Dunleavy says new polling data shows Alaskans want education reform with BSA increase

Gov. Mike Dunleavy Releases Poll Showing Alaskans’ Support for Education Reforms

Introduction

Governor Mike Dunleavy has released a poll indicating that a majority of Alaskans support education reforms in public schools. The poll, conducted by Dittman Research and commissioned by the governor, comes just one week after Dunleavy vetoed a bipartisan education bill passed by the legislature.

Key Findings

• The poll reveals that 77% of Alaskans favor an increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), which was included in the education bill.
• When asked about the best approach to improving education outcomes, 57% of respondents identified reforms as the most important factor, compared to 33% for funding.

Governor’s Defense of Veto

During a press conference in Juneau, Governor Dunleavy defended his decision to veto the education bill. He argued that the poll demonstrates the need for both funding increases and reforms.

According to Dunleavy, “Once we put a permanent increase in for the BSA, the chances of reform are very slim. Historically speaking, that’s been the case. Once the money is secured, crickets. Crickets on outcomes, crickets on reform, crickets. So I don’t understand why there can’t be two sides to the coin.”

Missing Question on Charter School Approval Process

One of the reforms advocated by Governor Dunleavy is a new approval process for charter schools, to be implemented through the state education board he appoints. However, the poll did not include a question about this specific proposal.

This omission was noted by Jason Katz-Brown of Data for Progress, a progressive-leaning firm that conducted a separate poll in March. Katz-Brown stated, “If the governor were my client as a pollster, I would really want to hone in on and make sure I get data behind his most important priorities, and it was peculiar that those weren’t represented in this poll.”

Current Status of Base Student Allocation

The Base Student Allocation has not been significantly increased since 2017 and currently stands at $5,960 per student.

New Education Bill

A new education bill, introduced by Anchorage Republican Representative Tom McKay, is currently progressing through the legislative committee process. The bill has moved out of the education committee and will next appear in the House Finance Committee.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

The article primarily focuses on education reforms and funding in public schools, which aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education. The discussion revolves around improving education outcomes and increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA) to enhance the quality of education in Alaska.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.

The article highlights the need to improve education outcomes and provide equitable access to quality education for all students in Alaska. These targets emphasize the importance of ensuring that both boys and girls have access to free, equitable, and quality education, without any gender disparities or discrimination.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.
• Indicator 4.5.1: Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile, and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples, etc.) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated.

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, to measure progress towards the identified targets, indicators such as the proportion of students achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, disaggregated by sex, and parity indices for education indicators can be used.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: alaskapublic.org

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