Alaska superintendents drill down on education policy with some gubernatorial candidates

August 6, 2026 - 21:50

Six of the seventeen candidates running for Alaska governor took part in a focused forum in Juneau this week, fielding questions from superintendents across the state. The event, organized by the Alaska Superintendents Association, gave school district leaders a direct chance to press the contenders on their specific policy positions rather than broad campaign promises.

The conversation centered on the most pressing issues facing rural and urban schools alike: chronic underfunding, the statewide teacher shortage, and the future of the state's correspondence school program. Superintendents did not hold back, asking pointed questions about how each candidate would address the rising costs of energy and transportation that eat into classroom budgets. Several candidates were asked directly whether they would support a permanent increase to the Base Student Allocation, the formula that determines per-student state funding.

One topic that drew sharp differences was the role of charter schools and parental choice. Some candidates argued for expanding options outside the traditional district system, while others insisted that stable, predictable funding for public schools was the only way to keep communities viable. The superintendents also raised concerns about student mental health and the lack of support staff, noting that principals and teachers are often forced to act as counselors.

The forum was not a debate in the traditional sense, as candidates answered the same questions in sequence. Still, the format allowed for clear contrasts. With the primary election approaching, the superintendents said they plan to share the recorded forum with their local boards and communities. The association has not yet endorsed a candidate, but its members made it clear that education policy will be a deciding factor when they cast their votes.