Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – The Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) extends sincere gratitude to the bipartisan efforts of the Alaska Legislature for swiftly passing HB 193 as well as to Governor Dunleavy for promptly enacting the legislation. ACSA thanked Senator Hoffman and Representative Edgmon for their leadership.
Through the enactment of HB 193, rural and remote schools across Alaska will now benefit from much faster internet download speeds of 100Mbps. This critical enhancement will empower students to remain competitive with their counterparts statewide and enable educators to employ innovative teaching methods utilizing technology.
“We commend legislators for acknowledging the digital disparity and diligently working towards a solution to narrow the gap, thereby fostering a more equitable learning environment for students in Alaska’s most rural and remote communities,” ACSA said in a press release. “By capitalizing on a 9:1 match of federal funding for E-Rate, this effort stands as a testament to the positive outcomes achievable when state and federal resources are effectively leveraged.”
While celebrating this significant milestone, ACSA urges continued bipartisan collaboration within the legislature to advance further support for students, educators, families, and communities throughout this session. Specifically, they call upon legislators to prioritize increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA), thereby collectively fostering enhanced opportunities for all Alaskans.
