How much SHOULD we invest in schools this year?

January 2006

Governor Murkowski and Sen. Gary Wilken have proposed a Base Student Allocation (BSA) for K-12 Education of $5,352 for FY 07.  The legislation is sponsor substitute for Senate Bill 1 (SSSB 1).   While the 13,000 members of NEA-Alaska applaud this direction and commitment to K-12 education, we feel obligated to point out the untold story of K-12 funding increases.

The proposed $90 million increase would put only about $25 million new dollars into Alaska's 56 school districts and hopefully into our children's classrooms.  No school district in the state has said this is adequate.  If the $90 million stands, many districts face cuts in programs and layoffs of teachers and support staff.

Of the proposed $90 million increase, $65 million would go to TRS/PERS retirement costs ($40 million) and $25 million to inflation.

• In the current fiscal year Alaska's budget grew by $509 million, or 19%. Yet the education budget grew by only $70 million, or 8%.

• For FY 2007 Governor Murkowski is proposing a General Fund spending increase of $511 million dollars.  His K-12 education increase is proposed at $90 million.  This would amount to an overall budget increase of 16.3%, while K-12 schools would increase by only 10.8%.

• The growth in K-12 spending is not keeping pace with the growth in General Fund spending—despite the fact that Alaskans overwhelmingly rank schools as their #1 priority.

How much SHOULD we invest in schools this year?

The K-12 education funding gap is estimated to be about $675 million.  Closing this gap will mean that Alaska's schools have the resources needed to raise student achievement. 

I n order to get to adequacy by 2014, this will require a minimum of $80 million in new money each year.  NEA-Alaska proposes an overall increase of $145 million:  $65 million to cover costs previously mentioned for retirement and inflation, and $80 million new dollars for schools.  This would mean a Base Student Allocation of $5,611, not the governor and Senator Wilken's proposed $5,352.

Contact your legislators.

An overview of adequate funding for K-12 schools.

Basic facts about adequate funding.