Parnell: Alaska needs new ways to educate students

JUNEAU -- Gov. Sean Parnell wants a new approach to the way Alaska educates its children, saying that in spite of huge funding increases in recent years, schools are still "producing a product for our students that is less than acceptable."

Parnell told reporters Thursday that he plans to introduce legislation aimed at helping to transform the system. He wouldn't elaborate. But in recent weeks, he's talked about the need for a greater emphasis on early childhood education and looking at ending the practice of social promotion among grade schoolers.

He's also been a staunch advocate for giving post-secondary scholarships to students who meet specific curriculum and achievement standards; performance scholarships were a centerpiece of his State of the State address Wednesday night, and he's called on lawmakers to approve at least $8.2 million to get the program under way.

While he said he doesn't want to dramatically increase funding as it's currently doled out to districts, he's proposing a $17 million increase in formula spending for the next fiscal year. School funding and student transportation are major components of the K-12 funding formula; Parnell's budget director said the governor's scholarship program is also included under the education formula section.

He said he's interested in trying to change education delivery methods and incentives.

Barb Angaiak, the president of NEA-Alaska, a teachers union, said the "slight" increase in education spending proposed by Parnell is "not acceptable," given increased operational costs that schools face. She acknowledged increases in education spending the last few years but said that followed nearly two decades of underfunding.

Angaiak said Parnell has been open to working with the union and that she's gotten a "strong indication" from lawmakers she's talked to that there's interest in boosting his proposed spending.

Citing a 40 percent dropout rate, House Majority Leader Alan Austerman said it "makes you wonder whether more money solves the problem or whether a redraft or change of policy" is needed.
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