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Good Morning Chairman Neuman and
members of the House Education Committee. For the record my
name is Bill Bjork, and I serve as President for the more than
12,500 members of NEA-Alaska.
To begin, let
me applaud the committee for hearing all of the education
legislation and allowing testimony from across Alaska to
determine the level of state funding for K-12 education in
Alaska.
You have heard
from several districts and parents advocating for a per student
figure in the Base Student Allocation (BSA). The numbers vary,
because the specific pupil needs in each school district vary.
Many are attempting to reduce large class sizes. Others cite
the need for intervention programs and reading programs as a
means to address the under-funded federal mandates of No Child
Left Behind. While the numbers and needs vary, the reasoning
behind the numbers is similar.
What will it take to meet
Alaska’s constitutional mandate to establish and MAINTAIN a
public education system open to all?
Last year, the
23rd Alaska Legislature passed a K-12 funding
increase of $407 per student in the BSA. NEA-Alaska applauds
and sincerely appreciates this effort. The debate last session
revolved around what amount of funding would it take to not have
to cut programs and personnel. This year there appears to be
the same conversation. Governor Murkowski has proposed a $62
million ($304 per student) increase that would indeed cover the
TRS/PERS contribution rate increase and address inflation for
the past year. This proposal covers two legs of the
three-legged “education funding” stool. It does not take into
account pupil needs; the resources needed for students to
achieve up to state and federal standards.
We talk often
about adequate funding for K-12 education. Most legislators,
school board members, public school employees and parents ask
us, what is adequate? Everyone wants a number, but adequacy in
education truly means that Alaska’s schools will have the
resources necessary to offer opportunities for all students to
achieve to standards--leaving no child behind!
Alaskans
realize that there were 20 years (1983-2002) of flat funding
that did no keep pace with inflation. During that timeframe
inflation ate away 47% of the buying power of the student
dollar. Former Sen. Rick Halford was fond of saying “when
you’re trying to get out of a hole, stop digging.” Two years
ago the legislature quit digging. Last year the legislature
started back-filling the funding hole! This year we are
confident that there will be the resources available to continue
addressing K-12 funding needs.
NEA-Alaska is
advocating a BSA increase of $739 per student (approx - $148
million) to address TRS/PERS, inflation (about $60-62 million)
and to make a down payment towards adequacy. This amount would
not just stop at holding the status quo from last year, but
start on the road to providing an adequate and meaningful
education for the 133,000 students in Alaska’s K-12 public
schools.
Thank you for
your time and I would be happy to answer questions. |
