Category Archives: Advocacy

Advocate for funding Alaska’s schools

Steller Families,

Please join Steller Parent Group in holding our leaders accountable for funding Alaska’s schools.

There is more to do!

Please write your legislators, if you care about:
  • maintaining student classroom sizes
  • retaining good teachers
  • having school nurses
  • sports programs
  • gifted programming
  • school counselors
  • a quality education for your children
  • and so many other programs that require more funding
Also, encourage your kids to do the same – Legislatures actually listen to kids!
 

The House will vote on HB 69 to increase the BSA this week!

HOW TO ADVOCATE – MADE EASY

  1. Just click on the “public opinion message” Click on “Support” and root bill “HB 69”, then say a few words about why you support increased funding to our schools.
  2. Sign the Great Alaska Schools Petition to the governor.
  3. Call your representative.  
  4. Email your representative. (Rep.FirstName.LastName@akleg.gov)
  5. Learn more and find Talking Points at greatakschools.org

“Who Represents Me?” (scroll to the bottom)

Thank you to those who already signed SPG’s letters to the ASD Board and State Legislatures – the letters were sent with your endorsement.

School Budget Issues

Dear Steller families,

As you may know, state budget problems are affecting our schools. Recent news that public schools will need to cut teachers, with Steller cutting 3.4 teachers, is hitting our community hard. 

Part of Steller Parent Group’s mission is “to solicit, address, and make recommendations regarding issues facing the School community.” As such, the current SPG board would like to encourage you to reach out to both the Anchorage School Board and the Alaska State Legislature to advocate for sufficient funding of Alaska’s public schools. Those making decisions about education financing need to hear from parents to understand how their choices directly affect students. Many voices can make a difference.

Ways to share input include:

  1. Read the letters Steller Parent Group will be sending to the school board and to state legislatures. If you would like to sign them, send an email to chairspg2@gmail.com to indicate your interest.
  2. Provide public or written comments to the school board (the next meeting is February 18th at which time educational funding allocation will be voted on).
  3. Write your own letter to state legislatures in support of approving bills that will increase the Base Student Allocation, which increases the funding per student. For your convenience, here is a list of emails of AK State Finance and Education Committee members.
  4. Sign Great Alaska School’s petition to the Governor.
  5. Find good resources for speaking up.

For more detailed information on recent school funding issues, see some of the links here.

Please join us in holding Alaska’s leaders accountable.

Sincerely, Steller Parent Group Board