schools just got a raise

Lawmakers locked it in before heading home for the year.

Before the session wrapped this week, they put a big boost into public schools. We're talking more than 140 million dollars headed toward classrooms across the state. Part of that is a one-time payment, and part of it bumps up the money schools get for every student.

This matters because districts all over Alaska have been cutting to the bone. Anchorage, the Valley, Fairbanks, you name it, they've all been staring down budget holes. More money per kid is the thing they've been asking for.

It's not the full amount some folks pushed for earlier in the session. But it's the biggest step toward steady school funding we've seen in a while.

For any parent with kids in the system, this is the difference between bigger class sizes and keeping programs alive. For teachers, it's a little breathing room heading into next year.