If the word “normal” seems overused these days, you aren’t imagining it. Everyone wants to get back to normal. Especially in our local schools. But that’s easier said than done. My perception of […]
When Will Our Schools Return To Normal?
Cash for Alaska’s School Districts: July Update
The state of Alaska has published the Alaska K–12 Education COVID-19 Federal Relief Funding Dashboard to make transparent how much federal COVID-19 relief funding school districts received and how the funds are being […]
The Best and the Worst of the 2022 Legislative Session
As is often the case, there was no shortage of bills introduced to the 32nd Legislature (which comprises 2021 and 2022). Not counting resolutions, legislators introduced 690. Those that did not pass both […]
COVID Relief Funding: Are Alaska’s School Districts Spending Responsibly?
Click here to open a printable PDF of the report in a new tab. Introduction The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has released several dashboards showing how COVID relief funds for […]
Testimony: Health Care Services By Telelealth
Costs & Risks of Alaska Pension Changes
Experts from Reason Foundation’s Pension Integrity Project recently joined us for a 45-minute discussion on the costs and risks of changes to Alaska’s pension systems. You can watch the recording here (begins 04:30), […]
WEBINAR: Costs and Risks of Alaska Pension Changes
In 2006, the state of Alaska moved from one type of retirement system (defined benefits pension-DBP) for state employees to a 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement plan. The reason for this switch was concerns […]
Testimony: Retirement Benefits
Alaska’s Public Pension Health, Ranked
According to a report by our network partner, Tax Foundation, Alaska ranks 31st out of 50 states for how well-funded the public pensions are. As of 2020, one year after the Tax Foundation […]
Alaska’s K–12 Spending Increase
The Alaska legislature is contemplating House Bill 272, a proposal for a $71 million/year increase in K–12 spending ($590/student in average daily attendance). Part of the justification for the proposed increase seems to […]
Rebuilding Alaska’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
By Rea S. Hederman Jr. and Quinn Townsend In late spring, Alaska will receive its second and final share of federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). With the size of […]
Graphs: Department of Education and Early Development State Spending
For the full report, click here For many years, the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has required the largest portions of state spending, with the Department of Health and Social Services […]
Alaska Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Blocks
Introduction These budget blocks are a simple, straightforward way to visualize how Alaska is spending its money and from which funds that money is coming. The size of each block corresponds to the […]
Debunking the Myth of Alaska’s “40% Budget Cuts”
Click here to open a printable PDF of the report in a new tab. Alaska state spending, particularly the spending sustaining state government, needs to be reined in. Some argue everything that can […]
Report Finds Alaska Has Most Progressive School Funding – But is it Successful?
Advocates of higher school spending often frame the problem as a no-brainer solution to assist struggling students. However, the school funding issue in Alaska is far more complicated; a recent report by the […]
Testimony on SJR 5 – Constitutional Spending Cap
This is a copy of the verbal testimony APF provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 30, 2021. Click here to open a printable PDF of the testimony in a new tab. April […]