commended the inclusion of the
March 15 funding deadline in the bill, explaining that delays in
past years have led to last-minute cuts and community anxiety.
She also voiced support for the task force on education funding.
She concluded by urging the legislature to pass HB 69 with the
full $1,000 BSA increase and to override a veto if necessary.
4:20:33 PM
ANDREW WEST, representing self, Bethel, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 69. He emphasized that increased funding is
essential for students, teachers, and communities in rural
Alaska. He explained that many rural schools serve low-income
populations and often provide even the most basic school
supplies necessary for student success. He stated that
additional resources help retain teachers by ensuring they feel
supported with adequate supplies and facilities. He shared that
some science teachers at his sites have already left or plan to
leave at the end of the year. Recalling his own experience, he
noted that it took three years before his students stopped
asking when he was leaving and instead began saying, "Welcome
home."
MR. WEST also addressed the conversation around school choice,
stating that rural students do not have that option as there is
only one school available. He concluded by emphasizing that
well-funded and well-supported schools are the anchor of rural
communities and must be invested in to sustain student success
and community pride.
4:22:21 PM
KAI BORSON-PAINE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 69. She shared that her family
recently returned to Alaska, but their dream of coming home has
been shaken by the sharp drop in her daughter's test scores
after enrolling in a first-grade classroom with 36 students. She
attributed this decline to overcrowding and urged the
legislature to raise the BSA so that returning and long-time
families alike can give their children a quality education in
Alaska. She expressed her deep love for the state but warned
that, without adequate school funding, her family may be forced
to leave. She urged lawmakers to make the right choice and raise
the BSA.
4:24:14 PM
MARGO BELLAMY, Anchorage School Board, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 69.
4:26:30 PM
LILI MISEL, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 69, as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
My name is Lili Misel and I am a parent of two
students at Fairbanks schools. I am a resident of
District R, and fully support the $1000 raise to the
BSA and HB 69.
Some of you, like me, went to Alaska schools. We all
understand the importance of a strong education and
how it can help students raise themselves out of poor
circumstances. However, if that ability isn't there
through lack of funding, how can our students meet the
needs of our state? Without students who can receive a
solid base education in K-12, how can they be ready to
fill the engineering, management, teacher, and
leadership roles of the future?
The funding of education in Alaska has been lacking
for over a decade. Now is the time to rectify that. I
would also ask that there be accountability for home
school programs to ensure that those students also
demonstrate they are meeting the same educational
standards of brick-and-mortar schools.
We all want Alaskan students to be able to have a
successful future for our state to be successful. I
have been told we need to look at finances and that
education is always pitted against the PFD. I think
this is a false argument. Education needs to be a
priority for our state, and I encourage you to support
HB 69 and the $1000 increase to the BSA.
4:28:14 PM
PAT RACE, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 69 and emphasized that inflation is outpacing
education funding. He referenced a statement from a spokesperson
for Governor Dunleavy acknowledging the need to adjust budgets
for inflation across government and said he agrees with that
sentiment. He stated that the key issue is not whether to fund
education, but how to fund it. He pointed to potential revenue
sources, including reforming S corporation tax treatment,
addressing oil tax credits, and reexamining the $8-per-barrel
tax break, which he said should be made more visible in the
state budget.
He also advocated for the reinstatement of a state income tax,
noting Alaska had one when it achieved statehood and used it to
build public services. Although he does not have children, he
said he would gladly pay an income tax to support public
education. He concluded by urging the legislature to pass HB 69
at the full proposed amountor higherand to make a serious
effort to fund it sustainably.
4:30:24 PM
SIOBHAN MCINTYRE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 69. She urged the Senate to maintain
the $1,000 BSA increase included in HB 69 as passed by the
House. She criticized the current practice of school districts
having to build budgets based on uncertainty and one-time
funding, which she said is unsustainable. Speaking specifically
about Anchorage, she noted that the Anchorage School Board has
stated $1,000 is the bare minimum needed to maintain current
programming and class sizes, which are already too large.
