Alaska House GOP education bill rejected as amendment debate continues

JUNEAU — A far-reaching and controversial education bill backed by the Republican-led majority in the Alaska House of Representatives failed Wednesday after failing to receive enough votes to be considered in the House.

Twenty House Republicans voted Wednesday to consider an education bill that includes several key provisions proposed by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The other 20 councilors voted not to debate the proposal.

Wednesday's vote was identical to Monday's vote tally on the same procedural motion. But the second vote failed, meaning all provisions of the Republican-backed bill, including the charter school expansion plan, were effectively deleted. Provides $40 million in additional funding for homeschooling students. $58 million in teacher bonuses. These provisions could be re-added to the final House education package through amendments.

In the two days between the two failed procedural votes, lawmakers held multiple closed-door meetings to hammer out a deal without a clear resolution.

The now-defeated Republican education package included a $300 increase to the state's base student allocation, the state's per-student funding allocation, at a cost of $77 million annually. Education advocates say a five-fold increase in school funding is needed after six years of essentially flat school funding and high inflation.

As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, all 21 House Republicans had voted down an amendment to the bill that would have increased school funding. But that could change in the debate, which is expected to last into the night.

On Wednesday, a second procedural vote to debate an earlier version of the education package failed, meaning the bill is back to where it was when it passed the Senate. It's a one-page measure that would allow eligible schools across Alaska to apply for grants to increase education costs. Internet download speed.

Lawmakers are racing to pass an education package with these internet provisions by the end of the month. School districts have until Feb. 28 to submit applications for broadband grants or risk missing out on significant funding during the fiscal year that begins in July.

Lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House minority say the provisions added to the Republican bill last month have not been scrutinized by the Legislative Committee, which typically schedules bills only when they are heard in the full House. was against.

Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, co-chairman of the House Rules Committee, said after Wednesday's second vote that he was not disappointed that the Republican-backed bill did not advance to floor debate. , said it was all part of the bill. process.

Debate on amendments to the one-page broadband bill began Wednesday night on the House floor shortly after 5 p.m., with Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, a former teacher, raising the BSA by $680 at an annual cost of $175 million. Suggested amendments. Dibert said increased funding is needed for educators leaving Alaska.

Rep. Zach Fields (D-Anchorage) said the $680 BSA increase represents an 11% cut for the Anchorage School District, even after years of inflation. He described the increased funding as a “tourniquet” to stop “absolute apocalypse” for Anchorage schools this year.

After about an hour of debate, Dibert's proposed $680 BSA increase amendment failed by a one-vote margin, with all House Republicans voting against it.

Rep. CJ McCormick, D-Bethel, was the only majority lawmaker to speak on the floor in support of increasing school funding, but called the $680 BSA increase “woefully inadequate.”

Democrats and minority independents spoke about the potential impact of not approving a significant increase in school funding this year. Schools in Juneau and Fairbanks are scheduled to close. Class sizes are expected to increase. Popular school programs will be cut. House Minority Leader McCormick said the teaching position would be eliminated.

Minority lawmakers on Wednesday night proposed several major increases to the BSA, all of which failed by one vote, as well as a proposal to automatically provide inflation-proof school funding each year. . Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, was a swing vote each time, joining the Republican-led majority in rejecting each measure.

Eastman is not present in the majority or minority caucus, but he was the only Republican to speak on the House floor during the amendment debate. He is not convinced that additional funding for schools will lead to better outcomes for students and is concerned that the BSA enhancements do not include additional accountability measures for how school districts spend their funds. He said there was.

Three non-Republican members of the House majority representing rural Alaska joined the 16-member minority caucus in support of each proposed school funding increase.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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