Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a joint meeting of the Juneau and Alaska chambers of commerce on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Thursday that he would veto a standalone increase to Alaska’s per-student funding formula and said any education bill reaching his desk should be “a package.”
His statement comes as the Alaska House of Representatives prepares to consider amendments to Senate Bill 140 , a comprehensive education funding bill that could be considered the kind of package Dunleavy wants. Debates are expected to begin Friday, and a final vote could take place as soon as Monday.
As currently written, the bill includes a variety of proposals, including changes to the way charter schools can be approved, more funding for correspondence school programs used by home-schoolers, money for faster Internet at rural schools, bonuses for teachers, more money for student transportation, and tax credits for companies that donate to educational institutions.