Comment Summary

What is something you would change about education in Alaska?
#	Response Date	Response Text
1.	10/10/2008 7:50:00 PM	Allowing all parents the choice and we need more schools that will meet the multiple needs of our children
2.	10/10/2008 10:07:00 PM	Weeding out educators who are openly working in the bush for higher paying retirement. Working with districts to implement true parent involvement strategies. Closer monitoring of low performing schools.
3.	10/10/2008 10:45:00 PM	Develop funding for early childhood
4.	10/11/2008 5:18:00 AM	We need state funding for vocational programs.
5.	10/12/2008 6:44:00 AM	1. The Arctic is the focus of research for the rest of the world, but Alaskan students are not required to know anything about what the rest of the world is noticing about things that are impacting our immediate environment. 2. People are naturally inventive and creative. In every standard, this should be supported. Creativity is the essence of survival. Inventiveness is key to cutting edge education.
6.	10/12/2008 10:15:00 PM	Alaska's standards are schzophrenic. On one hand, the High School Qualifying Exam measures "minimal competency in essential skills". Do we really want our students to be minimally competent? On the other hand, additional, more rigorous questions are added to the 10th grade exam in order to please the U.S. Department of Education. The message is lip service to the feds with no real commitment.
7.	10/12/2008 10:57:00 PM	I would like to begin to educate the whole student. Every student has educational and personal gifts and talents to be discovered, enriched, and nurtured. It was not intended to be so, but the HSGQE has lowered standards, not raised them. It has not improved on the situation for which it was intended when the law was passed. The exam does more to assess a student's endurance in reading, writing, and math than it does to assess their actual proficiency. Furthermore, we have learned that proficiency on the HSGQE is not a predictor of graduation, post-secondary achievement, or life success.
8.	10/13/2008 3:08:00 PM	Design boarding schools for rural high school students to provide them with greater choices for classes...
9.	10/13/2008 6:09:00 PM	The way "achievement" is measured.
10.	10/13/2008 6:10:00 PM	More early childhood readiness.
11.	10/13/2008 6:11:00 PM	Families must assume the role of parenting children and schools must work hand in hand with them to educate all children. If schools try to do it all, the academic rigor is diluted. There must be consensus on the appropriate and mutually supportive roles of community, family and school.
12.	10/13/2008 6:28:00 PM	Americans feel that we have to remake people in our own image. We use standardized tests to standardize people. For indigenous people in traditional settings, this is rolling disaster. Despite the worsening social situation in the remote villages, we continue to do the same. Our practices and ethics follow the money.
13.	10/13/2008 6:45:00 PM	I would put regional high schools in place in the rural remote areas so students have more opportunities/exposure to explore what they want to "be" in terms of their career.
14.	10/13/2008 6:48:00 PM	No system is perfect. In Alaska there is a gap in our ability to form partnerships and support staff and the school caused by problems in the past and the tremendous turnover and change that always happens within schools. To be better we have to trust more, encourage more, and be responsive to the people who care and make requests of us. This is a two way street that both teachers and administrators have to be better at, but so do the parents and community members. If we expect better schools we need to be part of the solution and challenge each other to stay focused on what is right and good for kids.
15.	10/13/2008 6:54:00 PM	The funding for education has been declining for the past 20 years. The legislature's focus on and support of education have also been declining. In my opinion it hasn't been strong for a long time.
16.	10/13/2008 7:43:00 PM	I would encourage consistent instructional tools for teachers and the ability for administrators to apply those tools into evaluation.
17.	10/13/2008 8:29:00 PM	I would like to see a better balance of resource allocation between high achieving and low achieving students. I understand why things are as they are, but it's unfortunate that many students are not reaching as high as they might because overall the bar seems to have been lowered over the years.
18.	10/13/2008 8:38:00 PM	More continuity in curriculum and instructional methods from year to year and school to school.
19.	10/13/2008 9:38:00 PM	The size of the urban high schools.
20.	10/13/2008 11:46:00 PM	Decrease the amount and emphasis on standardized testing of young children. Institute team teaching
21.	10/14/2008 12:56:00 AM	More funding for career and technical education programs More funding for teachers NCLB
22.	10/14/2008 1:36:00 AM	I would be better preparing teachers prior to their arrival into the classroom. Our post-secondary educational programs are not instructing students in how to teach reading/math that replicates what research is saying. Being better prepared allows them to be a step ahead when they enter the classroom that has a wide range of abilities and they are able to assist each and every child to succeed and make progress.
23.	10/14/2008 1:47:00 AM	Funding for improvement of school infrastructure/buildings, etc.
24.	10/14/2008 3:25:00 AM	I would educate people at the state level so that they are aware that rural students and urban students are NOT the same. They do not have the same life experiences and therefor need a different set of standards. Not a lower set of standards, just different. Also, I find it very annoying that while the students in rural Alaska are held to the same standards as the students in urban Alaska the same does not hold true for ADMINISTRATORS!
25.	10/14/2008 4:48:00 AM	Improve communication opportunities between educators around the state to increase our ability to learn from each other and to reduce the feelings of isolation. I would change the teacher standards to be much more performance based - specifics about what needs to be observed in teacher's practice in the classroom. I would provide more opportunities to promote behaviors related to instructional leadership (at the district, principal and teacher levels) We need to value, by supporting and encouraging, creative ways for teachers to collaborate about student learning - critical if RTI is going to be successful We have to value the principal as an instructional leader and find ways to reduce the number of managerial tasks, allowing more time for the principal to function as an instructional leader.
26.	10/14/2008 5:48:00 AM	I would make it more possible for all students to have the possiblity to attend post-secondary schools or training. Sometimes, as a high school student you only see a limited scope of what is out in the world to accomplish.
27.	10/14/2008 6:48:00 AM	Standards are overrated in Alaska and implemented in a way that is limiting to learning,creativity, and assessment differentiation for both students and teachers. The website of of the department of education is inadequate, difficult to navigate, and is not compliant with modern web development standards including accessibility and usability. ---------------------------------------------------------- Teacher certification agency- no contact addresses, phone numbers, names and qualification of people that work for the department. No or no timly response to questions. ------------------------------------------------------- More collaboration between the Universities Schools of education and the education agency is needed. -------------------------------------------------------
28.	10/14/2008 3:22:00 PM	Allow those with credits to earn a diploma; better transition between K-6, 7-8, and 9-12.
29.	10/14/2008 4:13:00 PM	I would place a greater emphasis on pre-K, mixing career/voc-tec into the schools and ensuring children left with a sense of pride in who they are
30.	10/14/2008 4:38:00 PM	Make sure that education has full funding and that vocational education programs are emphasized along with academics.
31.	10/14/2008 4:53:00 PM	I would cap the enrollments for correspondence programs. I would take the cap off charter schools.
32.	10/14/2008 5:40:00 PM	Special education and academically advanced programs are both neglected and need to be strengthened. Special education students need to be allowed to work from their strengths, with less emphasis placed on constantly emphasizing their weaknesses by spending all their educational effort on remediation.. These students will succeed by working WITH their strengths. Find those strengths and use them.
33.	10/14/2008 7:05:00 PM	I would make sure that preschool programs are funded by the state for schools to offer services to children so they enter Kindergarten ready to learn. Head Start is too unreliable and restrictive to guarantee that all children receive preschool services. Funding- schools are not adequately funded for the outrageours energy costs, transportation costs, and other exhorbant costs associated with rural Alaska.
34.	10/14/2008 10:55:00 PM	Lack of scholarships for non-native students.
35.	10/14/2008 11:01:00 PM	I would like more TAG programs (during school if possible instead of only before/after regular school hours).
36.	10/15/2008 6:28:00 AM	I think improvements would be in three steps 1. If administers and Mentor teachers were required to substitute teach for just two days month that would let them know both the needs of the teachers and students. The best administrators I have seen in Alaska still teach. 2. Making in law that Alaskan town with a base population of 1000 or more must provide a three year old program. 3. Making schools more accountable for how special Ed money is spent and providing services like speech therapy more than once every three months.
37.	10/15/2008 8:35:00 AM	results
38.	10/15/2008 5:03:00 PM	Attract stronger teachers
39.	10/15/2008 5:05:00 PM	Community support and the cultural environment.
40.	10/15/2008 5:23:00 PM	If I could wave a magic wand, I would make all teachers in villages Alaska native.
41.	10/15/2008 5:23:00 PM	I think teachers, especially in rural areas, need to set higher expectations for their students. I also think there needs to be more funding and opportunity for professional development for teachers.
42.	10/15/2008 5:28:00 PM	NCLB - it does not help us in rural Alaska!!!
43.	10/15/2008 5:30:00 PM	I'd like to see resources put toward exceptional children on the highest end of the spectrum. My child is overlooked while a tremendous amount of effort is poured into the children with physical and academic challenges
44.	10/15/2008 5:36:00 PM	Higher and more consistent standards enforced in rural Alaska.
45.	10/15/2008 6:03:00 PM	The bureaucracy and "red tape." Alaska seems more mired in it than other states that I have been in.
46.	10/15/2008 6:05:00 PM	Not sure if all of Alaska, but locally the goals and curriculum from K through 12 should line up so that there is an organized progression of expectations and outcomes. While we do have standards to follow, we also have social promotion when students do not meet the standards. As the student progresses with their age group they tend to fall farther and farther behind until they are so far behind that they get discouraged with education and the secondary schools are having to accommodate a wide range of abilities which diminishes the education of the other students who have not fallen behind.
47.	10/15/2008 6:19:00 PM	I would change content in instruction to be more reflective of the children's identity, culture and history.
48.	10/15/2008 6:23:00 PM	The way rural AK is forced into cookie-cutter standards from people in WA DC or even Anchorage/Juneau.
49.	10/15/2008 6:33:00 PM	Drastic reduction in paper work, inefficient programs (SPED), courts get serious about truancy violations, too much reliance on technology for everyday programs
50.	10/15/2008 6:41:00 PM	I would make sure that surplus funds in the treasury are put into a separate but parallel perm fund dedicated to funding education. Fix teacher and public employees retirement.
51.	10/15/2008 6:44:00 PM	YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL MUSIC AND ART EDUCATION FOR EVERY SCHOOL
52.	10/15/2008 7:03:00 PM	I would put into play the initial gain of new and younger adults. I would encourage the youth and young adults to get involved with their own community and school districts. It is all too familiar that when you go before a board, or meet with an official in any given office, you are greeted with an individual who has not only worked for the community for 15 plus years, but has either been taught in and older tradition not familiar with our younger generation.
53.	10/15/2008 7:21:00 PM	funding for rural schools
54.	10/15/2008 7:29:00 PM	Make more porgrams available like Scholastic Read 180.....do away with AIMSweb monitoring.
55.	10/15/2008 7:58:00 PM	I would like to see more culturally relevant activities within the schools.
56.	10/15/2008 8:08:00 PM	I would definitely change the rigid requirements for teacher certification. Out of state certification should transfer to Alaska. Lifetime certificates should be issued. I would also change the pay scale for teachers; teachers are underpaid in a state where the cost of living is significantly higher.
57.	10/15/2008 8:18:00 PM	Home support.... Academic rigor/expectations at an early age.
58.	10/15/2008 8:28:00 PM	Fewer "canned" programs.
59.	10/15/2008 8:37:00 PM	Better funding for rural Alaska and serious commitments to native cultures
60.	10/15/2008 8:39:00 PM	more funding from the state
61.	10/15/2008 8:41:00 PM	Would not take a single penny from the federal government.
62.	10/15/2008 8:52:00 PM	Expectations need to be higher for both academics and behavior.
63.	10/15/2008 9:08:00 PM	We must get out of the box of seat time, credits, and textbook-driven instruction. Our teachers need true collaboration time to create learning opportunities for kids that are integrated, project-based, and authentic.
64.	10/15/2008 9:56:00 PM	I would like the involvement of the parents (or lack of) to change. I would like to see parents care about their children's future and help them work towards a better future by providing that much needed motivation to stay on track.
65.	10/15/2008 10:16:00 PM	The testing. Our students are not being tested to their abilities and in fact are being over tested in most cases which takes away from instruction and the importance of the testing process.
66.	10/15/2008 11:15:00 PM	We are teaching to the low middle. We are no longer challenging the upper middle, say nothing about the gifted. We are trying so hard to get everyone to read...I do value reading. We do need to teach functional life skills along the way to those who may not need "reading" to be successful in everyday life.
67.	10/15/2008 11:18:00 PM	I would create a 3 tier diploma. The certificate that we currently give to students that cannot pass the graduation test. The current diploma for students that do not achieve a high level, and finally an honors diploma for students that pass the graduation test at a preset high score and achieve a higher predetermined number of credits than a regular diploma requires.
68.	10/15/2008 11:44:00 PM	Good teachers become great teachers when given some latitude about how to teach. Teachers are overburdened with paperwork that has seemingly nothing to do with the student improvement program.
69.	10/15/2008 11:51:00 PM	more rigor
70.	10/16/2008 2:35:00 AM	I want the moon. I want these kids to be firmly grounded in their own cultures and to help them keep their cultures as a living and vibrant part of their lives, not just a museum piece. But I also want them firmly grounded in the all the best that that western culture and education have to provide. Being adept at both is the only way the next couple of generations of Native leaders will manage to keep what is theirs.
71.	10/16/2008 6:40:00 AM	If I could change education in Alaska, I would see that funding was made available to provide comprehensive career-technical/vocational education opportunities for our students in middle and high school. Regional vocational schools should be a consideration. I would eliminate about 50% of the accountability bureaucracy: ELP testing, Terra Nova testing, incomprehensible letters to parents with NCLB jargon that confuses even school personnel, volumes of back-up documents (sign-in sheets, agendas, postings, attendance rosters, etc.) to "prove" that we are in compliance with NCLB, and excessive hoops to jump through in order to become "highly qualified" (certainly not translated as knowing how to manage a classroom and impart subject matter knowledge). I would return to a defined benefits plan for teacher retirement. Teacher turnover is a significant challenge in rural Alaska and will continue to be so if we cannot draw high quality teachers. I would provide additional funding support to rural Alaska school districts, if for no other reason than to bring them into the 21st Century with regard to technology, especially Internet access, bandwidth, and distance delivery options.
