Olson wants council on Alaska Native languages

JUNEAU — Linguists and Native groups from around the state are lining up behind a proposal aimed at preserving and revitalizing Alaska’s 20 Native languages.

Sen. Donald Olson, D-Nome, is recommending that the state create the Alaska Native Language Preservation Council, which would advise the governor on programs and projects that will make the most of resources available to Native groups.

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Alaska's rural educators out of step with state regulators

JUNEAU — Educators from a rural school district told lawmakers Wednesday that their relationship with state regulators was plagued by a lack of meaningful dialogue and filled with inconsistent priorities.

House committee moves texting ban bill forward

JUNEAU — Alaska lawmakers moved a bill through the House Transportation Committee on Thursday that puts the state one step closer to correcting what legislators from both parties describe as an error made in the language of a 2008 law that attempted to ban texting while driving. State judges have challenged that law.

One of the cosponsors of H.B. 255, Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, provided testimony to clarify the bill’s intent and to preempt concerns about its wording and scope.

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Report: Little progress on teacher quality in AK

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A new report says only three states have made less progress at improving the quality of teachers than Alaska since 2009.

The National Council on Teacher Quality gives Alaska an overall grade of “D.”

The report says Alaska does not require a broad enough range of knowledge for new teachers. It says the state has an ineffective process for firing low-performing teachers with tenure and doesn’t use enough data-based evaluation.

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Alaska lawmakers seek inexpensive crime solutions

JUNEAU — Lawmakers, prosecutors and law enforcement officers from around the state gathered Tuesday for a two-day summit that aims to identify cost-effective ways to fight crime and improve public safety across Alaska.

The Senate Judiciary Committee opened the summit with a presentation from Annie Pennucci, a researcher for the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The institute is nonpartisan and established by the Washington Legislature to study the economic impacts of issues important to the state.

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Olson wants council on Alaska Native languages

Alaska's rural educators out of step with state regulators

House committee moves texting ban bill forward

Report: Little progress on teacher quality in AK

Alaska lawmakers seek inexpensive crime solutions

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