The proposed legislation would raise financing for Alaska school districts that provide early learning programs for children aged 3 to 5. The Alaska Senate is now reviewing Senate Bill 93, which aims to increase star financing for districts participating in Alaska Reads Act early education programs.
The measure’s goal is to replace the present half-funding scheme with full per-student financing, which would match that of other Alaskan public school pupils. These programs concentrate on early literacy from pre-K to grade 3 to enhance reading abilities and academic preparedness.
Senator Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, who sponsors the bill, highlighted the significant return on investment in pre-K programs and emphasized the importance of funding to combat the outmigration of families from Alaska.
Currently, the school district voluntarily participates in pre-K programs under the Alaska Reads Act. Anchorage, Skagway, and Valdez are among the districts enrolled. The Department of Education estimates that increasing education funding would cost $7.6 million, which is already included in Governor Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget for next year.
Education Commissioner Deena Bishop confirmed the budget includes $4.7 million for existing programs and $3 million for expansion. Tobin also pointed out how the funding could alleviate child care challenges for families. The bill has now been moved to the Senate Finance Committee, where Tobin hopes for support.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Beacon.