72.	10/16/2008 10:42:00 AM	I would have every teacher, administrator, student and parent understand just how education is a life-long process that evey person has access to. Too few students understand how to take control of and access their career paths while still in their formative education years. Schools need to radiacally change how they communicate expectations and opportunities to children, staff and community.
73.	10/16/2008 3:27:00 PM	We need to connect the community to the school. Education will not be seen as important to our students until it is seen as truly important to the community.
74.	10/16/2008 4:01:00 PM	More Early Childhood programs
75.	10/16/2008 4:52:00 PM	School needs to be a place of calm and safety as so many students come from chaotic homes.
76.	10/16/2008 5:54:00 PM	I would like to see more resources and support to rural, off road districts in the following areas: high quality teacher recruitment high quality teacher retention technology career tech education and vocational skill centers
77.	10/16/2008 6:42:00 PM	More funding for rural school.s
78.	10/16/2008 6:54:00 PM	Students need to be able to make more connections with the rest of the United States and World. Students should have qualified teachers and have more technology in schools.
79.	10/16/2008 8:33:00 PM	Maintain certified staff in positions so that consistency would occur for the students. There is so much turnover that students, materials, programs, etc. get lost in the shuffle. This is true in administration as well as teachers. I believe more checking of references needs to be done also. How can administrators or teachers who performed poorly in one district continue to float around the state?
80.	10/16/2008 9:51:00 PM	We need much higher expectations.
81.	10/17/2008 12:05:00 AM	More sense of teaching as a legitimate career choice for people from our state. Higher state requirements for math to graduate. Teacher access to place-based instructional units.
82.	10/17/2008 12:09:00 AM	The focus of education needs to start earlier. Early Childhood Education programs, such as Head Start, need to employ Highly Qualified Teachers for students as young as three years old. In many villages, children needing language development are being instructed by individuals with little or no training in language development or literacy skills. The result is a continued propagation of non-academic English that is often not correctable by the time students take the 3rd grade benchmark tests. Labeled as below proficient on National norms, many of these students never overcome the disadvantage of their improper early childhood education.
83.	10/17/2008 5:08:00 AM	The extreme push for counting the HSGQE towards graduation with the high Native population. Other states won't count for a few years yet. Less assessment of the students which would give teachers the time to do what they do best. Educate students. I would also change the fact that the HSGQE is two tests in one. The student never gets a chance to improve the SBA score.
84.	10/17/2008 7:23:00 AM	1. NCLB Mandates, 2. Integration of ethics and Humanist Learning Theory in rural schools, 3. Funding for a K20 Center that can do professional development and policy research
85.	10/17/2008 4:10:00 PM	Too much testing and measuring... not enough teaching time.
86.	10/17/2008 4:14:00 PM	Too few options available, inadequate funding, need to build up our early childhood education.
87.	10/17/2008 5:29:00 PM	ALL students need to be taught by an effective teacher and schools need to be led by effective leadership.
88.	10/17/2008 8:47:00 PM	That students get more instruction and time spent on science and social studies. Even though these content areas are not tested for AYP, they are still important.
89.	10/17/2008 10:14:00 PM	A greater connection between early childhood, K-12, and post-secondary education.
90.	10/17/2008 10:57:00 PM	Expectations for many students are too low - and students learn to meet those low expectations.
91.	10/18/2008 1:25:00 AM	the dismal high school graduation rate; the disconnect between school and community values in many places; the fact that too many schools still refuse to incorporate local learning and values in their educational system
92.	10/18/2008 4:03:00 PM	Raise the standards.
93.	10/18/2008 7:05:00 PM	There is too much testing. Students stop trying after a while, so the results are useless. All the time we spend preparing to test, tesing, and trying to make sense out of the results, keep us from actually teaching with continuity.
94.	10/18/2008 7:35:00 PM	Get rid of No Child Left Behind unless requirements for parents are also included. The number one factor in future success of a child is parent involvement in the child's education. It is not included except to say encourage. Teachers and schools are REQUIRED to do ..., so must the most important people involved be required to do their share. It will never work until parents are included an responsible. It also must be more sensitive to cultural differences. How dare we demand that people of different cultures become and think and respond just like middle class lower 48 people. We are destroying beautiful cultures to make everyone think and respond in the same mode. The creators of educational materials will never develop tests to meet the needs of all groups.
95.	10/18/2008 11:54:00 PM	There would be a different calendar to accommodate a variety of learners. More career technical education available tied to academic endeavors. Year long school for access and dual credit by the university system for high school students.
96.	10/19/2008 4:46:00 AM	more funding
97.	10/19/2008 7:50:00 AM	More money needs to be allocated for early-childhood programs. Staff at the district office level need to be held accountable for supporting a quality education, providing highly qualified staff, as well as supporting full-day kindergarten. Money needs to be allocated for education! We desperately need counselors, reading specialists, speech pathologists, and school psychologists. Having students meet with the school psychologist and/or speech pathologist once or twice a year is not enough.
98.	10/19/2008 5:35:00 PM	I would hope that each students could understand the basics and apply those skills in new and unfamiliar real life situations.
99.	10/20/2008 1:45:00 AM	Hold Parents more accountable for students progress. Not allow parent in the bush get away with not sending their kids to school. Kids who do not go to school should not get a dividend. Make the rural school have more legal power over parents and kids.
100.	10/20/2008 6:16:00 PM	I think that forward funding of education needs to be implemented so that districts know at least two years in advance what the basic funding level will be (espeically for salaries & benefits). Coupled with forward funding, there needs to be a straight-forward way for districts to request additional funding based on changes in student population, capital improvements that were not anticipated, emergencies, etc. so that the basic funding level can be increased without undue hardship or delay.
101.	10/20/2008 6:34:00 PM	The university preparation programs - I would insist that they implement scientifically based theory rather than very old practices (eg whole language). Most teacher I've worked with (coming right out of our university system) do not know how to provide quality instruction to at-rish students, let along monitor their progress.
102.	10/20/2008 8:50:00 PM	I would ensure that the arts were integrated into the classroom, so that there is more opportunity for creative learning, and I would have a statewide high school art graduation requirement. Most universities "outside" require that for incoming freshman.
103.	10/20/2008 8:53:00 PM	Bring back the voc ed.
104.	10/20/2008 9:02:00 PM	Returning public school workers to a high quality defined benefit pension plan would have great positive impact on Alaska's ability to attract and retain the quality of teaching/support staff workers we need.
105.	10/20/2008 9:06:00 PM	I would have all parents take a more serious role in their child's education and be supportive of the teachers that are teaching their children.
106.	10/20/2008 9:55:00 PM	HSQE needs to be harder Teacher student racio teaching to the test.
107.	10/20/2008 10:30:00 PM	-that the emphasis away from practical skills needed for transition to the labor force seems to be prevalent -the high turnover rate of teachers, especially in rural Alaska is having a profoundly negative effect
108.	10/20/2008 10:31:00 PM	Positive attention to high native drop-out rates
109.	10/20/2008 11:34:00 PM	In order to address the dropout rate among minority and low income students, resources need to be concentrated on highly effective early intervention that is sustained through elementary, middle, and high school by highly trained teachers who understand the needs and strengths of the families with whom they are working.
110.	10/20/2008 11:41:00 PM	Raise the academic expectations bar. When students are expected to perform at a certain level from a young age, they will do it throughout his life naturally.
111.	10/21/2008 12:44:00 AM	Establish a vision that supports all AK students and offers a net to those who may not learn or operate in a tradtional education setting. Decide what we want this to look like -including: early career exploration, funding for CTE, support a stronger Tech Prep presence, offer statewide/community apprenticeship & internship opportunities and THEN, not back down when funding is tight - continue to put AK at the forefront of education that works - not waffling between how to barely get the job done.
112.	10/21/2008 1:56:00 AM	I would like to see more teachers be involved with parents so that there be a comfort level of trust and understanding.
113.	10/21/2008 2:46:00 AM	I would like to see improvement in education throughout the grades (I will always want that). I would like to see a higher percentage of high school graduates. I'd like to see a higher percentage of well-prepared students entering post-secondary institutions (less need for remedial classes at the college level).
114.	10/21/2008 4:42:00 AM	STOP TEASING AND BULLYING! Outstanding 7-12 teachers are burned out and going to the district office. D.O. personnel should be required to return to the classroom to teach 1 year out of 5. The HSGQE should be revised. Students feel the minimum is all they need & are passing it the first time they take it. Reading, writing and math must be more rigorous. I would like a requirement for music and art at all levels. For younger students who do not enjoy the academics, music & art might be the fun they need to encourage them to want to come to school.
115.	10/21/2008 4:22:00 PM	There needs to be a stronger emphasis on helping to ensure that all students have the opportunity and means to graduate from HS. We need to increase our understanding of the difficulties in teaching in Alaska.
116.	10/21/2008 5:51:00 PM	Drop NCLB. Usless leglislation that has impossible outcomes and too much federal intervention. If you want students to do better on tests, give them more contact time not more tests. duh
117.	10/21/2008 6:06:00 PM	More ties to the local community in teaching - place based education.
118.	10/21/2008 6:11:00 PM	That we would find a way to attract a higher caliber of administrators to run our school districts and individual schools. The pool is shallow.
119.	10/21/2008 6:35:00 PM	I would try for larger funds
120.	10/21/2008 6:39:00 PM	All Districts be aligned with and use State Standards to guide instruction.
121.	10/21/2008 6:46:00 PM	Vocational education options.
122.	10/21/2008 6:52:00 PM	In Alaska and across the nation I would like to see education focus on basic skills and preparing students to be responsible global citizens. This cannot be done in view of the nearly year round testing now in place. I would replace exhaustive testing with tests or competencies that had to be achieved to move from one level to the next.
123.	10/21/2008 6:56:00 PM	I would make NCLB accomodate the native languages and cultures of alaska
124.	10/21/2008 7:04:00 PM	HS graduation requirements. Get rid of the idiotic, meaningless HSGQE.
125.	10/21/2008 7:10:00 PM	More career and tech ed./ more support from EED and the State Leg/ and a more "can do" feeling
126.	10/21/2008 7:12:00 PM	I would like to see more support for administrators who are willing to make the changes necessary to meet the needs of their students, but who are confronted by the "old guard" (not limited to, but including including local school boards and school site councils) who may lack the necessary information to know what is best for their students.
127.	10/21/2008 7:16:00 PM	more systemic activity, e.g., teacher evaluation should be more tightly monitored from the state so that there is assurance of professional growth
128.	10/21/2008 7:43:00 PM	I wish the state would realize the importance of early childhood education by offering funding for it.
129.	10/21/2008 7:46:00 PM	test3
130.	10/21/2008 7:52:00 PM	Need more options for kids that don't fit into the typical high school mold- smaller schools, vo-tech schools, charter schools.
131.	10/21/2008 8:05:00 PM	More rigorous testing -- higher expectations.
132.	10/21/2008 8:22:00 PM	Making sure that class size is smaller than what i am seeing now. It is ridiculous to have 34 students in an Algebra A class for example. Having 24 students in 1st grade is also too many.
133.	10/21/2008 8:25:00 PM	NCLB needs to be challanged in testing for the special need students. The standards do not address the needs of these children, but hold them to the standards of the average child.
134.	10/21/2008 8:26:00 PM	MORE FUNDING!, so that our students have the same opportunities as urban schools.
135.	10/21/2008 8:27:00 PM	Grow more of our own teachers instead of needing to recruit from places and individuals who are poorly matched to Alaska's students. I only "survived" in Anchorage School District, and "thrived" later because of resiliency. We lose too many kids that way.
136.	10/21/2008 9:04:00 PM	When my children went off to college, they were stunned by the 'competition'. They were bright, and they were good students. Other graduates had the same problem. I would like there to be some way where we could prepare our students to be aware of their educational standing in the US. When I went to college, I knew what was expected. I knew how I and my school stack up. It made for easier transitions.
137.	10/21/2008 9:14:00 PM	Free preschools in ever community.
138.	10/21/2008 9:23:00 PM	Limit the number of times a student can transfer schools during a school year, and give a deadline also. How can a student earn credits if they transferred during the last 2 wks of school?
139.	10/21/2008 9:40:00 PM	Graduation should not be based on academic skills only. Employability and vocational skills should be a factors too.
140.	10/21/2008 9:48:00 PM	Make students more accountable for their own education give them a way to be vested in their outcome.
141.	10/21/2008 10:18:00 PM	Adequate funding for meeting all student's needs in their home villages.
142.	10/21/2008 10:40:00 PM	Increase funding.
143.	10/21/2008 10:41:00 PM	Higher teacher salaries.
144.	10/21/2008 10:48:00 PM	NCLB effects on small rural schools. Grant funds should be available for schools even if they have been making AYP since the enactment of NCLB. We are often times not eligible to put in for grant funds because of our AYP status. As 2013-2014 fast approaches, it is going to be extremely difficult to continue to make AYP, and we can use the funds to prepare for that time. The competitive technology money should be available to all schools to apply. So many times, we are not on the list of schools who can apply. It is difficult to provide the updated technology practices for our students so that they will succeed in the ever changing "outside" world, and be successful in post-secondary institutes.
145.	10/21/2008 10:48:00 PM	More adequate funding for rural schools. The state should give rural schools more opportunity for input.
146.	10/21/2008 11:11:00 PM	Increased funding. Increased professional development for teachers. Greater support for teachers in the Bush. Bush teachers and administrators need larger salaries in order to reduce turnover.
147.	10/21/2008 11:43:00 PM	I would offer more options in secondary that cater to the different choices that exist for high schoolers. For example increase in vocational training and college prepatory work.
148.	10/21/2008 11:48:00 PM	Longevity and experience of school administrators, specifically principals, is a great concern.
149.	10/21/2008 11:50:00 PM	There needs to be a change in the expectation that education for students in the smallest of schools should look the same as education for students in the biggest schools. Same is not necessarily fair.
150.	10/22/2008 12:06:00 AM	Funding
151.	10/22/2008 12:10:00 AM	More comprehensive training for first-time teachers in the Bush.
152.	10/22/2008 12:23:00 AM	Deadwood educators that are passed on and no one ever catches up with them - this hinders students and also the profession
153.	10/22/2008 12:24:00 AM	FAS education
154.	10/22/2008 12:28:00 AM	The achievement gap between Alaska Native students and caucasian students.
