Email the Tech Team, http://education.alaska.gov/Alaskan_Schools/Charter/. A uniform statewide formula that guarantees annual authorizer funding that is not subject to annual legislative appropriations. Coming from a students, I never liked wearing uniforms but they are honestly not that bad. The Anchorage School District is an equal opportunity provider. Hold multiple charter contracts with independent fiscal and academic accountability for each school. Murdock . What happens when the district cannot negotiate exceptions to the collective bargaining agreement for charter school teachers? New review . Alaska law allows new starts and public school conversions. The staff and teachers care about the students. I changed schools a lot in middle school but when I started school here I felt at home. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. Alaska law allows school districts to retain up to four percent of a charter schools program budget to cover the districts administrative costs. Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. Awards Awards The chart below contains information regarding new grant awards made in each fiscal year since FY 2009. Alaska has 32 charter schools serving 8,191 students. Is there a waiver for that? Alaska law includes a small number of the model laws provisions regarding special education responsibilities. Anchorage STrEaM Academy 7801 E 32nd Ave . The student population of Fireweed Academy is 85, and the school serves K through 6 At Fireweed Academy, Soldotna Montessori Charter School is a charter school located in Soldotna, AK, which is in a remote town setting. 29 Public Charter Schools 714 Private Schools 1,216 Total Schools Top 5 Schools in This State These are some of the top-rated public schools in Alaska based on a variety of measures, including academic performance and equity. Students are well behaved and its a great atmosphere that is very welcoming. Read 1 review. 2023 Best Charter High Schools in Alaska - Niche Can a charter school require local school districts to charge students and parents for such items as uniforms, lab fees, transportation fees and textbooks? GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, These are some of the top-rated public schools in Alaska, Are the schools in Alaska offering opportunity for all students, or are some kids being left behind? Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |Main Phone:(907) 742-4322, Location:5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd. State and local courts | Alaska law requires school districts to direct a proportionate share to charter schools of state aid under the states School Construction Grant Fund program for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of schools and education-related facilities and Major Maintenance Grant Fund program that is based on a per-pupil funding formula. #3 Best Charter Elementary Schools in Alaska. Alaska law requires charter schools to hold lotteries if too many students seek enrollment in the school. Two topics are expressly excluded from bargaining: length of the teacher school year and class load or size.Alaska law requires all charter schools to be part of existing collective bargaining agreements, but schools can apply for exemptions.Prior to the Supreme Courts ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, Alaska allowed unions to impose mandatory agency fees on non-members. It has 235 students in grades PK, K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Alaskas law does not cap public charter school growth and includes an appellate mechanism for charter school applicants rejected by districts, but it also provides little autonomy, insufficient accountability, and inequitable facilities funding. Top 3 Best Wasilla, AK Public Charter Schools (2023) - Public School Review Email the Tech Team, Alyeska Reading Academy and Institute (ARAI), Teacher Retention & Recruitment Working Group, State Grant Application #05-17-041 (word), Alaska Statutes on Charter Schools (word), Alaska State Charter School Regulations (pdf), Professional Teaching Practices Commission. The state labor relations agency determines the rules of the elections and eligibility to vote. Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, AK. Alaska state statute allows for a group of employees to challenge an existing representative if at least 30 percent of a proposed collective bargaining unit want to be represented by a new exclusive representative. Charter schools are public schools that offer alternative teaching methods or curriculum. Alaska law requires participation in the relevant employee retirement systems. My son is in advanced classes, which I appreciate the teachers seeing his abilities and providing him a way to advance. An ESP must annually provide information to its charter school governing board on how that ESP spends public funding it receives when the ESP is performing a public function under applicable state law. | Read 3 reviews. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, AK, Alum: Don't listen to whoever that other person is, Watershed is great. Our child always talks about how she feels she can really learn in her classes and doesnt feel like the teachers move on without the students understanding the material. Alaska State Guide - National School Choice Week #8 Best Charter Elementary Schools in Alaska. If the local school board approves the application, the local school board must forward the application to the state board of education and early development for review and approval.If a local school board denies an application, the applicant may appeal the denial to the state commissioner of education. Authorizers must have the authority to vary length of charter renewal contract terms based on performance or other issues. There are currently nine public charter schools operating in the Anchorage School District serving approximately 4,000 students. Our charter schools differ from other ASD schools in three significant ways; Charter schools are expected to follow all ASD school board policy and procedures unless expressly waived in their approved charter. 2023 Best Schools in Alaska Best schools Most diverse Best teachers College prep View on map Search type Schools Districts Grade level Pre-K Elementary Middle High school Highest grade offered Select a grade. Performance results of charter schools nationally have been mixed, with some performing demonstrably better and others closing because they could not meet required standards. A state grant program, such as one specific for charter school facilities or equal access to existing state facilities programs available to non-charter public schools. As of March 2017, 44 states plus the District of Columbia had enacted charter school laws, and in 2013 it was estimated that 4.6 percent of all public school students attended charter schools. The student population of Ayaprun Elitnaurvik is 157, and the school serves PK through 6 At Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Fronteras Charter School is a charter school located in Wasilla, AK, which is in a distant town setting. How many charter schools can operate in Alaska? Charter schools authorized by local boards are exempt from participation in any district collective bargaining agreements. Legally permissible criteria and processes for enrollment based on the existence of supports needed for student success. To access the full report, click here. Alaska law does not include any of the model laws provisions for educational service providers. Schools seeking renewal must apply for it. In 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law. Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, AK. They must hold to the same academic accountability measures as traditional schools. Fronteras Charter School. I loved all the animals that used to hang out with us and all the fun projects we did like building a cage for our finches. Read 2 reviews. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles. Parent: Wonderful Waldorf inspired education. All children 18 and under are welcome to participate, and its free! Top 3 Best Wasilla Public Charter Schools (2023) For the 2023 school year, there are 4 public charter schools serving 1,211 students in Wasilla, AK. How are students selected for charter schools? Students in a competency-based learning environment work on fully understanding academic concepts and processes before moving forward with their learning. In Alaska, charter schools are started by a founding group at the local level. It is a very small school and doesn't have many assets, but all of the staff and teachers genuinely care about the students. Is the district liable for any accidents that may happen to students or staff in a charter school? Requirement to publicly report detailed authorizer expenditures. The student population of Birchtree Charter School is 352, and the school serves K through 8 At Alaska Native Cultural Charter School is a magnet school located in Anchorage, AK, which is in a large city setting. Alaskas law still needs major improvement. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. Does your child attend a school in this state? AnchorageSTrEaMAcademy provides a quality project-based interdisciplinary education based on STEM initiatives, and facilitates place-based outdoor education. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. A charter school can be designated to serve students within a certain age group or grade level, and students who will benefit from a particular teaching method or curriculum. 11 Niche users give it an average review of 2.8 stars. In the event that demand exceeds a school's ability to accommodate, the local school board is legally obligated to consider expanding the school's facilities and staff. However, they have more freedom over their budgets, staffing, curricula and other operations. Have schools been able to waive the standardized achievement test requirements? The student population of Fronteras Charter School is 309, and the school serves K through 8 At Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School. Authorizer may not request duplicative data submission from its charter schools and may not use performance framework to create cumbersome reporting requirements. K-12 Schools in Alaska - Niche A summary of charter schools in Alaska. School governing boards operate as entities completely independent of any ESP, individuals compensated by an ESP are prohibited from serving as voting members on such boards, and existing and potential conflicts of interest between the two entities are required to be disclosed and explained in the charter application. Six states had not. Support our mission. Alaska | National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Alaska 1995 Year Charter School Law Was Enacted 30 Estimated Number of Charter Schools in 2018-19 7,126 Estimated Number of Charter School Students in 2018-19 83 out of 240 Total Score In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. Critics also contend that charter schools divert funds from traditional public schools, which continue to enroll significant majorities of public school students, thereby compounding problems at failing schools and generating unequal outcomes for students. Meanwhile, critics such as Diane Ravitch argue that charter schools have not been proven to produce significantly higher levels of academic achievement as promised. Ability to have a differentiated process for renewal of high-performing charter schools. I was able to immerse myself in many different interests while fulfilling expectations in order to graduate but the focus. Alum: The home of the Gryphons will forever hold a very special place in my heart. It also provides that contracts may be for a term of no more than 10 years. A new Alaska Native charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade will open this fall in Wasilla with nearly 200 students. Top 10 Best Alaska Charter Public Schools (2023) They are governed by an elected board called an Academic Policy Committee (APC). Required enrollment preferences for previously enrolled students within conversions and for prior-year students within charter schools. According to state test scores, 17% of students are at least proficient in math and 22% in reading. How many charter schools can operate in Alaska? Overall testing rank is based on a school's . For the first 20 years of Alaska's charter school law, charter schools received only the base allocation per pupil from the state. As a result of the decision, the Alaska governor took a step to affirm that the state will not play a role in encouraging or discouraging union membership by issuing an administrative order in August 2018 asserting that the state as an employer remains neutral with respect to membership in an employee organization and will not, for example, share employee information with any third parties including unions. According to state test scores, 22% of students are at least proficient in math and 32% in reading. Featured Review: Alum says Don't listen to whoever that other person is, Watershed is great. 2023 Alaska Schools | Public, Charter, & Private School Ratings The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. Have schools been able to waive the standardized achievement test requirements? Since its passage, the law has been amended several times. #9 Best Charter Elementary Schools in Alaska. Blue checkmark. An authorizing structure whereby full-time virtual charter schools that serve students from more than one district may be approved only by an authorizer with statewide chartering jurisdiction and authority, full-time virtual charter schools that serve students from one school district may be authorized by that school district, and a cap is placed on the total amount of funding that an authorizer may withhold from a full-time virtual charter school. Alaska law provides application requirements for all charter schools. Principal . Click here to contact our editorial staff or report an error. Authorizer must issue school performance renewal reports to schools whose charter will expire the following year. If the state labor relations agency has reasonable cause to believe that a question of representation exists, it conducts a hearing and directs a secret ballot. Will funds be available in mid-year, or should the charter school wait until the beginning of the next year to start up? 7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Ballot measures, Who represents me? The charter school shall use a grant received under this section to provide educational services, which include curriculum development, program development, and special education services. If the state commissioner upholds the denial by the local school board, the applicant may appeal to the state board. They helped me through a lot and helped me graduate and get into a great college. Read 1 review. Equitable operational funding statutorily driven. Washington, D.C. 20006 These schools enrolled approximately 6,700 students. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Teachers. Authorizers must have school closure protocols to ensure timely parent notification, orderly student and record transitions, and property and asset disposition. Who evaluates the charter school principal? They want them to be successful, not only as a student but as a person. BT50.Widget({ In addition, advocates argue that charter schools empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. The student population of Eagle Academy Charter School is 164, and the school serves K Read More, Aquarian Charter School is a charter school located in Anchorage, AK, which is in a large city setting. The local school board has the authority to close the school for failure to meet those goals or for mismanagement of funds. To get a sense of the level of innovation occurring in charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools surveyed charter schools across the country on the various innovative education practices they employed. PDF Questions and Answers about Charter Schools - Alaska Department of According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 28 total charter schools in Alaska in the 2015-2016 school year.