With one policy change, Alaska can improve learning, reduce poverty and ensure more students are on the path to success in career and college. Alaska invests huge sums into public K—12 education but […]
Video: Alaska Students Must Read by 9
Certificate of Need Repeal Would Benefit Alaskans
By Christina Herrin This article was originally published by The Heartland Institute on February 26, 2021. Alaska is one of 35 states that enforce certificate of need (CON) laws. These laws are the epitome of government […]
New Minimum Wage Requirements: Not the Right Move for the Alaskan Economy
As a direct result of the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, Alaska has suffered a devastating blow to its economy, with the highest seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of the year at 13.5 percent in April […]
Alaska Should Consider Changing Its Kindergarten-Start Birthdate Policy
It is time for Alaska to consider a June 1 kindergarten birthdate rule. Most Alaskan students are not showing up for kindergarten fully ready for school. That is especially true for the very […]
Government Workers: 6 Things You Should Know About Your Rights
If you work for a local, state, or federal government entity – a state agency, public school district, city hall, or another government body – you have the right to decide whether you […]
Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions Surrounding The Alaska Reads Act
Myth 1: ALL research indicates students should ALWAYS be socially promoted, even if they are far below expected proficiency in reading in 3rd grade. Reality: Over a dozen studies show the benefits of […]
Online maps of 2018 Alaska public school test results now available
Parents and community members can now easily compare Alaska’s public schools via user-friendly maps that display student performance results. School districts across the state released the results of Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools, or […]
School districts apply new union rules
Background On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision which held that public employees do not have to pay union dues/fees as a condition of employment. This is commonly referred […]
2018 Alaska Legislature Grades
2018 Alaska Legislator Report Card now available!
IMPORTANT UPDATE to our Legislator Report Card as of August 17, 2018: The Alaska Policy Forum has learned that a technical issue has resulted in changes to our Legislator Report Card. An eagle-eyed […]
Impacts of Ballot Measure 1 on Alaska
The Senate State Affairs Committee held a meeting earlier this summer to learn the impacts to our state if Ballot Measure 1 passes in November. None of the presenters took a position on […]
Who Makes the Rules? The State or the Feds?
Alaskan hunter John Sturgeon is headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) for the second time on the same case. At issue is which governmental entity has jurisdiction over state waterways which […]
Walker’s DHSS Medicaid Failure
All we can say is, “we told you so.” When the discussions on Medicaid Expansion began in earnest in 2013, we brought the facts to light over the next couple of years. There […]
Exposing the Outsiders Trying to Influence Alaska Elections
Alaska Policy Forum board member Paula Easley was recently published in the Anchorage Daily News opinion section where she was clear: the most critical issues facing our state should be left in the hands […]
The Education Miracle Multiplier, Changing $100 into $869
How would you like to get $100 for each family member and find out that it’s really $869 for each member? Well, that’s what happens in one school district when the Alaska Education […]
Property Rights: the Heart of Opportunity
We recently submitted a statement on House Joint Resolution 38: Private property is at the heart of opportunity in America, and it has been since before our formal founding. In response to actions […]