MS. MCINTYRE emphasized that school districts are clearly
communicating what is required to educate Alaska's future
workforce and contribute to a strong economy. She called for
robust, stable education funding, with the $1,000 BSA increase
as a starting point, and urged the Senate to consider tying
future increases to inflation. Acknowledging the state's complex
fiscal situation, she said she would accept a reduced Permanent
Fund Dividend and support new revenue measures, including an
income tax, to properly fund education. She concluded by calling
for education to be the centerpiece of the state's budget and
expressed her hope that every child in Alaska has access to a
well-resourced learning environment.
4:33:19 PM
ALLEN HIPPLER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in opposition to HB 69 stating the state keeps putting money
into the system but sees no results. HB 69 needs to be linked to
reform. [Indiscernable] He urged HB 69 be strengthened before
passing.
4:34:15 PM
ANDY HOLLEMAN, Board President, Anchorage School District,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified on HB 69 with concerns. He said he
is in strong support of a significant increase to the BSA,
emphasizing that the current static funding level does not
reflect the rising costs faced by school districts. He noted
that while some legislators claim to be funding education,
reliance on one-time add-ons has created an ongoing gap between
funding and actual needs. This approach, he said, is confusing
to the public, puts programs at risk, and undermines the
retention of educators.
MR. HOLLEMAN shared that class sizes have grown and
extracurriculars have been cut, and highlighted two Anchorage
programs particularly at risk: the IGNITE program for gifted
elementary students and language immersion programs. Both
require specialized staffing and cannot adapt class sizes like
general education. Language immersion, for example, requires
hiring native speakers in advance, and if key positions go
unfilled, the program can collapse. He stressed that increasing
and stabilizing the BSA would allow districts to plan and hire
early, during February and March, instead of waiting until June.
4:36:28 PM
CHELSEA AMBROSE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 69. She urged the legislature to support the
full $1,000 increase to the BSA to protect Alaska's students and
future. She warned that without this increase, critical cuts
will impact programs like IGNITE, immersion, sports, libraries,
and others that foster student connection and engagement. As a
library specialist, she emphasized that non-core academic
programs often serve as the primary motivation for at-risk
students to attend school and are essential to their success.
She shared that projected class sizes without increased funding
are alarming, noting that she currently teaches classes of 32
kindergarteners, 35 fourth graders, and 35 fifth graders. She
stated it is nearly impossibleor a direct path to burnoutto
provide quality instruction in such overcrowded settings
MS. AMBROSE educators are being asked to do more with less and
echoed earlier testimony comparing current school funding to
hosting a dinner party with no food. She concluded by stating
that Alaska is losing educators and vital programming and that
underfunded schools are unsustainable.
4:38:47 PM
DANETTE PETERSON, President, Fairbanks Education Association,
Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of HB 69. She cited the
closure of seven schools in Fairbanks over four years, a 20
percent annual teacher turnover rate, and 73 full-time education
positions proposed for elimination in the district's budget due
to a $16 million deficit. She emphasized that despite research
showing smaller class sizes improve learning and school closures
harm student performance, districts are being forced to make
harmful cuts because state funding has not kept pace with
inflation.
4:39:54 PM
MS. PETERSON shifted focus to the mental health challenges and
burnout educators are facing, an issue she said is rarely
discussed publicly. She described overcrowded classrooms, such
as reading to a kindergarten class of 31 students and not
bringing enough candy canes. Teachers lack basic supplies like
copy paper and crayons, and support staff such as counselors and
behavior interventionists are increasingly scarce. Emergency-
certified teachers are overwhelmed and unsupported, CTE teachers
are being assigned unfamiliar subjects, and substitute shortages
are forcing teachers to give up prep time or combine large
classes, sometimes up to 57 students. She concluded by urging
the legislature to pass HB 69 with a minimum $1,000 increase,
stating that Alaska's students are the state's greatest resource
and future ancestors.
4:42:23 PM
RACHEL DETEMPLE, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 69. She expressed frustration at years of
underfunding. She described how every spring, instead of
planning for school improvement, educators are forced to plan
how to deliver the same services with less, leading her to say
she has come to "hate spring." She shared that her school's
Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is currently trying
to reduce staff from 19 to 17, meaning teachers may be
reassigned to subjects outside their expertise. For example, a
welding teacher might be forced to teach health or social
studies, even though industry demand for welding instruction is
strong and welding classes cannot accommodate large sizes like
36 students due to safety and space concerns.
