Representative
CHRIS TUCK

I’m Here for You

I want to hear from you,
share your thoughts, voice
your opinion. Together we
will make a difference.

Click here to visit my Website
 
Click here to write me an email

Call me anytime:
   (907) 465-2095
   Toll-Free (866) 465-2095

Visit me:
   May-December
   716 W. 4th St., Ste. 340
   Anchorage, AK 99501
   (907) 269-0242 fax

   January-April
   State Capitol Bldg. Rm. 404
   Juneau, AK 99801
   (907) 465-3810 fax

Contact Other Elected Officials:

Governor Parnell,
Anchorage Office:
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Sean Parnell
www.state.ak.us

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Senator Mark Begich,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

February 20, 2014

Education Update - A Message from Rep. Chris Tuck

Dear Neighbors,

Today I joined fellow legislators who support public education in sponsoring two bills to reverse cuts to our schools, improve our public education system, and provide greater options for school innovation in Alaska. 

These ideas came from parents, teachers, charter schools and students who have been calling for more support for public schools and more innovation within the public system. 

The first bill would:

• allow schools to rehire teachers and staff who were laid off in recent years,
• assure annual inflation-proofing of school foundation funding,
• offer a means to reward principals who lead their schools to success
• determine the funding necessary to maintain workable classroom sizes each year.

The second would help create more educational options for families within the public school system. It gives resources and establishes processes for communities to create community charter schools or transition neighborhood schools into more parent-driven charter schools.

Rep. Tuck (far right) joins other former school board members from around the state for a group photo in the Speaker’s Chambers.

Highlights of the education package:

• Allows most schools to keep teachers without cuts.
• Makes up for inflation caused by flat classroom funding the past 4 years.
• Inflation proofs education funding for the future
• Promotes excellence in leadership
• Allows parents of students in neighborhood schools the option to convert all or part of a school into a charter school to free up the waitlist for other charter schools and allow the district to provide administrative and facility expenses.
• Grants new charter schools $500 per student to assist with startup costs.
• Ensures Charter Schools maintain access to state and federal grants as they become available.
• Increases the Base Student Allocation for charter schools by 10% to cover rent and utility costs currently paid out of classroom funds.

Public schools provide the best means to help all Alaskan children succeed, and these bills give parents and local school districts more tools and resources to better teach our children.

School Safety a Priority

I also introduced legislation requiring school zone markings at all school locations in an effort to slow traffic and improve students’ safety in the vicinity of a school.  Currently, municipalities are not required to create school zones around private, charter, or religious schools.

Under my legislation, a municipality would have the discretion to place signs, speed zones, lights or other measures appropriate for the location. 

Every student should be able to get to and from school safely, no matter what type of school they attend, and it is time we add school zones to bring more attention to the children, slow traffic around all schools, and prevent tragic accidents.

Summary of the Legislative Package:
http://akdemocrats.org/docs/2014_Education-Package.pdf

Read the full text of the legislation at the links below.
Reversing Teacher Cuts and Promoting Excellence:
http://akdemocrats.org/docs/022014_Excellence-in-Public-Education-bill.pdf

Increases Options and Maintains Accountability:
http://akdemocrats.org/docs/022014_Gardner-Tuck_Charter-School-bill.pdf

Student Safety for All Students:
http://akdemocrats.org/?p=3288

National Conference of State Legislatures report on evaluating principals:
http://akdemocrats.org/docs/2014_Education-Package.pdf

As always, I’m here for you, so please keep in touch on matters important to you and your family!

Warm regards,

      Chris Tuck
      Alaska State Representative
      District 22 - Anchorage