155.	10/22/2008 12:33:00 AM	More oversight of rural schools. Some districts have administrator behavior that is unethical and injurious to the short and long term needs of both students and teachers. Require administrators to give reasons for non-retention. Punitive sanctions for districts with high teacher turnover, an indicator of poor hiring practices or unhealthy educational environments. Yearly audits of districts' budgets--they are hidden behind smoke and mirrors.
156.	10/22/2008 12:52:00 AM	No Child Left Behind needs to be amended to reflect Alaska's great diversity. Students need to be persistenly encouraged to finish high school. Methods to identify possible "dropouts" should begin early. There is a need for more early intervention when children demonstrate through behavior, lack of attendance, or lack of success, the feeling that they can't "make it." There is an acute need for more school counselors at every level to support children and families so that there is a safety net when one is needed. Stress in the home = stress in the child = stress at school = poor outcomes.
157.	10/22/2008 1:28:00 AM	Increase funding, lower teacher/student ratios. Class sizes are huge
158.	10/22/2008 4:26:00 AM	Provide teachers with more flexibility and power to think outside the standard 'box' and develop hands-on education programs that let kids 'do' not just hear about.
159.	10/22/2008 6:21:00 AM	While I was working in many rural communities off the grid with my job for the last two years, I saw communities ravaged by alcohol and drugs. Families were torn apart and putting all of their resources into survival and striving for normalcy. This was by far the biggest issue in education in these communities.
160.	10/22/2008 7:39:00 AM	It is a strong concern the amount of dollars which are being spent in some of our rural areas. Many times these are places w/a high rate of drop outs and students are limited as to the courses which are available. It would seem appropriate if there were more regionalized boarding schools so that students and their families had a choice about attending a high quality secondary school.
161.	10/22/2008 11:21:00 AM	More funds to pay the costs of operating the school. Most small schools are uner funded due to the present way of funding school.
162.	10/22/2008 1:57:00 PM	Administrators need to live in the community that they are responsible for, not just check in once a month. There is too much that goes on in the community that affects the school and school climate for an administrator to be absent. I'm referring to high level administrators that live "outside", not even in the state. The second thing would be the retirement system. Alaska will not keep quality teachers if this is not fixed. There is no reason for them to stay after they have had their "Alaska experience".
163.	10/22/2008 3:20:00 PM	I think the emphasis should be vocational education classes and lots of efforts to get the youth to go into teaching field so that we have more native american teachers
164.	10/22/2008 3:58:00 PM	Develope and administer a comprehensive, supervised corporal punishment system.80% of problem behavior at the K-6 level, could be mitigated by judicious application of a "Paddle" (Swats) With the high percentage of single parent and blended family children in our schools, this would be a valuable tool on so many levels.
165.	10/22/2008 4:34:00 PM	We need more technical/vocational opportunities.
166.	10/22/2008 4:37:00 PM	I would bring back more support for Career and Technical Student Organizations. I would require that subject matter experts (type M certificates) have an ongoing requirement to take prescribed education and teaching courses to retain certificate. Funding should support this.
167.	10/22/2008 4:44:00 PM	Revamp and restore the teacher retirement system that was gutted by Gov. Murkowski.
168.	10/22/2008 4:50:00 PM	There is too much testing which takes away instruction time. The focus on the tested standards only drives away students whose needs are not being met and is going to create a generation of students deficit in the arts, health and physical education, and global awareness.
169.	10/22/2008 4:51:00 PM	No Child Left Behind!
170.	10/22/2008 4:58:00 PM	The standards - too rigorous for the rural student's. The cultures are so different that meeting the standards are impossible.
171.	10/22/2008 5:10:00 PM	There is never enough funding to go around throughout a school district. The $ for each building does not go far enough to meet the needs of both students and teachers.
172.	10/22/2008 5:17:00 PM	I would make it easier to get rid of poor administrators or teachers. And move tenure to at least five to seven years.
173.	10/22/2008 5:18:00 PM	funding
174.	10/22/2008 5:26:00 PM	I would hope that more parents and families would become active with school staff to enhance the education and the behavior of their children.
175.	10/22/2008 5:31:00 PM	teacher certification process. currently is just a full employment program of universities.
176.	10/22/2008 5:34:00 PM	morre professional development in little bursts, not all day workshops.
177.	10/22/2008 5:35:00 PM	If the state believes that Alaskan people are its greatest resource, it should provide more funding to serve their needs as a whole. It starts with home learning environments and carries over into our schools. Why I still have to spend well over the amount the IRS allows me to deduct to provide stickers, technology, books, or healthy snacks for my students is beyond me.
178.	10/22/2008 5:38:00 PM	We need an inter-district, web-based, e-learning system that would bring more opportunities and educational choices to students in rural schools that run on minimal staffing. A free system like Moodle could easily handle the technical side of this, leaving the necessary focus on curriculum and resource development.
179.	10/22/2008 5:39:00 PM	I think that schools and Head Start should be partnernering together. If the state does go to a Pre-K program there needs to be certified teachers that are certified with a ECE degree.
180.	10/22/2008 5:49:00 PM	Get rid of the HSGQE.
181.	10/22/2008 5:49:00 PM	More opportunities in the schools.
182.	10/22/2008 5:51:00 PM	I would like to see more site based decision making so that each community can find the best most appropriate path to attain greater student achievement. We need to measure student achievement broadly, and not base decisions on a single battery of tests in order to ensure that students are receiving a balanced and solid education. I would like young children to not have to sit through 3 solid days of testing. It is stressful and inappropriate to have children take a more lengthy battery of tests than a prospective doctor or lawyer.
183.	10/22/2008 5:52:00 PM	We need to rely less on standardized tests for measuring the success of our students and schools. I do not believe these tests are good predictors of a child's longterm abilities. By putting so much emphasis on tests, that teachers and schools feel pressured to "teach to the test." This may help test scores, but it also takes away time that students should be learning about the arts and sciences, exploring the world through field trips, doing in-depth research and learning about the community around them. Standardized tests also are a terrible way to measure a school's success. So much of a child's ability to perform on these tests is outside of a school's control. Learning disabilities, economic disadvantages and parental involvement/education play a much bigger role in standardized test scores than do teachers and schools. It seems crazy to me that in my community (Kenai) we compare an elementary school that has less than 4 percent of students who are economically disadvantaged or have learning disabilities to a school that has 58% of its students with economic disadvantages and 23% with learning difficulties (these figures are from the 2007-8 report found on the KPBSD website). Bottom Line: We need to find a better way to assess our students, teachers and schools.
184.	10/22/2008 6:00:00 PM	Align academic rigor with workforce employment skills through the expansion of career and technical programs. Enhance secondary academic rigor through a middle college model similar to tech/prep.
185.	10/22/2008 6:00:00 PM	Honestly I wish student's home lives could be better.
186.	10/22/2008 6:01:00 PM	Allowing students more choices in their quest for a diploma - graded/various diploma opportunities
187.	10/22/2008 6:03:00 PM	The funding
188.	10/22/2008 6:17:00 PM	Expand merit pay for excellent teachers. Require all communities to make some local contribution to their schools and students. Expand vo-ed and job training as the majority of our students ARE NOT COLLEGE BOUND.
189.	10/22/2008 6:22:00 PM	More Alaska Native teachers. This will not happen until there are changes in highly qualified requirements. Many of our Native teachers are the most highly qualified to teach our students, but are kept out by some of the regulations.
190.	10/22/2008 6:25:00 PM	Better programs being used in the school. I have never liked some of the Math programs that they have used over the years.
191.	10/22/2008 6:28:00 PM	Going back to regular grading A-B-C-D and F Have native cultures/traditions fit into curriculum. I would like to see students, within their level, to be in one classroom, right now different levels, are in one classroom. might have a 5th grader but yet doing a 3rd grade work and still in the 5th grade classroom. Have a teacher up front teaching...
192.	10/22/2008 6:32:00 PM	More communication and collaboration with early childhood programs. A quality early childhood experience can do so much to prepare children.
193.	10/22/2008 6:37:00 PM	Alaska needs to start addressing NCLB in terms of the bright kids not being left behind - their progress should also be measured. We should not be satisfied with their high test scores and then leave them to their own devices while those with lower scores are given the attention and the money to raise their scores.
194.	10/22/2008 6:51:00 PM	Funding increase!
195.	10/22/2008 6:56:00 PM	I would require that children from 6-16 must attend school on a regular basis and complete their required work in order to be eligible for a PDF.
196.	10/22/2008 6:56:00 PM	The focus on test scores that results in scripted reading, math, and language programs that do not reflect the lives, cultures or contexts of the students, particularly those who live in rural and remote villages.
197.	10/22/2008 7:10:00 PM	I don't know either.
198.	10/22/2008 7:10:00 PM	I would like to see more accountability laid on the parents and educators to hold the students accountable for their behaviors and actions in and out of the classroom. There is way too much disrespect from students.
199.	10/22/2008 7:16:00 PM	more options
200.	10/22/2008 7:25:00 PM	I would like to change the way the teachers teach and the levels they are teaching the high school students.
201.	10/22/2008 7:27:00 PM	everything
202.	10/22/2008 7:28:00 PM	not really anything
203.	10/22/2008 7:29:00 PM	Rural subsidies without accountability.
204.	10/22/2008 7:30:00 PM	that the homework shouldn't be so hard.
205.	10/22/2008 7:36:00 PM	We have to build a better connected system from early childhood through post-secondary education. Currently the efforts in each of these educational levels are very much disconnected. As a Head Start provider we are struggling to meet federal professional development mandates and to educate the public and government officials about the work that we do and the benefits it has - even though we are the primary early childhood education delivery vehicle in the state.
206.	10/22/2008 7:38:00 PM	I would make teachers be nice to each student. I would make them treat each student fair and honest weather the student is doing well or poor accademically, weather the student is white, black, or brown.
207.	10/22/2008 7:44:00 PM	Choice. Place the financing and emphasis back into our public schools, instead of stealing its resources, and its intellectual resources from the public schools. There isn't a current program, charter school, home school, etc., out there that shouldn't be a part of and conducted within and through the public school setting.
208.	10/22/2008 7:47:00 PM	More money for school construction and maintenance.
209.	10/22/2008 7:49:00 PM	Stop buying curriculum and let the teachers use their education to develop curriculum.
210.	10/22/2008 7:58:00 PM	The quality and quantity of teachers. Raising the pay and benefit packages may help to recruit and keep quality individuals. I am not a teacher, but I do have five children and I have encountered some teachers that should never be allowed in a classroom.
211.	10/22/2008 8:03:00 PM	I would encourage a more challenging secondary Language Arts programs. Math and science recognizes and addresses students who are capable of different levels of understanding and ability, yet Language Arts does not. Instead, all students are grouped together thereby causing the curriculum to be middle of the road. If any support is given, its only to the below average abilities.
212.	10/22/2008 8:08:00 PM	change recert from every five years to ten equal opportunity funding for all districts louder voice/direction from local AK Native groups regarding curriculum. don't leave highly qualified teacher status up for interpretation at local level.
213.	10/22/2008 8:22:00 PM	Nothing
214.	10/22/2008 8:22:00 PM	I'd like to see the students who enter our universities to be better prepared in math and English.
215.	10/22/2008 8:24:00 PM	I would make a sign and say "let all the student go to school if they don't go school send them to Jail."
216.	10/22/2008 8:33:00 PM	The education of alaska is good as it is.
217.	10/22/2008 8:34:00 PM	Decrease the number of students who drop out.
218.	10/22/2008 8:35:00 PM	more field trips
219.	10/22/2008 8:39:00 PM	less strike teachers. longer lunches. and more time to get to class.
220.	10/22/2008 8:40:00 PM	Public education needs forward funding to sustain programs in schools.
221.	10/22/2008 8:40:00 PM	Equal funding for all.
222.	10/22/2008 8:42:00 PM	That some teachers wont hold us back from Graduating with our fellow students that you new all your life
223.	10/22/2008 8:42:00 PM	Special Education Programs-more funding, more aides in the classroom. Head Start- more funding, the waiting list are too long, the buses are too old and facilities need to be larger and updated to serve more children at need. I feel there is too much emphasis but on college prep and not enough real world prep. I think even the college bound students would benefit from "real world" training-applying for a job, get a job and keep it, balance a checkbook, basic finances, buying a house, use of credit...
224.	10/22/2008 8:47:00 PM	I wouldn't change anything.
225.	10/22/2008 8:51:00 PM	I would like to see more flexiblity to school curriculm. Students need to be more engaged.
226.	10/22/2008 8:52:00 PM	I would change the Alaska standards just a bit to make it challenging and thats about it.
227.	10/22/2008 8:54:00 PM	Schools teach the basics: Reading, writing, math & they should learn how to balance a check book and understand financial planning. The schools in general are too much involved in emotional or even playing field education. The real world does does play fair why teach kids and set them up for failure if you treat everything the same.
228.	10/22/2008 8:59:00 PM	Less importance placed on standardized testing. Alaska is unique and cannot follow the provisions of No Child Left Behind.
229.	10/22/2008 9:17:00 PM	Improve teacher-class size ratios.
230.	10/22/2008 9:21:00 PM	We need to change the new defined contribution retirement program back to the old defined benefit. Fully fund Tier II retirement Every educator deserves to live in a house with electricity, heat, and maybe even running water.
231.	10/22/2008 9:22:00 PM	Music, art, and foreign language should be available from k-12. More encouragement for children to take advanced classes in high school. To offer more advanced classes in the smaller schools.
232.	10/22/2008 9:30:00 PM	I would provide more professional development to teachers and support change in ways that teachers feel supported and respected.
233.	10/22/2008 9:38:00 PM	If given the opportunity, there needs to be a change in how IDEA and special education is run. What it really looks like during the day needs to be revamped. I feel that I spend a lot of my job simply trying to teach responsibility to the young adults with an IEP. If they have a learning disability they should be trying HARDER, not leaning as heavily on others to give them answers and tell them ir's okay. I feel we are not preparing them for real life as best as we could be.
234.	10/22/2008 9:51:00 PM	I would work with the State to make an Education Endowment with Permanent Funds to perpetually fund preschool, K-12 and university level education.
235.	10/22/2008 10:25:00 PM	MORE FUNDING, Smaller class sizes, adequate teacher retirement system.
