Education

ISER researchers have a long history of studying education issues in Alaska, and in 2009, to emphasize ISER’s commitment to education research, the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR) was established as part of ISER. Examples of education research at ISER include assessing turnover rates among teachers and readiness of high-school students to go on to college. Another focus at CAEPR is looking at education issues that Indigenous peoples face in Alaska and the broader Arctic. ISER researchers also evaluate Alaska education programs.

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CAEPR Presents Data to the Alaska State Board of Education

The school year is over, and ISER researchers are studying which Alaska educators choose to come back to their jobs next year – and why. Researchers from the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR) presented updated teacher and principal turnover numbers, as well as preliminary findings from their statewide educator survey, at the Alaska State Board of Education on Wednesday June 3.

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CAEPR Educator Survey

CAEPR is currently running a statewide educator survey!

The survey was developed in collaboration with education shareholders. It is a confidential survey that asks educators about their school and work experience, their community, themselves, and their future plans.

In early February, every in-service educator in Alaska received a personalized email survey invitation. We will send reminders to teachers periodically over the next 8 weeks, and develop a report in June.

We are excited to do this in service of schools and communities in our state.

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Recording now available from April 8, 2024 webinar titled: Building Indigenous and Inclusive Education Across the Arctic

Across the Arctic, schools struggle to meet the needs of all students, especially Indigenous students and those who have learning disabilities. Education systems are needed that allow students to study in institutions grounded in their own cultures and languages, regardless of whether they are newcomers or Indigenous, and that prepare them to succeed regardless of learning differences.

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Are Alaska teacher salaries competitive?

In this new ISER report (https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/handle/11122/14906), ISER economist Matthew Berman and CAEPR director Dayna DeFeo explore how Alaska teacher salaries compare to the national average, adjusted for cost of living differences. They also examined trends in salaries of Alaska and US teachers adjusted for inflation over the past several decades, and how the salary differentials have changed over time.

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The recording of the ISER & UAS School of Education policy forum on education funding from February 8, 2024

The public is invited to an education policy forum titled: “Funding Education in Alaska: Lessons and Insights from Local and National Research” on February 8, 2024, at 5:00 pm in the Egan Lecture Hall room 112 on the UAS campus in Juneau. This free event, co-sponsored by the UAS School of Education and the UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), features Dr.

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Research on school finance, the teacher workforce, and related topics in Alaska

This is a list of recent publications and reports by CAEPR and ISER focused on school finance, teacher workforce issues (recruitment, retention, and turnover),and related topics. This represents only a small portion of the education-related products from CAEPR and ISER. All CAEPR/ISER reports are available on the web at Scholarworks@UA, and you can see many of our peer-reviewed journal publications on journal websites or via the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

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ISER & UAS School of Education policy forum on education funding-February 8, 2024 at 5pm in Juneau

The public is invited to an education policy forum titled: “Funding Education in Alaska: Lessons and Insights from Local and National Research” on February 8, 2024, at 5:00 pm in the Egan Lecture Hall room 112 on the UAS campus in Juneau. This free event, co-sponsored by the UAS School of Education and the UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), features Dr.

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The Helen & Edward Gorsuch Public Policy Forum: Public Education Funding in Alaska

SAVE THE DATE

December 7, 2023   Reception at 5:30PM

Panel presentation at 7 PM, Q & A to follow.  Join ISER for a seminar exploring how we finance education in Alaska, including the history of the school funding system, how our investments compare with those in other states, the impact of funding decisions on our schools and students, and how other states determine funding adequacy and mechanisms.

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Alaska Historical Society Keynote Address Speaker: Diane Hirshberg

Dr. Diane Hirshberg was the keynote speaker for the Alaska Historical Society Conference held at the Kenai Peninsula College and nearby locations Oct 5-8, 2023. The conference was titled “Connections and Disconnections in Alaska History” and is connected to a larger set of discussions on enhancing Alaska Civil Discourse.

From Sheldon Jackson to the Fight for Tribal Schools: The Unfinished History of Colonization’s Impact on Alaska’s Schools and Students