A bill to stabilize education funding, eliminating uncertainty for school districts and unnecessary teacher layoffs, was signed into law May 3 by Gov. Bill Walker.
“For the first time in three years, pink slips won’t go out because of late funding of public education,” said. Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, and co-chair of the House Finance Committee. “Stabilizing education funding is critical to protecting teacher jobs, maintaining reasonable class sizes, and providing for a quality education for our youth and future generations,” said Seaton, who introduced House Bill 287 at the start of the second session of the 30th Legislature. HB 287 was co-sponsored by 22 representatives and 12 senators. “The passage of this bill shows the wisdom of early funding K-12 education every year.”
A provision to the bill inserted in the state Senate provides an additional $30 million in education funding in fiscal year 2020 if some version of Senate Bill 26 passes this session. That $30 million is equivalent to a $117 increase to the Base Student Allocation.
