By REP. KEVIN MCCABE
There is a new education funding bill on the table from the House Democrats — HB 69. This bill proposes a permanent increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) over the next three years. Here’s the financial breakdown:
Cost Increase for HB 69:
• FY26: $326.3 million
• FY27: $501.3 million
• FY28: $645.7 million
This is a total cost over three years: $1.47 billion on top of the current BSA.
If passed, this would push the Department of Education & Early Development’s (DEED) FY26 budget to $1.58 billion — a massive jump from the Governor’s proposed $1.25 billion.
Let’s be clear: Republicans absolutely support funding education. We all believe Alaska’s students deserve every tool possible to succeed, and that strong, viable schools are essential for the future of our state. However, given Alaska’s current fiscal situation, we must ask some tough questions about how to reach that goal. We MUST ensure that school district administrators spend every dollar they receive responsibly.
Here’s the deal: any increase in education funding won’t come out of thin air. It will be directly tied to the funds designated for your Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Are Alaskans ready to sacrifice their PFDs (possibly permanently) for this ongoing spending increase? Are we prepared for income or sales taxes? Can we sustain this funding increase responsibly without jeopardizing other critical areas of the budget, such as roads, Medicaid, seniors, the Alaska Marine Highway, and other essential programs?
We must ask: Who pays? Which program will fund the significant increase in another program? What’s the investment from district administrators, and what’s the return on that investment? Are we talking about new trucks, snowplows, or additional non-teacher staff, or is the funding going directly into classrooms? An honest conversation is essential. We need to move beyond emotional manipulation and flashy red slogans and have open, candid discussions backed by accurate, up-to-date data.
Most Alaskans agree—we want to fund education, but we also demand accountability. It’s not enough to simply increase funding without ensuring that money actually reaches the classroom and improves outcomes for our kids. The focus must be on students, not bureaucracy. Every dollar spent should be directed toward enhancing the learning experience in the classroom.
Last session, House Republicans supported the largest one-time education funding boost in state history — $322 million — on top of the fully funded the BSA, plus a one time increase. That was a big step forward, but let’s not forget: this isn’t just about throwing more money at the problem. It’s about making sure every dollar we spend delivers results for our children – the results parents want for their children.
Alaska’s kids deserve the best education we can provide, but we owe it to them, their parents, and all Alaskans to fund education in a way that is both effective and fiscally responsible. We must demand full transparency from school districts—not only to the legislature but to parents as well. Let’s focus on reforms that truly make a difference for our students and be honest about the trade-offs we’re facing. We must have an honest conversation, with correct and factual data and we must ask “who pays” and what is the return on investment. An investment in our kids always provides the greatest return. But if we cut DOT funding to invest in school districts and the kids can’t get to school, that would be an issue.
The conversation is far from over. I’m committed to ensuring that Alaska’s future remains bright—for our students and for all Alaskans.
Rep. Kevin McCabe is a legislator from Big Lake, Alaska.