MS. DETEMPLE stressed that a $1,000 increase to the BSA is not
truly $1,000 more per student, given past one-time funding;
rather, it's a slight improvement and a necessary step to slow
the decline. She strongly supported the bill's accountability
provisions for homeschool and correspondence students, noting
that public in-person schools are heavily scrutinized through
testing while homeschool programs receive public funds without
the same expectations. She shared frustration over having to
"fix" academic issues from home-schooled students, only to be
blamed when their scores are recorded in her classroom.
MS. DETEMPLE closed by thanking legislators for moving the bill
forward and including a funding deadline, saying it's time to
"get off this train to nowhere" and start giving Alaskan kids
what they deserve.
4:45:06 PM
DAVID IGNELL, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
opposition to HB 69. He said he is a journalist and radio talk
show host with three primary concerns. First, he criticized the
legislative process behind HB 69, noting that it started as a
simple one-page funding bill but was expanded into a nine-page
bill with policy changes after moving to the House Rules
Committee. He said the public had no opportunity to testify on
those new provisions, and that meaningful amendments offered by
minority members were not seriously considered. He called the
process political "gamesmanship" and said Alaskans deserved
better. Second, he questioned the logic of increasing funding
when many students aren't attending school. He noted that
chronic absenteeism rates in Alaska are alarmingly high, citing
examples of districts where 6080% of students are frequently
absent. He referenced the North Slope Borough School District,
which has high local funding but also poor proficiency and
absenteeism, as an example that money alone does not fix
educational outcomes. Third, he argued that districts like
Anchorage and Fairbanks should contribute more local funding
rather than expecting the state to fill their budget gaps. He
pointed out that Juneau contributes $7,500 per student, while
Anchorage contributes $5,500 and Fairbanks $4,500. He claimed
that if those districts matched Juneau's local contribution
levels, they would raise $86 million (Anchorage) and $36 million
(Fairbanks)enough to cover their stated shortfalls.
MR. IGNELL concluded by expressing that while Alaska's education
system needs serious reform, HB 69 does not offer real solutions
and should not be supported in its current form.
4:47:24 PM
CHRISTY GOMEZ, Principal, Tyonek Elementary School, Tyonek,
Alaska, testified on HB 69 stating that Alaska's students
deserve better and that it's unsustainable to keep asking
schools to do more with less. She emphasized the need to raise
the BSA to keep pace with inflation and provide students with
the resources they are constitutionally owed. Without adequate
funding, she said, students miss out on opportunities, and
teachers lack the support they need. She concluded by urging
lawmakers to prioritize education, stating that well-funded
schools strengthen communities and that education is a
necessity, not a luxury.
4:49:27 PM
HANNAH MURKIN, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
on HB 69 with concerns. She said she is a parent who currently
homeschools her children through a correspondence program and
advocated for equitable treatment of correspondence students.
She began using a correspondence program in 2020 after her child
experienced disruption during COVID in a brick-and-mortar
school. She shared that the structure and teacher support
provided by the program allowed her to offer a consistent and
individualized education plan for her children. She expressed
concern over criticisms of how correspondence students use their
allotments, such as for horseback riding lessons, pointing out
that students have varied interests and learn in different ways.
She emphasized that all students, regardless of their
educational setting, deserve equal opportunities. In addition to
supporting an increase in the BSA, she urged the legislature to
raise the funding factor for correspondence students from 0.9 to
1.0.
4:52:08 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held public testimony open on HB 69.
4:52:31 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked whether HB 69 contains a provision for
homeschool testing, as was mentioned by a previous testifier.
4:52:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated her belief that HB 69 is silent
on homeschool testing other than a report on homeschools that
came from House Bill 202 last year. She deferred to Chair Tobin.
4:53:22 PM
CHAIR TOBIN responded that she believes the report referenced in
HB 69 is similar to the one included in legislation passed last
year. That previous legislation modeled a historical report that
had been collected from the inception of public correspondence
(homeschool) programs beginning in the 1950s through 2013. She
noted that the earlier report was repealed in 2013.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 69 Explanation of Changes - Version G to W.A 03.18.2025.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| HB 69 Testimony (S) EDC Volume 4 - Received as of 03.19.2025.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |