Alaska Schools Facing Funding Crisis

0:00It's March 22nd. This is Anchorage News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Corey with the story. Alaska is dead last among all states when it comes to boosting K-12 spending per student since 2013. New data from the economics lab at Georgetown University shows the state school revenue climbed just 14% during that stretch. While inflation jumped 35% nationwide, every other state kept up or beat that pace with their education budgets. Student performers took a hit too, dropping a full grade level on national tests from the national assessment of educational progress. Lawmakers are pushing House Bill 374 to bump up state funding and recover some ground loss to inflation. This push highlights the tough spot Alaska schools face, but it could signal better days ahead if it passes.