Across Alaska, classrooms are facing yet another round of devastating federal budget cuts — this time striking at the very programs that help our students build bright futures. From Anchorage’s career and technical education opportunities to university programs supporting Alaska Native students, the cuts threaten to unravel years of progress.
Education isn’t just another budget line item for our state. It’s the foundation that keeps our communities strong, prepares our young people for good jobs, and makes sure Alaska remains a place where families can thrive. When that foundation is undermined, every Alaskan feels the impact.
Now, two major federal education cuts are putting the next generation — and Alaska’s future — on the line.
Career and Technical Education Programs Slashed in Anchorage
Anchorage schools are losing $3.3 million in federal funding for career and technical education programs — the very programs that help students prepare for good-paying, high-demand jobs right here in Alaska.
These programs aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines for students who want to learn practical skills, stay in their communities, and build stable futures. Cutting them sends a clear message: Alaska’s young people are not being prioritized.
University Programs for Alaska Native Students Under Attack
These programs have been critical in creating equitable opportunities, closing education gaps, and making sure that Alaska Native students can thrive in higher education. Losing this support doesn’t just harm individual students; it undermines the strength, diversity, and future of our entire state.
Out-of-Touch Leadership Fails Alaska’s Future
Senator Dan Sullivan, Representative Nick Begich, and Governor Dunleavy have made it clear: preparing the next generation of Alaskans for success is not their priority. Instead, they continue to push policies that strip opportunities away from our youth and weaken the foundations of our state’s future.
But we are fighting back – and so are our legislators and candidates. Earlier this year, Alaska legislators voted to restore the education funding that Dunleavy tried to slash — a powerful statement that investing in our kids isn’t optional, it’s essential.
This is personal. When they cut education, they’re cutting into the very heart of Alaska’s future.