236.	10/22/2008 10:36:00 PM	Their would be mor classes offered in highschool vocational classes
237.	10/22/2008 10:36:00 PM	Administration is too far removed from the classroom. They are disconnected from the roots of student achievement making it virtually impossible to lead effectively.
238.	10/22/2008 10:37:00 PM	Smaller class sizes.
239.	10/22/2008 10:40:00 PM	Higher standards for what is taught so our graduates are ready to enter the real world.
240.	10/22/2008 10:58:00 PM	I would mandate Comprehensive K-12 Healthy Sexuality and Relationship curriculum (eg. SEICUS)
241.	10/22/2008 11:02:00 PM	I would honor the diversity of learning styles and cultural background by allowing multiple paths towards graduate and demonstration of proficiency.
242.	10/22/2008 11:05:00 PM	That the students would get a broader view of what life is like outside of the rural communities.
243.	10/22/2008 11:13:00 PM	Choice is not the answer, if it comes at the expense of weakening all programs.
244.	10/22/2008 11:15:00 PM	More Votec options
245.	10/22/2008 11:21:00 PM	Preschool funding, more voc. ed programs, more funding for subjects and activities outside of the basics.
246.	10/22/2008 11:37:00 PM	Have the village, community, town, and state see education as the number one priority.
247.	10/22/2008 11:55:00 PM	We need early childhood education available to all kids at age 3.
248.	10/22/2008 11:57:00 PM	More career/vocational education appropriate to the needs of the communities and interests of the kids
249.	10/23/2008 12:02:00 AM	I would like to see the small rural school districts funded at a level where they can afford to offer more courses and opportunities for their students.
250.	10/23/2008 12:07:00 AM	more career/technical programs offered. Too much emphasis on college prep and not enough on non-college prep - work ready. Introduce pre K programs - early learning is very important and should be mandatory
251.	10/23/2008 12:14:00 AM	Something I would change? Once again it's hard to answer this because I have inadequate/incomplete information. I think the biggest thing is that I personally have seen the whole education switch to the Tite I kids. Everyone seems to worry and worry about them. Sure not only do they make more money for the school, but they're making a difference in lives, right? Yeah sure, but what about my sister, who is as far as I'm concerned is a genius, who falls through the cracks in the Quest program. It has lack of funding and they are becoming more and more the unimportant minority. My personal opinion is that most of the kids that are actually in Title I don't need it. It's a lack of the parents taking responsibility for the kids and the kids are more and more losing their own accountability. That's the other thing: accountability. Kids don't have accountability. They mess up what's the worst that can happen? They sit somewhere for a period of time. Some kids have to do community service or do some kind of thing of program for a few hours total. Other then that that's all I can think at the moment.
252.	10/23/2008 12:18:00 AM	I would like the Praxis to be set with the native teachers in mind, there are many great native teachers that are being held back because some of us have challenges in passing them.
253.	10/23/2008 12:31:00 AM	should be less teaching to the test and more teaching the way that works well for students
254.	10/23/2008 12:47:00 AM	More opportunities for AP/IB classes (in high school), and more vocational/technical programs.
255.	10/23/2008 1:20:00 AM	To see that EVERY parent loves, cares for and supports his/her children and stresses the importance of education so that teachers would not need to be "parents" of their students too. If ALL parents in AK worked with their children when needed, saw that their children are fed well-balanced meals, regularly get 8-12 hours of sleep and come to school ready to learn, children/students would reap the benefits--as would AK, as would our nation.
256.	10/23/2008 1:22:00 AM	Stop teaching school for the exit exam. I feel that our students have lost out on a rounded education and that all everyone cares about are numbers on an exit exam. Not one job application I have seen has ever asked about how well one did on an exit exam. Basic life skills are not being taught. Students should be able to go a vocational route or an academic route. Which would be more realistic to the abilities and desires of students.
257.	10/23/2008 2:07:00 AM	nothing it's just flawless.
258.	10/23/2008 2:26:00 AM	We need more funding for extra curricular activities and increased education for teachers.
259.	10/23/2008 2:41:00 AM	I would limit class sizes in all grades to 21 students.
260.	10/23/2008 3:30:00 AM	teach learning, not nonsense
261.	10/23/2008 3:51:00 AM	Make kindergarten mandatory.
262.	10/23/2008 4:02:00 AM	I would like for our PFD/Incentive program tied into achievement and attendance. Our students will not achieve full potential when they do not come to school. I would like to see the incentives that are now paid to teachers paid to students when they graduate. I would like for attendance to be mandated or parents lose their dividends. Until we touch their pocketbooks, some parents will not see importance in the education of their children.
263.	10/23/2008 4:29:00 AM	Quality preschools/headstarts Higher expectations for our students More ELL/reading teachers Money to adequately fund educational programs
264.	10/23/2008 4:56:00 AM	All children should be given the same opportunity.
265.	10/23/2008 4:58:00 AM	Secure pay for educators and equity in the funding of schools. Funding needs to be forward planned so that districts can plan for the year in advance, not plan-threaten layoffs and cuts and then start all over again when money miraculously appears.
266.	10/23/2008 5:05:00 AM	Embed technology in the classroom at all levels
267.	10/23/2008 5:16:00 AM	Insisting that all contexts are nurturing and supportive, that all teachers have excellent diversity and cultural responsiveness education- truly know how to be culturally responsive and emotionally responsive, to really support social emotional development for each child and to have schools that can build authentic relationships with families not just talk about it. To stop all the subtractive and out of date practices in public schools and produce teachers from teacher preparation programs that can empower children and their families.
268.	10/23/2008 5:28:00 AM	Set the expectaiton that all students will graduate on time by changing the compulsory attendance age to 18. Add Service Learning as a graduation requirement. Raise expectations for all students. Make sure education is rigorous and relevant. Focus on building strong relationships with students and their families.
269.	10/23/2008 5:32:00 AM	NCLB legislation-- it is not effective.
270.	10/23/2008 5:38:00 AM	Teacher unions should not dictate practice.
271.	10/23/2008 5:41:00 AM	Lack of effort to involve parents; needs more work! Hold parents more accountable!
272.	10/23/2008 9:00:00 AM	Less steamrolling our children based on averages-such as No Child Left behind!! More opportunities for our children in vocational and real world applications.
273.	10/23/2008 12:25:00 PM	Federal requirements (NCLB) that do not take into account the unique problems we face here.
274.	10/23/2008 1:35:00 PM	I would change the overall attitude of teachers. Unfortunately this is easily said and much more difficult to change. Students are able to sense the mood of a teacher and when a teacher is optimistic and hopeful the students will follow suit.
275.	10/23/2008 3:29:00 PM	Severe rift between traditional and standards-based education.
276.	10/23/2008 3:31:00 PM	We need to improve early intervention programs for reading, writing, and behavior -- rigorous and relevant instruction.
277.	10/23/2008 3:43:00 PM	Teachers' ability to work with diverse learning populations. The cookie-cutter approach does not work for many students, particularly minority and low income students.
278.	10/23/2008 3:54:00 PM	The constant emphasis on going to college at the expense of understanding that we have gotten away from encouraging youth to enter into vocational or technical education.
279.	10/23/2008 4:07:00 PM	Speaking locally, our district lacks the focus on technology that our students so desparately need to function in our modern society.
280.	10/23/2008 4:16:00 PM	Enhance vocational training programs in the rural schools.
281.	10/23/2008 4:19:00 PM	More parental involvment
282.	10/23/2008 4:20:00 PM	Make parents spend 1% of pfd on childrens clothing, shoes, pants, winter jacket.
283.	10/23/2008 4:25:00 PM	Free education because there is no inccentive for students to attend or exert themselves because they know they can go to school and not work and they can still be catered to. I would like to see some teeth put into the enforcing students being required to attend school befdore the age of 16 or have PFD's forfeited.
284.	10/23/2008 4:26:00 PM	Making parental involvement a REQUIREMENT!
285.	10/23/2008 4:30:00 PM	The rural education system does not work. Return to a boarding school concept and develope a calendar that provides more breaks. Put addtional funding for students to return to rural homes more frequently and provide for more distance delivery communication with families. It would be much cheaper, but more importantly, it generally would be what is best for the student, their education, and their livelyhood for the next 50 years. But it would not financially benefit the community. Eventually, it may cease to exist.
286.	10/23/2008 4:31:00 PM	I don't think Alaska high school is preparing students for college. You can see that in the high number of college freshman who don't graduate.
287.	10/23/2008 4:34:00 PM	standardized assessments which are intended to produce standardized people
288.	10/23/2008 4:39:00 PM	more monies per student so they can get the job done
289.	10/23/2008 4:40:00 PM	I would not only be sure we have rigorous standards, I would work to ensure that all educators work to improve their practice so that we help all students reach those standards and more. Ongoing professional learning for educators must be rich and engaging. P-20 education systems and our community must work together to find innovative ways to honor and build on the wisdom among us, both in practice and in research/theory.
290.	10/23/2008 4:44:00 PM	The mistrust and miscommunication between the stakeholders--especially the legislature and our colleges but also colleges and k-12 educators. There is so much accountability now that it is becoming a paper trail nightmare. Who reads all those reports? We could certainly streamline the process.
291.	10/23/2008 4:48:00 PM	Funding in the "bush" creates a "missionary" attitude about teachers. I.E. teachers should be treated like missionaries with hand-me-downs and enough income to be at or a touch above poverty level. The lack of funding also creates a lack of alternative education choices for students.
292.	10/23/2008 4:53:00 PM	Because we life off the road system it's hard for our school to afford a counselor for students. I think that small schools would benefit from a full time college prep type counselor. Many of our students don't go off to college because they don't know what is out there.
293.	10/23/2008 4:55:00 PM	people going school, and people graduating.
294.	10/23/2008 4:56:00 PM	I would change the phases.
295.	10/23/2008 4:56:00 PM	More opportunities for career/technical education for students. Not all students are college bound - let's make sure that all students are offered opportunities for success.
296.	10/23/2008 4:57:00 PM	to have a bigger school, and more money. so we could buy supplies for classes, which we are in need of.
297.	10/23/2008 4:59:00 PM	the phases
298.	10/23/2008 5:00:00 PM	I don't think I want to change anything about the education.
299.	10/23/2008 5:04:00 PM	More equitable funding. Incentives to attract and keep good teachers
300.	10/23/2008 5:04:00 PM	phases because students are struggling to keep up with their classmates, and phases are making them slow down.
301.	10/23/2008 5:06:00 PM	I don't think I want to change anything about our education here in Kwethluk Ak.
302.	10/23/2008 5:06:00 PM	nothing
303.	10/23/2008 5:22:00 PM	Change will start with ending poverty, abuse, and neglect in our communities.
304.	10/23/2008 5:23:00 PM	Jumping on every fad or program that comes along. Putting too much stock in research based jibberish.
305.	10/23/2008 5:26:00 PM	Not sure about change in Alaska schools but the one thing I would change in Sitka School is suspension, you can keep suspension but make it in-school suspension where they can sit in a room or something by them selves. Its harder work on the parents when their child gets suspended its like a vacation for students.
306.	10/23/2008 5:52:00 PM	Low expectations for the children. We don't expect enough from the children or the parents. MORE HOMEWORK!
307.	10/23/2008 5:56:00 PM	Every school would be more challenging.
308.	10/23/2008 5:57:00 PM	Every school would be more challenging
309.	10/23/2008 6:02:00 PM	More money to support longer student days, - more hours and more rigorous expectations More money to provide top notch professional development and more effective ways to ensure top notch instruction
310.	10/23/2008 6:03:00 PM	Well...I really don't know, but, I don't really think that I would be able to change not even one thing about the education in Alaska.
311.	10/23/2008 6:05:00 PM	There must be more parant accountability in Alaska and a focus on special education. I have observed a trend in which SPED services seem to benefit students less and less- watered down academics and less opportunity for real life experiences and training.
312.	10/23/2008 6:07:00 PM	The Phase system that is being taught, children are having more trouble than if there were block scheduling.
313.	10/23/2008 6:08:00 PM	One thing I'd change about education in Alaska is having more PE classes. I would allow more PE classes because there are many students who need PE in the schools of Alaska. Also, the PE classes would help with a student's health, and make them healthier than they are now.
314.	10/23/2008 6:09:00 PM	i would change the rules
315.	10/23/2008 6:10:00 PM	I would change the rules from how it is here right now.
316.	10/23/2008 6:11:00 PM	one thing i would like to change about the education in alaska is phase work
317.	10/23/2008 6:11:00 PM	Make it more sense making in alaska.
318.	10/23/2008 6:14:00 PM	More jobs at home town
319.	10/23/2008 6:15:00 PM	i would like to change the easiest class there is and make it challenging only the easiest.
320.	10/23/2008 6:16:00 PM	i would make the easiest class challenging because some people say its to easy in that class thats what i would change
321.	10/23/2008 6:18:00 PM	FUNDING! Alaska needs to fund it appropriately and equally in order to take care of it's unique communities.
322.	10/23/2008 6:18:00 PM	Stable, forward looking funding, especially for preschool.
323.	10/23/2008 6:24:00 PM	TO TRY TO REDUCE CLASS SIZES, SO THE TEACHER CAN HAVE A MORE CLOSER TEACHING FOR THE STUDENTS.
324.	10/23/2008 6:25:00 PM	Our curriculum would be rigorious enough to compete with children throughout the world. Early Childhood (pre-k) would be considered a critical component of the education system and instist that those early childhood classrooms utilize the current best practices and philosophies of the early childhood field.
325.	10/23/2008 6:29:00 PM	i want to chage to school eduaction for a better school.
326.	10/23/2008 6:35:00 PM	Standards, requirements and lack of funding are pressuring teachers to be less creative in their teaching approaches. NCLB is causing schools to leave children behind who don't fit the molds prescribed by national standards. Each kid is different and has different learning needs and goals. We are loosing sight of the individuality of students.
327.	10/23/2008 6:38:00 PM	More charter programs for Jr High and Highschool students that do not fit in the typical mold.
328.	10/23/2008 6:39:00 PM	fund early childhood education as a seamless part of the public school system. At this point now that we have restructured our K-12 schools to meet NCLB that is the one piece that is sorely missing- the early childhood preparedness. Also as NCLB needs can be figured out and met I believe local school districts should have some ability to request that local topics be taught in school.
