| Alaska | Funding for K-12 education in Alaska won an increase in this year’s legislative session, which wrapped up April 19.
The legislature allocated $1.14 billion for K-12 education for fiscal 2011, up from $1.03 billion in 2010, out of a total general state fund of $5.14 billion.
| Gov. Sean Parnell |
|---|
| Republican |
| Senate: 10 Democrats 10 Republicans |
| House: 18 Democrats 22 Republicans |
| Enrollment: 129,228 |
Legislators in the state also passed a bill that will award merit scholarships to students who complete a more rigorous curriculum than outlined by graduation requirements. Depending on their grade-point-average, students who complete the rigorous course of study can earn anywhere from $2,378 to $4,755 per year toward tuition at an in-state college, university, or career and technical school program.
The Alaska Merit Scholarship program will begin with the high school class of 2011, and a task force will be established to identify long-term sustainable funding for the program.
The bill is currently awaiting signature from Gov. Sean Parnell, a Republican who took over the office after former Gov. Sarah Palin resigned on July 26, 2009. He is expected to sign it into law.
