Alaska Legislature Approves $148 Million for School Repairs, Meeting Only 13% of District Needs
By
Emily Schwing
Master baker tier. Every paragraph earns its place on the tray.
Summary
Alaska's state Legislature approved a budget that would allocate more than $148 million for school construction and maintenance in fiscal year 2027, more than tripling the previous year's $40 million allocation. This follows investigative reporting by KYUK, ProPublica, and NPR that exposed severe health and safety crises in Alaska's public school buildings. However, even this increased funding would only cover about 13% of what school districts have requested, highlighting the ongoing gap between needs and available resources. The budget awaits Governor Mike Dunleavy's signature.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe bill would allocate more than $148 million toward construction and maintenance in the 2027 fiscal year, up from $40 million in fiscal 2026, which ends June 30.
The funding, which awaits Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy's signature, follows reporting by KYUK, ProPublica and NPR last year that documented a severe health and safety crisis inside the buildings used daily for public education.
The budget increase would still only cover about 13% of what school districts requested.
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