329.	10/23/2008 6:42:00 PM	unsure
330.	10/23/2008 6:43:00 PM	I would change things in the learning area just because I'm trying to prepare to become something that is going to require hard core learning. "Learning Madness"
331.	10/23/2008 6:43:00 PM	Not forgetting - and maybe even concentrating - on the children who are performing well or above standards (even excelling). More GT programs!!
332.	10/23/2008 6:44:00 PM	More accountability for teachers in schools. Encouraging students and parents to "rate" or give feedback on teacher performance. Get rid of teachers who are not doing a good job. Hire more minority teachers to have a good representation of the students and families you serve.
333.	10/23/2008 6:44:00 PM	MORE IN-STATE TEACHER RECRUITEMENT.
334.	10/23/2008 6:52:00 PM	The control that harmful, uninformed community members are allowed to have over the educational systems in small communities. It is as if D.O.E. in this state, lowers it's standards at various times. The kids eventually will pay the price.
335.	10/23/2008 6:56:00 PM	Get rid of NCLB. Focus on the needs of the children, offer more electives, Voc Ed and technology classes. Support students in leadership, athletic and academics activities equally.
336.	10/23/2008 7:04:00 PM	Add / mandate early childhood programs to all districts for non-special ed. students... Mandate school until age 18... Make public assistance contingent upon child's attendance... Provide alternative vocational track for secondary students with endorsement option... Provide funding for year-round options.
337.	10/23/2008 7:05:00 PM	Schools in rural Alaska are not all doing a great job. Students need to be given the option of regional high schools.
338.	10/23/2008 7:10:00 PM	More emphasis on Early Childhood education because that has been key in my children's success. Also, a behavior specialist in every school. Maybe part of their job can be to follow up on post secondary choices.
339.	10/23/2008 7:22:00 PM	More presence of social services in the schools, but not implemented by the school, I ',m talking about state services. If I make a report to OCS, I also have to call police, and any other agency.... and then do follow up....that should be the job of teachers to report and then have to follow up as well.
340.	10/23/2008 7:22:00 PM	Smaller schools with more K-8 settings (middle or junior high models are atrocious).
341.	10/23/2008 7:34:00 PM	I would make two significant changes. First I would strengthen the gifted education programs and ensure that all schools provided gifted education to eligible students through grade 12. (Currently gifted ed. stops at grade 8 on the Kenai.)Next, I would provide pre-school to all 4 year olds within the public school system.
342.	10/23/2008 7:43:00 PM	education choices like college prep or vocational prep with an emphasis on choosing career paths
343.	10/23/2008 7:44:00 PM	Some of the schools are too large in the bigger communities.
344.	10/23/2008 8:14:00 PM	More school choice.
345.	10/23/2008 8:19:00 PM	Teachers learning to teach. Smaller class sizes.
346.	10/23/2008 8:20:00 PM	Focusing more on Early Childhood services as well as developing better career programs/guidance/support for higher education to high school students.
347.	10/23/2008 8:24:00 PM	Again, the vocational & technical fields for kids that can't pass the history exam, but can put a drive heavy equipment, or wire a house.
348.	10/23/2008 8:43:00 PM	BETTER QUALITY CONTROL OF TEACHERS. MORE EMPHASIS ON ACADEMICS LESS ON SPORTS.
349.	10/23/2008 8:52:00 PM	Rural Alaska students from very dysfunctional districts with poor expectations come to our district and we take the flack for "making them fail" --- some data expectation for number of changes of schools, districts, and attendance over the K-12 framework would paint a better picture of the story.
350.	10/23/2008 8:56:00 PM	I would like to see more Alaska Native studies implemented into the base curriculum for all students. Many AK Native languages and cultures are becomming obsolete and little is being done in education systems to educate our youth about the wonderful culture we have at our very fingertips.
351.	10/23/2008 9:04:00 PM	More funding for Head Start.
352.	10/23/2008 9:07:00 PM	High School Graduation Qualifying Exam. Get rid of it. At least don't make it a requirement for Graduation. 12 years should count for something. I'm not saying they shouldn't be held accountable, but passing a test should not be the only option.
353.	10/23/2008 9:08:00 PM	It really needs to be more hands on and back to the basics. Computers are a big part of real life, but so are books. I feel children do not use books enough. Books are a big part of preschool and kindergarten life, but as children climb the grade school ladder, books become assignments and tasks and less reference and learning experiences.
354.	10/23/2008 9:08:00 PM	There needs to be more computer and technical classes available. Math is such a generic class anymore that children are not learning as much as they need to in order to actually succeed in this world. And computers are just not used as much as they should be by all students. They really should focus on basic computer applications and programs than they currently do in Alaska.
355.	10/23/2008 9:20:00 PM	The standards need to be brought up a bit more.
356.	10/23/2008 9:22:00 PM	Teacher turnover in the villages is a problem. Teachers in the villages need to understand the culture and connect with the community. It is hard on ed. resources when teachers are given prof. development and then they move away after only a couple years.
357.	10/23/2008 9:24:00 PM	more funding for opportunities in rural schools. We have cut everything we can cut and still keep doors open.
358.	10/23/2008 9:28:00 PM	More emphasis on early childhood education. Better funding formula with districts aware of funding each spring. Closer look at traditional secondary education. Our high schools meet the needs of many but not all.
359.	10/23/2008 9:29:00 PM	I do think we need to make sure that we keep our focus on the wholistic development of a child. We need to keep the personalism that we are afforded and the flexibility to meet local community needs while helping students develop skills versus simply content) that will help them over the course of time and location. Numbers are important, but the individuals represented are more important. I also think we need to provide greater vocational and career opportunities for students who may struggle in the "traditional academics" but who so often excel in the application of those academic skills.
360.	10/23/2008 9:35:00 PM	I think the funding needs to be more and the funding needs to be settled way before the end of the year. Every year I have new teachers laid off....their jobs posted for other teachers to transfer in to. This makes it very difficult to develop the team. As a principal, this is one of the areas that makes me want to retire. I try so hard to get people are a good match to the school and our kids. They are here for one year and do a great job. And then they get taken away.
361.	10/23/2008 9:44:00 PM	Pay teachers better.
362.	10/23/2008 9:45:00 PM	Change standards based and leave NCLB even if it means no Fed. funds.
363.	10/23/2008 9:45:00 PM	Spend more on our education. Start walking the talk.
364.	10/23/2008 9:47:00 PM	I would like to see the funding more applicable to smaller sites and communities that struggle to keep schools open.
365.	10/23/2008 9:48:00 PM	More focus on early childhood, not just in Headstart. The key is to connect with those children at an early age. Also to inform parents more, and find ways to involve them with their children's education. It is not the schools responsibility to raise children. It is a triangle. Schools in the middle, with Parents, and Teachers for the corner base, and the Child at the top.
366.	10/23/2008 9:57:00 PM	To not have to beg for money to fund our schools.
367.	10/23/2008 10:00:00 PM	I would have more teachers teaching in their chosen fields instead of teaching all grades and courses. This is very prevalent in the remote areas.
368.	10/23/2008 10:05:00 PM	Required attendance until 18 or high school diploma is achieved. Registration of all students with EED or school districts regardless of whether home schooled, cyber, etc.
369.	10/23/2008 10:07:00 PM	I would tell educators to have higher expectations for our children and believe in them...at times people look down on our native children saying they are not teachable, they are too shy and not outgoing enough to carry out some of the things in school, I think each child should be treated as though he/she has just as much potential as the next and to let each child know great things are expected of them. When they step up and accomplish a given lesson or task the self esteem and confidence will grow and they themselves will take on more challenging things knowing they can do it, they can learn and do great in school.
370.	10/23/2008 10:10:00 PM	Change the way funding is divided out, less by student pop. and more by need
371.	10/23/2008 10:15:00 PM	We need to offer more early childhood education for our young children. Local children who have had Head Start education, and/or good quality early education programs are far more advanced socially and are able to have more positive interactions with peers later in life. It also sets up a environment that makes children want to learn and be successful.
372.	10/23/2008 10:17:00 PM	If I had a magic wand I would love to see the families/parents of our students more engaged in the kids education. Parent support/involvement is critical to the over-all success of their children's education. Schools can supply much or even all of what they may need educationally, but without the "buy-in" at home children flounder. Traditionally the family-unit supplied support in all aspects of a child's upbringing, but today re. education, that seems not to be the case. Where there is involvement and support at home children prosper in school. That is not passing the buck
373.	10/23/2008 10:18:00 PM	We need a more frank assessment of the parameters surrounding education today and the social will and school leadership to make effective productive changes in our public school structure to meet the needs. NCLB has effectively hi-jacked the conversation about effective schooling to the point that the focus is solely on low-bar fundamental skills in Rdg, Wrtg, and Math. We have left behind real consideration and action to create meaningful alternatives to address low student engagement and abundant misbehavior.
374.	10/23/2008 10:19:00 PM	Class size. Also, there won't be any great change without parental support (from the child's "home" environment). Can we educate elementary parents how to best assist their students in their school careers, even if they don't have the class knowledge.
375.	10/23/2008 10:23:00 PM	I would expect a higher level of learning to pass the high school qualifying exam.
376.	10/23/2008 10:30:00 PM	I think we need more Mt. Edgecombes!
377.	10/23/2008 10:33:00 PM	THE LUNCH PROGRAM SUCKS.
378.	10/23/2008 10:42:00 PM	More culturally appropriate programs and bilingual teachers in all school especially rural schools.
379.	10/23/2008 10:57:00 PM	Do away with NCLB.
380.	10/23/2008 11:07:00 PM	The pay scale for teachers has dropped. We used to have the highest pay in the nation. We need this to attract quality teachers to remote areas.
381.	10/23/2008 11:12:00 PM	I think teacher certification needs to be more flexible for those who choose to go into teaching from other careers. Alaska needs to partner with other states and have stronger reciprocal agreements so more out-of-state teachers will be open to coming here to teach.
382.	10/23/2008 11:14:00 PM	stronger vocational programs available in large high schools
383.	10/23/2008 11:24:00 PM	I would like for early education to be supported as a beneficial part of education, that builds and supports the whole family. Social and emotional development is key to all other aspects of a child's life as they grow into young adults and into adulthood. Things that are learned in early education aree not forgotten by third-grade but rather the foundation of all other learning that comes later in life.
384.	10/23/2008 11:28:00 PM	I would change the way teachers are perceived by the rest of the community. I feel that teachers are devalued by others, not only in Alaska, but nation wide. I see this as a problem not only for the teachers already in the profession, but also for those looking to enter the profession. There is no incentive for people to become a teacher, thus there are very few applicants for many positions. There needs to be competition to produce quality, and there is no competition because there is no reward for becoming a teacher.
385.	10/23/2008 11:35:00 PM	make it more relevant & applicable to individual learning (standards-based)
386.	10/23/2008 11:49:00 PM	Parent supported urine analysis for both parents and children.
387.	10/23/2008 11:50:00 PM	All districts regulated by the state not letting the districts have thier own education plans. State standards set that needs to be enforcable. Pay the teachers more, require them to take test to be certified, make them take continuing education courses yearly.
388.	10/23/2008 11:57:00 PM	The mandates of NCLB have created a box which is a bit too narrow for a state with the diverse needs that this one has. Some of the teachers I work with work in remote communities and feel constrained by programs that do not allow them to really work creatively with students. They feel they can not deviate from mandated, "canned" curriculum which many districts are adopting in an effort to meet AYP and boost test scores. I have been through this sort of thing before, in the 1980's when a Nation at Risk was the topic of interest. Canned, one size fits all curriculum does not work well in setting where an inquiry approach to learning is needed due to the demands of extremely diverse student abilities and needs.
389.	10/23/2008 11:57:00 PM	Provide high quality preschool education for all students. Level the playing field in preparation and give all children a quality start in school readiness. Encourage the UAA system to increrase research and support for improving Alaskan Schools.
390.	10/23/2008 11:58:00 PM	Eliminate testing young children and return play and exploration to children. Restore nature to the playgrounds and provide children with recess at least 2 X daily. Arts should be integrated in all curriculum in order to develop a full rounded person. Smaller classrooms. Teachers remain with elementarty children for a minimum of two years. Teachers come to the profession to teach & not just for a job.
391.	10/23/2008 11:59:00 PM	support the original retirement sysytem
392.	10/24/2008 12:13:00 AM	The teacher turn over rate in rural off road villages is way to high! Provide better conditions, training, and incentives to stay longer than one year.
393.	10/24/2008 12:22:00 AM	More support for teachers and opportunities for them to better themselves through education with state assisted programs.
394.	10/24/2008 12:33:00 AM	English, stress English and Math in school, start w/the elementary.
395.	10/24/2008 12:34:00 AM	None
396.	10/24/2008 12:48:00 AM	Provide programs that make it possible for graduating seniors to enter the work force. College is NOT for everyone. The over emphasis of sports in relation to academic studies.
397.	10/24/2008 1:01:00 AM	The class sizes in K-5 grades. I believe that the younger the child the more direction he/she requires. It seems that when a class has 20 or more 6 to 7 year old students that more time is spent "gently guiding" their behavior than teaching. While I am not in favor of absolute control for an educator I have a problem with education dollars spent on "shadows" who , for the most part, are just babysitting the "difficult" kids. Parents should be more accountable for their kids behaviors.
398.	10/24/2008 1:19:00 AM	Support of 0-3 programs in Early childhood--that's where it all happens and publicly supported pre-kindergarten education at current accreditated public and private centers
399.	10/24/2008 1:26:00 AM	I would remove the boxes it puts kids in.
400.	10/24/2008 1:35:00 AM	In all areas of Alaska, especially in rural areas, students need to receive training (IN HIGH SCHOOL) that will enable them to get jobs that are challenging and allow for self-sufficiency.
401.	10/24/2008 1:40:00 AM	slightly increase standards.
402.	10/24/2008 1:43:00 AM	get rid of or change the no child left behind set-up...it doesn't work in all settings
403.	10/24/2008 1:44:00 AM	1) Better access to quality Pre-K. 2) Smaller class sizes are needed in larger communities. 3) Teachers need to stay in a rural community for many years. 4) Students should have at least one teacher/advisor who stays with them throughout each of their K-6, middle school and high school careers.
