Education
Families first. Real choices, real accountability, and a world-class education for every Alaskan child.
As your Governor, I will build an education system that puts Alaska parents and families back in charge of their child's school day. You, the Alaskan families, know your kid best, not some bureaucrat in Juneau. Every family deserves real choices, not just the wealthy. It's our constitutional duty to deliver a strong education to every Alaskan child, no exceptions.
Stacey and I are proud products of K-12 public schools right here in Kenai and Soldotna back in the '70s and '80s. Times have changed. The old model of giant centralized brick-and-mortar campuses is fading fast.
The future is decentralized, flexible, and full of options: traditional public schools, charter, online, hybrid, and homeschool, tailoring education to best-fit your child. Technology is roaring in like a supersonic tsunami. We will harness the good of it so our kids can get twice the education in half the time for less money. No special interests will stand in the way of that progress.
Four Pillars of Matt's Education Plan
Real Parental Choice
Every family deserves real options, not just the wealthy. Traditional public, charter, online, hybrid, and homeschool models all have a place. Smart tech makes one-on-one learning possible at least part of every day. That frees up real time for hands-on teaching, sports, extracurriculars, and the outdoor adventures that build strong, healthy Alaskan kids.
Accountability and Results
I will adequately fund our public schools, but will demand real results and accountability. My goals: reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade, and proficiency in pre-algebra or algebra by 9th grade. In 2024, Alaska's 4th and 8th graders ranked 51st out of 52 jurisdictions in three out of four NAEP categories. That is unacceptable. Together, we will build a 'no excuses,' transparent partnership between parents and teachers to rebuild the trust that's been lost.
Technology as a Tool
Technology can be a powerful ally in addressing Alaska's unique challenges. AI-enabled learning, virtual classrooms, and flexible scheduling can help reach students in remote communities. We will embrace these tools to expand access without sacrificing quality. No student should be left behind because of where they live.
Vocational and Trades Training
Not every Alaskan needs a four-year degree, and that's a strength, not a weakness. We will invest in vocational training, apprenticeships, and trades education that directly feeds Alaska's growing industries: oil and gas, fishing, healthcare, construction, and technology. Let's match education with real Alaska opportunity.
Understanding Alaska's Education Funding: The BSA
One number sets the tone for school funding across the entire state: Alaska's Base Student Allocation (BSA). It's the foundational per-student dollar amount that becomes the baseline for all funding decisions. Alaska has 53 school districts, and I am certain we can find ways to make our school funding more agile by identifying redundancies and administrative waste.
A common misconception is that simply "raising the BSA" will resolve all funding disparities. While it can provide temporary relief, what matters most is that the funding formula is transparent, predictable, and accurately reflects the true costs faced by districts, prioritizing needs of teachers over bloated administrative costs.
Ruthless transparency means: tracking every dollar from the state to the classroom with clear reporting that parents and taxpayers can easily understand; ensuring changes to funding are predictable so districts can effectively plan; and holding the system accountable so students receive stability and communities get clarity.
Geography matters. A district with a road system can share resources and attract staff more easily, while remote areas face sky-high freight, travel, and housing costs that quickly deplete budgets. True educational equity means accounting for Alaska's unique realities, not applying a one-size-fits-all formula from Juneau.
Alaska's Education History: Where We Came From
Alaska's education story didn't start in 1959, and it never fit into one neat system. Long before statehood, learning in Alaska ranged from Indigenous knowledge passed through families and community to mission and federal schools that often pushed assimilation instead of local success. That uneven beginning still shapes what students experience today, especially in rural communities and for Alaska Native students.
When Alaska became a state, education transitioned from being largely dictated by external forces to a system Alaskans could shape and own. Statehood introduced new layers of fiscal accountability, with Alaska's own dollars funding schools, there was a growing demand to track the money, assess what was effective, and address shortcomings transparently.
Since statehood, Alaska's education system has navigated significant challenges shaped by vast distances, high costs, and the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain quality teachers across diverse communities. We must build on what works, fix what doesn't, and never stop pursuing the world-class education every Alaskan child deserves.
Matt's Education Commitments
Real parental choice across all school types
Reading proficiency by end of 3rd grade
Pre-algebra or algebra proficiency by 9th grade
Harness technology for better outcomes at lower cost
Adequately fund schools and demand real results
End waste in bloated administrative budgets
Invest in vocational and trades training
Ruthless transparency from state funding to classroom
"Alaska kids are our greatest treasure. With common-sense reforms, real parental choice, and results that matter, we'll give them the world-class education they deserve."
Matt Heilala