Alaska

Overview

During the 2022-2023 school year, Alaska preschool enrolled 1,040 children, an increase of 435 from the prior year. State spending totaled $5,002,332, up $1,546,414 (45%), adjusted for inflation, since last year. State spending per child equaled $4,810 in 2022-2023, down $902 from 2021-2022, adjusted for inflation. Alaska met 2 of 10 quality standards benchmarks.

What's New

In May 2022, the Alaska State Legislature passed the Alaska Reads Act which will provide more consistent and stable funding of early childhood programs starting on July 1, 2023. The Alaska Reads Act includes a total of $3 million in grant money that will be available to districts to develop preschool programs or to expand and improve upon existing programs. Programs can apply for a portion of the $3 million, to be spent over the course of three years. Districts that receive this competitive grant must work towards meeting the Alaska Early Education Program Standards, which include components that meet Head Start Standards and other high quality federal standards. Once a district has adopted the Standards and it is confirmed by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development through an application-review-approve process, the district can claim their 4- and 5-year-old students as part of their Average Daily Membership (the state funding formula) at a rate of .5, starting the following fall.

Additionally, in December 2022, the Alaska Department of Health was awarded a federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B–5) 3-year renewal grant for $8 million. Funds are being used to update the Statewide Early Childhood Needs Assessment and Statewide Early Childhood Strategic Plan.

Background 

Since the 1980s, Alaska has supplemented federal funding for Head Start programs in an effort to enhance school readiness and professional development and expand opportunities for children and families. During the 2022-2023 program year, the state provided $6.85 million to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Alaska. In 2009-2010, the state launched the Alaska PreKindergarten pilot program for school districts, now known as the Alaska Pre-Elementary program.

In 2015, the state changed the way competitive grants were offered to include two types of grantees. Districts new to the program may apply for a 3-year Pre-Elementary Development Grant geared toward strategic planning to begin implementing or supporting existing Pre-Elementary goals. Previously funded grantees could apply for three-year renewal grants to support the program while the districts worked towards sustainability of the program once the state grant funding ended. Development grants were geared toward strategic planning to begin implementing or support existing Pre-Elementary goals until they could be switched to renewal grants.

Starting in the 2020-2021 school year, the Department posted a request for applications for a three-year Pre-Elementary Grant. Any school district was eligible to apply for this competitive grant. Seventeen districts were awarded a Pre-Elementary Grant. The 2022- 2023 school year was the third year of a three-year grant. The financial support is part of an effort to promote school readiness and positive outcomes for participating 3-to-5-year-old children. The funds also offer admission to additional children and families whenever possible.

Budget reductions have continued to be a challenge, as insecure funding has affected program implementation and quality. Funding for the Alaska Pre-Elementary program goes directly to school districts. Participating school districts may subcontract with Head Start programs or private early childhood programs and agencies.

Alaska Pre-Elementary Programs

Access

Total state pre-K enrollment	1,040
School districts that offer state program	31%
Income requirement	No income requirement
Minimum hours of operation	Determined locally
Operating schedule	Determined locally
Special education enrollment, ages 3 and 4	1,022
Federally funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	2,202
State-funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	51

Resources

*Pre-K programs may receive additional funds from federal or local sources that are not included in this figure. †Head Start per-child spending includes funding only for 3- and 4-year-olds. ‡K–12 expenditures include capital spending as well as current operating expenditures.