404.	10/24/2008 1:53:00 AM	incentives for teachers to stay in rural off road areas
405.	10/24/2008 2:11:00 AM	Earlychildhood education for all.
406.	10/24/2008 3:35:00 AM	Not sure
407.	10/24/2008 4:04:00 AM	PLEASE GET RID OF 'no child left behind'. It is a poor program based on a model from Texas which used faked results.
408.	10/24/2008 4:07:00 AM	I would give teachers and principals a much higher salary. They are living on next to nothing and many still freely provide un-reimbursed extras for their students. When milk is $11 per gallon, gasoline $6 and up per gallon and one 300 gallon tank of fuel oil is $2000+, the salaries of school staff just don't cut it. Nobody wants a mass exodus of staff and/or students to the road system but, with prices high and salaries low, this will happen.
409.	10/24/2008 4:11:00 AM	The faces of the teachers. Would like to see more minority teachers, particularly in the urban areas.
410.	10/24/2008 4:46:00 AM	I would like to see smaller class sizes in the primary grades, so kids could get the one-on-one attention they deserve to fully develop their reading, writing, and math skills. I'd like to see urban Alaskan school districts start using Andrew Pudewa's Institute for Excellence in Writing program, as many rural Alaskan school districts are. I'd like to see more use of teaching methods such as Scottish Storyline and Project Work (Reggio Emelia) in the primary grades.
411.	10/24/2008 5:03:00 AM	The value of education needs to be instilled in every household and parents need to get involved. That's the root to several of my challenges. I would hope someday that every student that enters my secondary classroom would be reading within a grade level of their year.
412.	10/24/2008 5:32:00 AM	The funding from the legislature and the current teacher retirement system. First, in inflation-adjusted dollars, per-student funding has gradually become a fraction of its value thirty years ago when I first came to Alaska as a teacher. Secondly, any college student is nuts to consider teaching in Alaska because there is no incentive (salary and retirement benefits) that would make such a hard and disrespected career worth it the headache.
413.	10/24/2008 5:39:00 AM	Mandatory student testing which only shows a glimpse into a student's possible potential. Requirement put on educators to follow "No Child Left Behind" theories.
414.	10/24/2008 5:40:00 AM	Parent, student, and community apathy. And if I where in charge of the world--eliminate No Child Left Behind. My question back to you would be--"Is it reaching the intended goal?"
415.	10/24/2008 5:55:00 AM	We need more funding in education. Our students are our FUTURE. We need to put more money into our future is we want quality leaders who will lead our country someday. Teachers need to be paid more for the jobs they do because it is not just an 8 hour job they have, teachers put in a lot more than that & give up a lot of time that is unpaid.
416.	10/24/2008 7:01:00 AM	More use of technology in the learning process. More "connections" to careers so students can set goals for post secondary training.
417.	10/24/2008 8:16:00 AM	Funding levels must ensure that educational opportunities are at a high level throughout all communities in the state. Right now they are not, from what I observe.
418.	10/24/2008 1:55:00 PM	equitable funding, NCLB
419.	10/24/2008 2:57:00 PM	I would encourage more professional development among teaching staff. There are SO many teachers who do the same thing every year for 30 years and are just completely unmotivated. Maybe prof. dev. would be inspirational.
420.	10/24/2008 3:06:00 PM	Equality of class size.
421.	10/24/2008 3:11:00 PM	Parental responsibility to get their child to school. Also the number of children with disabilities that have violent outburst that are challenging and yet are left in regular classroom without support from district and with little educational support for teachers that have no background in how to deal with them. Special Education staff is inserviced all the time on how to deal with these outburst(CPI) but regular staff is not and they are the ones that end of having these children in their classrooms without support due to low number of support staff at a building. Also large class sizes in the primary grades of more than 25 students. It is called crowd control not learning. Parental responsibility to get their child to school, do HW and behave for teachers. IT is not the teachers responsibility to make them learn when they are not there to get the learning done. Also a cooperative effort is needed to stop the disrespect from students in schools toward teaching staff and parental responsibility to discipline their children and not leave it up to the schools. Also the schools should have more lead-way when it comes to discipline of disruptive children so all children can learn.
422.	10/24/2008 3:30:00 PM	Funding.
423.	10/24/2008 3:41:00 PM	i wish there was more funding for the early childhood programs and teachers.
424.	10/24/2008 3:54:00 PM	No child left behind and other unfunded mandates.
425.	10/24/2008 4:13:00 PM	Greater connections between academic acheivement and post-secondary work and training requirements
426.	10/24/2008 4:16:00 PM	* Required coursework (keep the number of credits, drop to: English - 3 yrs (push "real world" reading (NOT necessarily "literature") and writing History - 2 years (US History and Government) - dump the AK Studies!!!!!!! Science - 2 years Math - 3 years
427.	10/24/2008 4:29:00 PM	Balance the AK scholarship program to include other deserving students, not just the top 10% academic performers. These kids score well because of other life advantages - they are less in need of free tuition than many others.
428.	10/24/2008 4:30:00 PM	Quit settleing for mediocrity. Research says what works, lets do it. For example: rerquiring secondary teachers to take a basic reading class was a great idea. I took the class, and think it was beneficial.
429.	10/24/2008 4:31:00 PM	make it easier to get teachers certified. start earlier with students education around three years of age.
430.	10/24/2008 4:33:00 PM	Having as many resources for parents as possible.
431.	10/24/2008 4:35:00 PM	The report card to the public. More explanation of items that appear on the report is needed. It needs to be in a form that is not only useful to educators, but also understandable to the average person. No one understands the graduation rate and few understand the dropout rate. Also an explanation of AYP that parents can decipher so they know where their school stands and what needs improving. For too long we have let schools (teachers) get away with saying that even though students didn't do well this year, they will do much better next year. We need to make the improvement plans more available to the public, especially to the parents of the schools who did not meet AYP.
432.	10/24/2008 4:38:00 PM	With over 85% of future jobs in a vocational type field I would alter or even remove NCLB and focus our curriculum more on our future which is vocations and technology. This would help insure our graduates a successful future and a successful future for Alaska.
433.	10/24/2008 4:43:00 PM	More funding for early education, smaller class room sizes, and TECHNOLOGY!
434.	10/24/2008 4:47:00 PM	more technical classes
435.	10/24/2008 4:52:00 PM	Early children education programs are not comprehensive, should be available to all.
436.	10/24/2008 4:52:00 PM	Un-funded mandates and absurd National policies
437.	10/24/2008 4:56:00 PM	I would love to see all day kindergaten. There is only a 2 hour difference in half day and all day. I think that it would give the kids more time to learn and interact with their peers. It might even make things easier on the teachers. So they can have more time to actually teach the kids instead of worrying about what time it is, because of limited amount of teaching time.
438.	10/24/2008 5:01:00 PM	I believe that more time and money should be spent on teacher training to help build teaching skills that would help our children. I also believe that parents need to be more active in helping their children do well and understand the importance of school, that also involves making good choices on their part so that the home environment is a healthy one. I also believe that more emphasis could be spent on technology and learning languages, like the Native languages.
439.	10/24/2008 5:02:00 PM	I would consolidate the uA system and revome the regional empire building. i would fix the funding matrix so that Anchorage doesn't get the overfunding it does today.
440.	10/24/2008 5:10:00 PM	Start challenging the kids more from an EARLY age. Require foreign languages at an early age.
441.	10/24/2008 5:11:00 PM	State mandated tests for graduation barely assess basic competencies - my experience is that in our district the test only functions to keep ESL students and some of those on IEPs from graduating with a diploma.
442.	10/24/2008 5:14:00 PM	Need to focus on the fact the High School Drop-out rate does not start in High School but at ages 3 and 4. I don't want the School system to take over Pre-school. I do think we need to focus on the beginning skills needed for a child to grow to a successful adult. So I think we need to offer a voucher for every pre-school child so that their parents can send their children to a qualified pre-school program of their choice.
443.	10/24/2008 5:23:00 PM	Lower the artificial 'gate' (150 students for charter schools and 200 for alternative schools) to allow schools to be identified as separate sites while keeping within the range identified by experts to be the most beneficial for students (150 - 175).
444.	10/24/2008 5:27:00 PM	Allow high school students, in at least their junior and senior years, to access post-secondary education opportunities. These type programs have been available in some lower 48 states for over 25 years. That is an entire generation of students denied the same opportunities as the majority of students in America.
445.	10/24/2008 5:30:00 PM	I would take out the graduation rate to determine whether a school makes AYP or not. If we are going to keep it, allow for GED to count for our graduation rate because the kid attended our school for many years and the school played an important role in allowing the kid to acquire a GED.
446.	10/24/2008 5:41:00 PM	We need more qualified rural Alaskan teachers. The turnover rate is too high with staff who are not familiar with the area and lifestyle.
447.	10/24/2008 5:50:00 PM	Imposing white middle class ideas and values that are, at times, totally out of touch with the cultural values of the community
448.	10/24/2008 5:52:00 PM	No child left behind has to go!
449.	10/24/2008 5:56:00 PM	The lack of money.
450.	10/24/2008 6:01:00 PM	Lower class size. Emphasize real-world choices following high school, and offer LOTS of vocational education.
451.	10/24/2008 6:04:00 PM	Empasis on early childhood programs that include parents to build a relationship with the schools from an early age and encourage parent involvement throughout the child's school years. Early childhood programs set the foundation for academic and social skills throughout the child's life.
452.	10/24/2008 6:07:00 PM	More sports offered for children that can not afford it. Sports opportunities will keep a child/teen in school when nothing else will reach them. More early learning opportunities for the children of poverty guideline families that can't get into a Head Start program or other private preschool.
453.	10/24/2008 6:13:00 PM	I would do away with the rule that there must be 8 students to make a school. That is not fair to small communities who only have five or six students. They get stuck with unqualified or busy parents to homeschool them as their only option. A teacher should be placed anywhere in the state that there are school age children. Our state has the money. There is no excuse.
454.	10/24/2008 6:30:00 PM	More funding for adequate teacher preparation to teach in Bush Alaska, more family involvement in children's education beginning before K-12, and more adequate funding of school libraries and children's access to learning materials throughout the state.
455.	10/24/2008 6:32:00 PM	i think that villages should be willing to pool money so that there could be some super schools built (i know people are against this, but how do we really get good education to them, unless.... if we could get high speed wireless to them) we need E.C.E., that makes what kids know coming into school a bit more even. more options for children who learn faster.. work more with parents.
456.	10/24/2008 6:38:00 PM	Have more options for alternative schools in the bush.
457.	10/24/2008 6:39:00 PM	Offer more schools in the Mat-Su Valley with different cirriculums and teaching styles.
458.	10/24/2008 6:47:00 PM	school all year long
459.	10/24/2008 7:00:00 PM	Funding..... Keep the Head Start Programs with expectations that they will continue to provide excellence with well trained staff. Fund Infant Learning Programs in a way that they can serve more children that are already facing education challenges.Lay the ground work for success early on.
460.	10/24/2008 7:23:00 PM	I would change education in Alaska so that the schools are held to a broad set of standards and best practices but free to innovate on a school and classroom basis. The line classroom teacher needs to be supported and set free. More bottom up (student, parent and classroom teacher) and far far far less evil of centralized planning. The State needs to redefine its constitutional roll as a servent leader from the current control model.
461.	10/24/2008 7:25:00 PM	Schools need more emphasis on education that attaches the learning to how it applies to the world of work. Students need more motivation to learn. They need to understand how education is what provides the means to be successful in life. This may require major changes in curricula. I have heard way too often from youth adults that they didn't understand why they needed to learn certain subjects.
462.	10/24/2008 7:33:00 PM	I think class sizes should be lower in the urban areas at least in the primary grades.
463.	10/24/2008 7:38:00 PM	higher expectations for our students (standards, etc.)
464.	10/24/2008 7:41:00 PM	higher pay for teachers
465.	10/24/2008 7:42:00 PM	High school graduation rates are to low.
466.	10/24/2008 8:03:00 PM	I would like to see more money given toward facility development for career, technical and physical education.
467.	10/24/2008 8:05:00 PM	MAKE PARENTS & STUDENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN OUTCOMES. TIRED OF THE SCHOOLS BEING BLAMED FOR POOR GRADUATION RATES, WHEN IT IS USUALLY FAMILY LIFE AND ATTITUDES THAT CREATE THAT SITUATION. IF YOU WANT A GOOD EDUCATION, YOU CAN GET IT, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND.
468.	10/24/2008 8:06:00 PM	Teach students more real life skills. Life skills are so important and necessary.
469.	10/24/2008 8:06:00 PM	I would add a strong pre-k component to communities, and reinstate it in communities that lost it.
470.	10/24/2008 8:28:00 PM	The attendance policies of our districts need to be totally revamped. Students miss way too much school which retards their learning and increases the overall dropout rate. Schools are blamed for the poor performance of these students, yet the causes are beyond the control of schools. Parents must be held "financially" accountable for their student's attendance. The positive benefits of improved attendance to a community include a lower dropout rate, lower unemployment rate, and lower incarceration rates.
471.	10/24/2008 8:29:00 PM	Funding. There needs to be more of an emphasis on funding education at all levels. While districts shouldn't be able to send freely, they shouldn't have to short-change the educational experience of students because of budget constraints.
472.	10/24/2008 8:34:00 PM	We are lacking in middle school and high school options for students. Students find classrooms boring, teachers don't communicate regularly, student's aren't challenged and middle and high schools aren't willing to change.
473.	10/24/2008 8:45:00 PM	We need some program that really helps those students that can't make in the traditional setting so that they will complete their education.
474.	10/24/2008 8:45:00 PM	I would like to see the student/teacher ratio be lower especially in the lower level classes. Also I would like to have a rigorous teaching of basic Math facts in the elementary grades so when they get to high school they have a sound foundation.
475.	10/24/2008 8:47:00 PM	Salaries!! In order to keep quality educators, they need to be compensated with the increase in time/hours/duties. Both teachers and administrators!!!
476.	10/24/2008 8:47:00 PM	In addition to school counselors in every school provide funding for social workers to school staff.
477.	10/24/2008 8:50:00 PM	Native students see significantly more Native teachers and Native professionals holding jobs of significance in communities and regions.
