Smaller school districts bemoan lack of funding for new reading requirements

Alaska’s smaller school districts, including Wrangell, are concerned about how they can implement a major state education overhaul with limited resources.

The Legislature passed the Alaska Reads Act last year, intended to improve student literacy. The 45-page bill adds wide-ranging requirements for school districts, including that they develop intensive programs for younger students struggling to read.

The new law went into effect July 1. The Alaska Department of Education has spent months working on outreach efforts and providing online training opportunities for school districts.

But school...