Education

Panel eyes drug tests for Juneau students

High school athletes and students involved in extracurricular activities in the Juneau School District could be facing mandatory random drug testing.

UA board to begin hunt for president

The chairwoman of the University of Alaska Board of Regents says a plan will be drafted this summer to find a replacement for outgoing UA President Mark Hamilton.

School District views stimulus money as a one-shot boost

Unlike many school districts around the country facing budget shortfalls, Anchorage schools are treating federal stimulus money as a windfall, using most of it to pay for long-sought upgrades and to experiment with pilot programs aimed at long-standing problems.

Charter school looks to grow by 20 acres

Academy Charter, one of about a half-dozen charter schools in the Mat-Su, is looking to expand its land base by having the borough buy 20 acres adjoining its site in Palmer. But the idea is facing opposition from some School Board members.

UA regents OK budget reduction

The University of Alaska Board of Regents has approved an $823 million budget for next year.

Salem, Ore., candidate to lead Juneau schools

The Juneau School Board has reached outside the state to pick a new superintendent of schools.

UA president Hamilton announces intent to retire

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton says he plans to retire soon so he can spend more time with his family. Hamilton, 64, took the job in 1998 after a long Army career.

UAF skiers object to researcher's tree-planting plans

A researcher's plan to plant 2,500 balsam poplar trees on a six-acre, fenced-in plot in a field along a popular University of Alaska Fairbanks ski trail has community users protesting.

Palin opts out of test standard for education

Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to opt out of an effort to write nationwide education standards in reading and math has some Alaska educators cheering and others dismayed.

Alaska Politics blog: Palin communications director leaving job

Alaska Politics blog: Palin says soldier shootings deserved more media attention

New chancellor named at UAF

Brian Rogers has been named chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The dead aid the living in UAA anatomy lab

Inside the Gross Anatomy Laboratory at the University of Alaska Anchorage, a room cooled to the mid-60s and smelling of ethanol and other preservatives, a half-dozen first-year students in the WWAMI biomedical program were quietly exploring three cadavers open to their gaze, and taking notes.

School District has free meals

Free breakfasts and lunches will be provided by the Anchorage School District this summer to all children 18 or younger who show up at the designated times and locations.

District posse rides along to curb damage from vandals

Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau has a last-day-of-school tradition and Thursday was no different. She got in her car and followed a school bus on its route as it dropped off kids.

Photos: Last day of School

Students' films help capture Inupiaq history and culture

More than 70 people attended a recent screening of homegrown films featuring elder stories in Wainwright that were written, produced and directed by students at the Alak School.

University receives $1.5 million as gift

An anonymous donor has pledged $1.5 million to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, making the small campus the latest college headed by a woman to receive a generous donation from a mystery source.

THIRD IN A SERIES

Native families get a go-between with Anchorage schools

Rose Roehl is part of an experiment to strengthen connections between Native families and Anchorage public schools. Instead of parents going to the schools, she brings the schools to them.

Part one: Tutors work to boost Native students

Part two: Separate classes create comfort zone for Native students

Graduations to be Webcast

AT&T plans to Webcast graduation ceremonies for Anchorage public high schools, the company said.

School projects get boost

The Anchorage School Board voted this week to spend $11 million of surplus capital improvement money to begin work on a long project list that was rejected by voters in April.

School District, borough at odds over funding

More than $10 million separates the amount the Mat-Su School District wants for funding this year and what the Mat-Su Borough is currently willing to give.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos: 2009 UAA Graduation

The University of Alaska Anchorage graduated more than 2,100 students in the commencement ceremony Sunday, 1,197 with bachelor's degrees, 349 with master's degrees and 109 with certificates and licenses.

PDF: 2009 graduation list

Reader-submitted photos

Post your UAA graduation photo

Principals assigned to city schools

The Anchorage School District has announced new principal assignments for next school year, approved Monday at the Anchorage School Board meeting.