Alaska’s Education Funding Fight Isn’t Over

by sdmn

Lawmakers passed a major education bill, but a veto threat and funding uncertainty
​keep schools on edge across Alaska.

Just weeks after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 69, which proposed a $1,000 increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), the future of education funding in Alaska remains in limbo. Lawmakers have since passed House Bill 57, a revised measure offering a smaller $700 BSA increase and retaining provisions on cell phone use in schools, with strong bipartisan support: 31-8 in the House and 17-3 in the Senate. The bill now awaits the governor’s decision, and uncertainty still hangs over whether he will sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

HB 57 is a carefully crafted compromise that was created after the collapse of HB 69, which Dunleavy criticized for what he considered to be insufficient policy reforms. In response, legislators revised their approach and incorporated a partial list of his priorities. However, the latest version still lacks the conditional language connecting reading and career-technical education (CTE) grants to the passage of SB 113, a related tax bill. This has led to some last-minute hesitation from lawmakers like Sens. Shelley Hughes and Mike Shower, who, according to KTUU, expressed concern that essential reforms could disappear without further legislative action.

The debate escalated this week when Education Commissioner Deena Bishop sent a letter urging superintendents to pressure lawmakers to adopt the governor’s favored policies. In her message, Bishop stated that failure to do so could risk another veto or funding reduction, similar to last year’s $87 million cut to one-time school funding. Her call to action emphasized promoting grants for literacy gains, cross-district enrollment options, and increased support for homeschooling.

According to the Alaska Beacon, reactions from school leaders across Alaska were critical. Several superintendents described the letter’s tone as inappropriate and said it felt like an attempt to use students as a form of political leverage. Rural educators, in particular, pushed back against reforms that focus primarily on urban areas and charter programs. They argued that even HB 57’s increase falls short of what’s needed, especially considering rising costs.
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Despite these tensions, lawmakers remain hopeful that the bill will stand. If Dunleavy vetoes it again, the Legislature may attempt an override. With just a few votes short of the required 45 for a full funding veto override, the possibility exists, but it would require either a special session or a wait until next January. For now, Alaska’s schools continue to plan their futures in the shadow of uncertainty.