478.	10/24/2008 8:53:00 PM	Parental involvement and responsibility for their child's success.
479.	10/24/2008 8:54:00 PM	Standard passing grade for all classes raised to 70 from 60. This would better prepare students for college and align more with the lower 48.
480.	10/24/2008 8:56:00 PM	More parental involvement, responsibility and accountability. Teachers and schools are held accountable--parents are not.
481.	10/24/2008 8:57:00 PM	Allow I.R. students on IEPs who toe the mark in ALL regards, except are unable to pass the HSGQE, to earn a high school diploma (that notes it was based on modified coursework)
482.	10/24/2008 8:57:00 PM	More school choice through charter schools - especially support for small charter schools - to meet the needs of many different families and students.
483.	10/24/2008 9:02:00 PM	MORE VOCATIONAL TRAINING!!!! WOODS AND METALS AND AUTO
484.	10/24/2008 9:04:00 PM	More open mindedness about placement of students. Not placed by age into grades, but placed by social maturity and academic ability at all levels.
485.	10/24/2008 9:04:00 PM	I would like to see all students have the opportunity to participate in extra curriculla, not just those that can afford it. There are children that miss out because of economics and famliy resposnibility.I think business should realize that a student that works a fast food late shift will likely not make it to school rested and prepared for the school day. Education needs to come first.
486.	10/24/2008 9:04:00 PM	Relating to the above answer, I would require higher education to collaborate more with public education. Let's work from ground up instead of top down. Universities are not being responsive to public schools and students. They need to get in the 21st century and uphold the same high standards for their staff and faculty that public schools are required to do. They have a monopoly and there needs to be competition or more accountability for the quality of the education our college grads are receiving. Too many schools have to retrain or retool teachers because the universities did not do their jobs.
487.	10/24/2008 9:05:00 PM	The continued process of teachers and schools being forced to take on more of the child-rearing responsibilities, while parents are being held accountable to an increasingly lesser degree. This is seen in the language of the current attendance policies as well as policies regarding makeup work and discipline. Even if the policies are reworded to propose more parent participation and responsibility, it is the current practice of this district to not expect enough from the parents. Schools are becoming a dumping ground for parents who expect teachers and administrators to mold their child into a better person without putting forth the energy in their own homes first.
488.	10/24/2008 9:09:00 PM	Smaller class sizes at the elementary and middle school level.
489.	10/24/2008 9:12:00 PM	We need to figure out a way to get parents and students to take ownership of their schools and their personal education, build the emotional tie to the schools to keep them involved.
490.	10/24/2008 9:13:00 PM	more support for new teachers
491.	10/24/2008 9:16:00 PM	to not invest in new programs; go back to the basics
492.	10/24/2008 9:20:00 PM	I am not sure what I would change. I know from friends that education in rural areas is very difficult and there are cultural differences that present problems in the villages. There is also a lot of drug and alcohol use among students. I really don't know what the answer is other than that each adult in AK needs to serve as a mentor as best as possible and we all need to pray for our kids. =)
493.	10/24/2008 9:20:00 PM	Higher standards. More aligned to the other leading states in curriculum and instruction. More rigor.
494.	10/24/2008 9:23:00 PM	The discipline policies
495.	10/24/2008 9:24:00 PM	I would like to see all schools make more of an effort to combine rigor with relevance.
496.	10/24/2008 9:24:00 PM	FULLY FUND THE SCHOOLS WITH STATE FUNDS!!! This is the only state that turns a clear profit and it is fiscally CRIMINAL to have small boroughs and municipalities come up with funds to do that. Is school important to you people that want to meet about them?!? Then pay for it!
497.	10/24/2008 9:29:00 PM	I would like to see more variety of offerings in the Fairbanks Northstar Borough School District. Sciences are limited.
498.	10/24/2008 9:32:00 PM	More focus on life skills and career choices for the lesser abled in high schools. These students are often referred to as "falling through the cracks," or the "low and slow."
499.	10/24/2008 9:35:00 PM	Head Start would be available to all children ages 3-5, not just low income families. Head Start has programs to enrich the lives of the families as well as the child. Every family and child deserves to have people help them with understanding development and empowering their lives.
500.	10/24/2008 9:36:00 PM	We need rigorous standards that prepare our students to be competitive in the world economy, not with other students in the bottom third of our country. We need to teach students how to read and analyze texts -- not just have journals of responses and thoughts.
501.	10/24/2008 9:37:00 PM	The systemic and systematic changes in some district are really needed everywhere. Superintendents, assistant superintendents, school leaders and board members need to be supported so that they can undergo a change process. EED is a prime entity to do this.
502.	10/24/2008 9:44:00 PM	Behavior standards in the schools are quite low.
503.	10/24/2008 9:46:00 PM	Remove the teachers union and set standards that teachers cannot avoid. If 50% of your class cannot pass a national standards test, the teacher fails, not the students. When students fail the tests, never lower the standards, improve your teacher. Enough of the ultra-liberal fuzzy-pitted leaf-lickers and lesians. It's time for some hiring standards.
504.	10/24/2008 9:49:00 PM	Funding.
505.	10/24/2008 9:51:00 PM	I would change the funding structure. We need more teachers for our children.
506.	10/24/2008 9:52:00 PM	Stewardship of funds
507.	10/24/2008 9:53:00 PM	New ruling that ASAS forced on schools creating an atmosphere of no mistakes allowed and the ability to kick kids out of sports for their HS years. This creates a lousy system for kids that need sports to motivate them in school.
508.	10/24/2008 10:01:00 PM	The graduation rate of Alaskan natives and of economically disadvantaged.
509.	10/24/2008 10:01:00 PM	Do not describe schools as failing schools Measure by growth Curriculum that meets local needs in rural areas Support for post secondary through video schooling
510.	10/24/2008 10:01:00 PM	You can not lump education in AK together. The needs in some rural villages vs larger urban areas vs mid-size road towns are all different and MUST be looked at and dealt with in a more individual manner.
511.	10/24/2008 10:03:00 PM	Put a focus back on traditional trades and vocational education.
512.	10/24/2008 10:11:00 PM	Kids are different. Make exceptions. Bright students should NOT have to meet graduation criteria (freshman and sophomore courses) if they are ready for higher classes. Special ed students need to have their IEPs implemented without parents fighting for it to happen.
513.	10/24/2008 10:14:00 PM	Wouldn't it be nice if all the information on "what next" available in Alaska after HS graduation were in 1 place? Even UA information is divided by campus. We find out piecemeal - by chance - what is actually available now. Industry has training programs that are practically a secret. Could EED provide a site where everyone could list what they offer?
514.	10/24/2008 10:18:00 PM	I would change the negative academic culture within the school. Students need to experience the statement and proudly say, "math, don't leave school without it! I did!"
515.	10/24/2008 10:21:00 PM	Need policies that enforce attendance. Students can be gone for inordinate amounts of time - need attendance officers.
516.	10/24/2008 10:24:00 PM	I would change student attitudes about pursuing opportunities that are already offered. Too many let good opportunities slip by. Offering new opportunities is not so important until the current ones are used to their capacity.
517.	10/24/2008 10:29:00 PM	Make it self funded with an education Permanent Fund so we do not depend on the Feds and their irrelevant testing syndrome.
518.	10/24/2008 10:32:00 PM	As stated earlier, I would have more diploma options available to high school students. Specifically, we need a modified diploma (meaning at least some the classes were modified and/or the student did not pass all/part of the HSGQE) and something a student can earn if they only complete part of the graduation requirement credits. In other states, this is called an Adult Basic Education Degree (ABED). Students complete half of all the required credits (ex: 2 instead of 4 English credits), plus specific requirements in subject areas. For example, they would need half of the social studies credit, but it would be comprised of World History, US History, Government, Economics, and AK Studies. The topics necessary are learned, if not the bredth. This benefits students who are not on track for a traditional diploma, but want to attend community college. It maintains standards, but allows those who made poor choices in the past or those with family demands, to move forward with their education to become productive members of society. Without this, they are likely to drop out of school, not get post-secondary training, and become part of the welfare system. Change the system to allow all to succeed - not just those who can get a traditional diploma. Schools cannot make AYP with students who are unable or unwilling to meet NCLB standards as interpreted by the State of Alaska.
519.	10/24/2008 10:33:00 PM	Coorespondence education is way tooo unregulated. There is not definition of what constitutes a credit therefore, parents can write a unit of study and call it a full credit. Whether you admit it or not, parents are doing the course development and grading with little to no guidance given by the correspondence programs. For those parents who are seriously into educating their children, this is fine. But many parents cannot even do the school work themselves, how can they educate their children?????
520.	10/24/2008 10:38:00 PM	Smaller classroom sizes.
521.	10/24/2008 10:39:00 PM	I think we need to consider rural and bush education in a more practical light. The cost per student is astronomical and yet the academic achievement does not reflect the $ put into the schools. Huge chances are called for and are we willing to take those steps that in the short run will be unpopular but in the long run will be best for our future?
522.	10/24/2008 10:40:00 PM	Teachers are treated as (and paid like) professionals. Teachers are required to complete rigorous certification programs and pass tests (just like architects and engineers)... let's treat them like the professionals they are.
523.	10/24/2008 10:44:00 PM	I would like to see more emphasis placed on diversity education an understanding of world issues/events. Alaska is so insulated from the rest of the world that it would help if there were more opportunities to expand their horizons.
524.	10/24/2008 10:51:00 PM	Funding battles, teacher quality and change focus from teaching to learning.
525.	10/24/2008 10:53:00 PM	>Random drug & alcohol testing for all students. If kids are under the influence or addicted it doesn't matter how good your teachers and programs are. >Put some accountability on parents for attendance and performance of their students tied to the permanent fund check for their kids. If their kids skipped school or flunked out the check goes into a trust fund that the children can only receive for use in continuing postsecondary education (college, trade school, etc.)
526.	10/24/2008 11:01:00 PM	I would like to see how students that are struggling in reading get the help they need right away. If they are struggling as a 1st or 2nd grader, get them as much help as they need to get them back on course. If they do get the help they need, by the time I see them, (middle school) they are so far behind that there is no way for them to catch up. This leads to frustration with them and then discipline problems in class because they are bored and don't know what is going on.
527.	10/24/2008 11:02:00 PM	I would change the expectation for all students, especially at risk kids. I would implement a probation policy for grades which would mean that if students did not maintain a GPA of at least a 2.0, they would have to take part in an intervention program. I am blown away by all the no tolerance policies we have against drug use and abuse, but nothing which addresses attendance and lack of performance. If students do not perform at an acceptable level, they should be withdrawn from school.
528.	10/24/2008 11:04:00 PM	increase retention programs
529.	10/24/2008 11:14:00 PM	I would make sure that education is relevant to all, and help those that need alternative educational settings to get them.
530.	10/24/2008 11:15:00 PM	School is a business with a product that is made available to its consumers. We as educators need to do a better job finding out what employers(consumers) need and to gear education to that end so that our product(students) meet the needs of both employers and as well as students. Schools have done a fine job in preparing the college bound but I feel that those in the vocational track have been left out. Vocational training should never have been gutted from public schools .
531.	10/24/2008 11:16:00 PM	More rigorous standards K-12. Focus on improving high school graduation rate. Focus on differentiating instruction to better meet the needs of all students.
532.	10/24/2008 11:18:00 PM	I think that the schools should have more vocational programs that would help children (young adults) have a skill they could use to get a job when they leave school. Not every child is cut out for college.
533.	10/24/2008 11:20:00 PM	I would change the one focused approach of assuming that students are college bound. Each high school needs to offer strands along vocational ends as well as college prep. When a European student completes his studies he/she may enter college or a vocation. We do not.
534.	10/24/2008 11:22:00 PM	more $ for professional development
535.	10/24/2008 11:30:00 PM	Allow for advanced students to progress more rapidly instead of being held back by students who are at risk. Students-at-risk need to be helped, absolutely, but it should not be at the expense of higher achieving students.
536.	10/24/2008 11:32:00 PM	The amount of state funding for K-12 education and especially funding for college students with need-based financial aid
537.	10/24/2008 11:34:00 PM	Funding rural school districts. Not penalize districts financially, in rural areas, when student populations drop due to families moving out of the area. Develop vocational programs for the special education sections of our rural schools. Programs that will help our students with handicapping conditions fit into their communities. Stop penalizing schools that are at level 5, when the problems faced by the educators come from the home and lack of good parenting.
538.	10/24/2008 11:38:00 PM	AK is not good at addressing the needs of students who learn differently. IEPs can address modifications of the regular school program but but that program does not include all that is needed by all students. The loss of vocational classes over the years, the increase in required credits/courses for ALL students, and the HSGQE combined have put high school graduation and diplomas out of the reach of FAR too many of our high school students. We need to have a way to modify the actual requirements for some of our students, and need to return to offering vocational training in our public high school.
539.	10/24/2008 11:39:00 PM	Less "jumping through hoops" for teacher certification.
540.	10/24/2008 11:43:00 PM	Communication with the Department of Education is terrible. I've called and emailed without responses. Entering teachers are going to other states because of the technicalities of gaining teachers certification.
541.	10/24/2008 11:48:00 PM	Hire ONLY qualified teachers....the "No Child Left Behind" is a government-sponsored joke set in place to appease the general public and to be used for political soundbites. There should not be ONE SINGLE teacher in our State who does not hold a degree or a teaching certificate in their specific subject area. There are math teachers teaching music, there are PE teachers teaching math, there are teachers hired without an education degree or teaching certificate just so that school districts can 'get by' with a warm body in the classroom. Some schools/Principals hire teachers to make it more convenient....not to actually make it BETTER for every child. This is an archaic hiring technique, and it should be outlawed altogether...it's ridiculous in this day & age of hiring techniques, job fairs, and information through the internet that some districts (Fairbanks HR Department in particular) are still hiring unqualified people...it's simply laziness and a lack of caring about students....it's the "dummy down" attitude.
542.	10/24/2008 11:51:00 PM	I wish that the students did not have to do all of the testing that is mandated by NCLB....
543.	10/24/2008 11:57:00 PM	Stop NCLB and find a way to provide and education to those students that do not have a desire to go to college.
