The Anchorage School Board will review a proposed policy update aimed at promoting patriotism in local schools.
The board discussed this measure at their recent meeting, and it will be brought up again for a final vote at the upcoming meeting.
The policy requires students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily and encourages other patriotic activities.
This version is a less strict version of a previous proposal by board member Dave Donley.
His original plan would have required schools to play both the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the Alaska Flag Song at the beginning of every month, as well as on special days like Veterans Day, Patriot Day, and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
In the updated proposal, the mandatory playing of patriotic songs was removed and replaced with a recommendation to include them when possible.
The policy also states that school leaders will be responsible for identifying and organizing other patriotic exercises.
It encourages the inclusion of the national anthem and the Alaska Flag Song but does not make them mandatory.