Two School Districts Sue, Claiming Alaska Is Failing Its Constitutional Obligation to Fund Public Education

ProPublicaCenter-LeftEN 7 min read 100% complete by Emily SchwingJanuary 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

Two Alaska school districts, Kuspuk and Fairbanks North Star Borough, filed a lawsuit against the state, its governor, and education commissioner on January 20th in Anchorage Superior Court. The districts claim Alaska is failing its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education, hindering students' ability to achieve proficiency in essential subjects. The lawsuit seeks to compel the state to fulfill its constitutional duty and requests a court-ordered study to determine the true cost of educating students in Alaska. The districts cite chronic underfunding leading to low test scores, staff reductions, program eliminations, and unsafe school conditions, particularly in rural areas. The state Department of Law responded that the legislature, not litigation, is the responsible path forward, noting the constitution vests financial power in the legislature.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

ProPublica 40% KYUK 40% NPR 40% Sam Curtis 50% Anchorage Superior Court 50% Madeline Aguillard 50% Department of Law ×260% Matt Singer 60% Fairbanks North Star Borough School District 70% Mike Dunleavy 70% Kuspuk School District ×280% Alaska ×690%

Keywords

public education funding 100% lawsuit 90% constitutional obligation 80% alaska 70% school districts 70% underfunding 60% state funding 50% proficiency 50% education commissioner 40%