NOTN – Governor Mike Dunleavy is criticizing the Alaska Legislature for failing to take action on education reform, pointing out that the state remains last in the nation for student outcomes. 

In a letter to legislators Friday, he emphasized that increasing funding won’t improve results without meaningful policy changes, and called on lawmakers to act immediately.

According to lawmakers who spoke with News of the North, Dunleavy has declined to call a second special session this year.

Dunleavy warned that if the legislature does not pass education reforms during the next regular session, he is prepared to call additional special sessions in 2026 until changes are made, stressing that each year of inaction affects an entire cohort of students.