House approves early school funding; Senate action uncertain

The Alaska House of Representatives has passed a bill intended to prevent teacher layoffs the next two years with early appropriation of state funding to local school operating budgets.

Though helpful in its intent to provide funding certainty to school districts, it does not solve the budget problems of districts, such as Wrangell, that have seen steep enrollment drops during the pandemic. State funding for local schools is based on their annual student count.

In previous years, late budget action by the Legislature has forced some school districts to build their spending plans based on worst...