A member of the Alaska House majority on Jan. 24 introduced legislation that would increase the state’s public school funding by more than 35%, marking the beginning of what will likely be a lengthy debate over lawmakers’ top priority for the session.
The bill would add roughly $464 million to the state’s annual education spending, which currently hovers around $1.2 billion per year to Alaska’s schools.
The measure was introduced by Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, a Sitka independent who co-chairs the House Education Committee, and who worked as a public school teacher in her district.
If the Legislature were to approve the funding level proposed by Himschoot — and if the governor were to sign it, two big ifs — the additional state money would more than cover the Wrangell School District’s potential budget deficit for the 2025-2026 school year.
Increasing state spending on public schools is backed by many lawmakers in the House majority, who name it as their top priority for the session after seven years of stagnant spending. But lawmakers are likely to be split on the amount of funding schools need — and how best to advance the legislation, given Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s past opposition to school funding boosts.
“Historically, education funding has been a subject of session-long negotiation,” said House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent. He said the early introduction of the bill “speaks to the crisis” in Alaska school districts.
Approving the money required under Himschoot’s bill could be challenging. Amid declining oil revenues, the state is expected to have less money to spend this year than last.
Members of the Senate majority have also named education funding as their priority, though they have not indicated the spending amount they would support.
The governor, who last year vetoed a bipartisan education funding bill that would have increased school spending by around $175 million annually, has yet to weigh in on Himschoot’s legislation.
Dunleavy said last month that he could support increasing the state’s education budget by around $200 million annually, as long as it was tied to education policy reforms he sought, including changes in the way charter schools are approved.
Edgmon said the funding bill could serve as a “vehicle” to work with the Dunleavy administration and other lawmakers on school policy.
But asked if she would consider tying the school funding increase to other education provisions sought by the governor, Himschoot was reticent.
“I recognize it’s completely politically naive to say ‘no,’ but I’m going to say ‘no,’ because in my mind, we have an obligation simply to fund, and every time we put something else in there, we’re bargaining on the backs of our children. And I’m just not ready to do that,” said Himschoot.
Leaders of the Senate majority also said earlier last week that they would seek an education funding increase without tying it to other policy goals sought by the governor or lawmakers.
Lawmakers and the governor last year were unable to agree on a permanent increase in the state’s funding formula for public schools, and instead agreed to a $175 million one-time addition in state aid.
Himschoot’s proposal would make a permanent change in the funding formula, with additional, substantial increases the next two years — followed by annual increases tied to the rate of inflation.
The House Education Committee is scheduled to take public testimony on Himschoot’s bill on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in morning and evening sessions. If the House Education Committee votes to advance the legislation, it will be sent for further review by the House Finance Committee before going to the full House and then over to the Senate.
The Wrangell Sentinel contributed reporting for this story.
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