544.	10/25/2008 12:07:00 AM	I would like to see schools do more to address the high drop out rate for minority students. I would also like to see more money put into student activities, because I feel that this is one of the keys to keeping kids in school.
545.	10/25/2008 12:11:00 AM	I would try to increase parent/ elder/mentor, and community involvement.
546.	10/25/2008 12:17:00 AM	Start and finish later in the day.
547.	10/25/2008 12:25:00 AM	Make teacher to student ratios smaller. 26 kids in a Kindergarten class is absurd. Have better educated teachers and incentives for teachers to do better. Do away with tenure. This makes teachers lazy and forces school districts to to keep lousy teachers. Get rid of the teachers that are not performing up to the expectations. They are ruining our kids future and the future of our country. Help them out the door to find another profession. Have more help in the schools available to kids that are low in certain areas but not compltely failing. They often fall through the cracks and are only caught once they are truly in trouble academically. More technology available for kids in urban areas. Experiment with different ideas that have proven to work in other states, i.e. year round schools, possible legenthen the school day to provide adequate amount of elective time for elem. kids. Music one day a week and gym one day a week is a joke!
548.	10/25/2008 12:32:00 AM	Include FAS as a disability for SPED services instead of just waiting until their unique problems cause them to fall into a catagory that can receive help.
549.	10/25/2008 12:33:00 AM	There are times when I wonder whether the federal funding, with its unfunded mandates, additional layer of bureaucracy and unintended negative consequences of NCLB is worth it. I don't know the $$ and cents, but I wonder whether the freedom we would gain is worth the price and might result in improved educational outcomes: youth better prepared for competition, citizenship, etc.
550.	10/25/2008 12:55:00 AM	I think that we are going to lose a lot of very good teachers because we don't offer them a secure retirement. Because of the volatility of our market the teachers in a 401K are under a lot of uncertainty for their future at retirement.
551.	10/25/2008 1:13:00 AM	GIVE THEM MORE FUNDING!
552.	10/25/2008 1:29:00 AM	Adoption of a state-wide curriculum.
553.	10/25/2008 1:52:00 AM	I currently work in a building where the computers are older than most of the students. We need to upgrade our technology to provide students the knowledge they will need to succeed in the work force.
554.	10/25/2008 1:53:00 AM	Early college programs such as the one at Simon's Rock Bard College would be a good addition to the mix
555.	10/25/2008 2:09:00 AM	I would like to see universal public pre-school for all children, not just those tagged as "special needs" or "Native". I would also like to see more opportunities for gifted students, such as an International Baccalaureate program. There are so many programs for special needs students, but few if any for gifted students who become bored.
556.	10/25/2008 2:11:00 AM	No Child left behind-Small schools are hurt the most especially on the Graduation rate since small schools have one or two seniors.
557.	10/25/2008 2:33:00 AM	The lack of variety in options for electives in high school. I think we need to provide a greater variety of options for students. Connecting students to school is important and for many that connection is through classes that they can get excited about.
558.	10/25/2008 2:44:00 AM	Students need employability skills and more options than just 4-year career track programs at UAF. There need to be more career tracks that lead from entry-level certificated programs into the workforce, with options of completing 2 or 4-year degress in areas in which jobs are available (i.e. healthcare, oil & gas, education, village economic development.)
559.	10/25/2008 2:47:00 AM	Do more to train for jobs right out of high school, so students could work their way through the higher education of their choice.
560.	10/25/2008 3:10:00 AM	I would want every child to be offered a world class education in their school. That's just not happening now.
561.	10/25/2008 3:24:00 AM	I feel like the technology infrastructure is just not there in off-road system schools. Also, there is so little commitment to the importance of reading and writing as life-long skills that our students are at a disadvantage.
562.	10/25/2008 4:33:00 AM	Parents need to be more accountable for students being in class. There should be more responsibility placed on parents to make their students attend school. It is very difficult to teach a student who does not attend your class.
563.	10/25/2008 4:54:00 AM	Equitable and adequate funding for schools.
564.	10/25/2008 5:24:00 AM	The lack of funding from the state and our borough. Recently the state has done some good work, but for most years the increases don't keep up with inflation so we just get further and further behind the offerings available when my children started school.
565.	10/25/2008 5:52:00 AM	Funding formula, unwillingness of legislators to commit to Education no matter how which party makes the proposals. Leave the politics and personal status out of this. Our kids are being shortchanged by the legislature and DEED.
566.	10/25/2008 5:59:00 AM	I would like to see more funding provided to cover the expense to "retool" education for the 21st century.
567.	10/25/2008 6:00:00 AM	Some teachers feel they are held back in the area of professional development because travel expenses and the cost of conferences, workshops, etc. must be picked up by the individual. Some of the best practices in the lower 48 are delayed by years in coming to Alaska schools.
568.	10/25/2008 7:03:00 AM	Kindergarten needs to be state mandated, especially since there are GLE's assigned to kindergarten. Students entering first grade are expected to come with a basic set of skills. However, it's difficult to retain children in kindergarten when it's not a state requirement. Lower class sizes, especially in the primary grades, needs to be mandated at the state level. First through third grade classrooms with 28 students is not acceptable, even with aide support.
569.	10/25/2008 7:20:00 AM	I would strengthen the academic education/requirements at all levels. I think the State has good standards, however, I do not feel they are instructed as such in the classrooms. I would like to see the middle school model change and accountability for education at those grades. I currently remove my children from the public school for middle school and homeschool as I feel I can give them a better education than they would get at the public school.
570.	10/25/2008 3:20:00 PM	There are a number of things that need to be changed in Alaska's education. 1. Class sizes are too high - 28-29 students are too many for one teacher to be truly effective 2. Regular education teachers are not properly trained to deal with special needs children in the regular education setting and it often becomes a dumping ground. 3. Our district is top heavy with administrative staff who receives meaningful and relevant training that faculty should have instead. 4. Our technology is antiquated and inadequate for classroom use; for example: my 7th Grade English classroom has 1 apple computer that runs on OS9 and technical support doesn't happen for 4-6 months after submitting a request and, our school "computer lab" does not even have a word processing software program. 5. Too many parents have taken a back-seat to their children's education and do not support the education process.
571.	10/25/2008 3:28:00 PM	Growing up in a small isolated town is hard because there is very little room for second chances. As a result bullying is a very real thing in schools. I would like to see that end. Socieconomical students performance is huge and I would like to see the state do more to address that. Also home environment is a huge part of success in school I would like to see the state do more to support children from challenging homes.
572.	10/25/2008 3:30:00 PM	Create schools the cater to, not only college bound students, but also to others, such as, tradesman and specialities such as chefs and skills needed in factories.
573.	10/25/2008 3:35:00 PM	state funded prek - students are going into the school system when they shouldn't because they can't afford daycare. Alaska is only one of a few state that does not have state funded preschools. Somehow we need to improve the home enviornment of our children.
574.	10/25/2008 4:00:00 PM	The caliber of teachers currently is a joke. I would remove union protection for teachers, higher pay has not led to higher standards or better quality. I would dramatically increase educational requirements along with codes of conduct for teachers and administrative staff. Those standards would be competitive with the rest of the worlds educators and schools.
575.	10/25/2008 4:05:00 PM	I would want to see more programs for gifted students, to keep them stimulated rather than bored.
576.	10/25/2008 4:33:00 PM	Incentives motivitating school districts to perform should be student-centric on individual success with academic achievement relative to the aspirations of the student at the forefront.
577.	10/25/2008 5:21:00 PM	I would like to cap classroom size at around 22 students. These days a child comes to school with so many more challenges than they did twenty years ago. The rise in divorces, drug use, alcohol use, poverty, a deployed parent, ADD or ADHD, etc... All these problems walk in the door with the child from home and hampers learning. A teacher with a classroom approaching 30 students can not effectively teach because he/she is trying to manage the class.
578.	10/25/2008 5:25:00 PM	I would increase the possibility of school choice both through vouchers and by tearing down the walls that exist between brick and mortar and home based education programs. By allowing competition into the educational arena, programs will naturally strive to do their best. Programs will experience growing pains and all students across the state will benefit. I believe the end result will be measurable by increases in test scores, graduation rate and graduate satisfaction.
579.	10/25/2008 5:34:00 PM	I would lower class size significantly : K-12. This would make a HUGE impact in our children's education.
580.	10/25/2008 5:36:00 PM	I would like to see a quality pre-kindergarten program provided for low income students. Due to circumstances beyond their control many economically disadvantaged children enter school at a tremendous disadvantage and spend much of their school years trying to catch up to their peers from more language-rich homes.
581.	10/25/2008 5:45:00 PM	Adherence to high-stakes testing curriculum and standards DOES NOT benefit the majority of students and actually detracts from their education. Inclusion with pull-outs for special education students is failing them. They often miss in-class instruction that would benefit them in order to participate in testing and assessment to prove they need extra help. Scheduling is a nightmare and they generally fall further behind. Too many electives during the school day (ie. Band/Orchestra) pull-outs disrupt class instruction time and need to be re-thought.
582.	10/25/2008 10:13:00 PM	Educators are underpaid, so qualify and commitment not the best.
583.	10/25/2008 11:22:00 PM	Instead of one long summer break, I would give students and teachers multiple and shorter vacations.
584.	10/26/2008 12:37:00 AM	There is essentially nothing for a gifted child to do in school to enrich his or her school experience - all enrichment must be done by the parents, or not at all.
585.	10/26/2008 12:58:00 AM	The meaningless bureaucracy the drives education on virtually every level. Student needs cannot be met be teaching to tests. No Child Left Behind is the equivalent of educational Communism. Individualization rather than conformity is what needs to be addressed.
586.	10/26/2008 1:24:00 AM	We need to offer something other that just the main focus of college prep. The state is becoming desperate for good electricians, plumbers, carpenters, all kinds of vocational specialists. Whatever happened to the voc ed that gave kids not on the college track useable skills.
587.	10/26/2008 1:30:00 AM	Alaska is #1 in domestic abuse. Teach these girls how to defend themselves. (Marial Arts is GOOD EXERCISE. Keep junk food out of the schools.
588.	10/26/2008 1:30:00 AM	The No Child Left Behind Law created limitations to my children who had to repeat multiple classes in each year of secondary education due to the massive turn over of teachers and continued recruitment from out of our state left limited opportunities.
589.	10/26/2008 1:30:00 AM	I think the expectations for urban students are not realistic to student in rural areas. NCLB really doesn't afford rural students a fair advantage to graduation. If as a state we could waive out of some portions of this legislation, that would be great.
590.	10/26/2008 2:20:00 AM	I would like to see schools create more options for students to pursue a variety of trades instead of compelling everyone to adopt a mindset that a traditional college experience is the only thing worth preparing for.
591.	10/26/2008 2:58:00 AM	CLASS SIZE in K-3....it's ridiculous that we have 28 first graders in a classroom! We (as a state) end up putting so much money into remediation after the 3rd grade. The investment would be better spent on the early years!!!!
592.	10/26/2008 3:57:00 AM	I would like to provide more classes that go beyond the basics. We need more fine arts and voc ed programs. I wish the School-to-Work program was reinstated
593.	10/26/2008 4:18:00 AM	Increase funding. It is a shame that a state with as much as we have in state surpluses that we can not fund education at higher levels.
594.	10/26/2008 4:54:00 AM	Charter Schools that will offer year round classes, an open concept structure focusing on Secondary School engaging high level academic standards.
595.	10/26/2008 5:10:00 AM	That facilities could be constructed to meet the challenges of communities delivering high quality education to our youth.
596.	10/26/2008 5:20:00 AM	More funding for early childhood education (3-4 yr. olds) programs in very small rural schools. More funding for very small rural schools with dropout problems.
597.	10/26/2008 8:16:00 AM	The disparity between bush schools and urban schools. Anchorage parents were upset when they thought their swimming pools might be restricted or closed while my child was attending a school with plywood floors and walls covered with mold and mildew. NO ONE in Anchorage would have allowed their children to attend the school my child attended!
598.	10/26/2008 3:21:00 PM	Our student is a sophomore who has always maintained an A/B average. She is playing volleyball this year and she doesn't get home from practices until 8:30 p.m. She is required to continually 'sell tickets' to raise funds to travel with her team... resultantly her grades have fallen to C/C- and she is struggling. The school seems disinterested in the stress they're putting on these girls! We're left with no choice but to NOT allow her to participate in sports after this season... sad, the boys don't seem to experience this, just the girls! I cry foul!
599.	10/26/2008 3:38:00 PM	Allow vouchers so all families have a choice in how their children are educated. Change Science standards so that theory isn't forced on students but rather that they be taught skills to keep abreast of scientific knowledge and evaluate information making informed choices. This is the type of thinking that produces innovation and honesty in science allowing creative exploration and inventive minds which can discover solutions.
600.	10/26/2008 5:18:00 PM	Eliminate tenure for teachers.
601.	10/26/2008 5:39:00 PM	Put the learning responsibility back on the student where it belongs and take it off the school. A school can provide excellent education, but that does not mean students will learn. Students need to put in some effort as well.
602.	10/26/2008 5:45:00 PM	The state tests are inconsistent in their evaluation of students. They are also very easy when compared to what the standards require. The standards are okay, but the tests are not. The different forms of the tests test different numbers of problems on different standards, which really mean different levels of difficulty. Also, how can students pass the HSGQE when they can't do basic algebra or fractions, yet algebra is a graduation requirement? It happens all the time.
603.	10/26/2008 5:51:00 PM	Accountability at the high school level. Honest reporting. ie: we have an alternative school in our community which is woefully overcrowded. When a student finally gives up and transfers there, they are not counted as a drop out for the "main" school...and therefore are not counted as a failure for the "main" school....they are counted as "transfer"..and so the cycle continues.
604.	10/26/2008 5:55:00 PM	Smaller class size in urban areas, especially for at-risk students. Better support for minority students. All students can achieve when they believe in themselves.
605.	10/26/2008 5:56:00 PM	Stronger curriculum! Higher standards, more commitment from parents, community and teachers to keep kids in school. Alternative thinking to solving our diverse problems-think outside the box.
606.	10/26/2008 6:25:00 PM	I would stop hiring teachers from outside that don't have a clue about Alaska, and I would make it tougher on teachers that walk away from the school and job when things aren't going well. I would like to see a database where administrators can look at a teacher's record to see if they finished out a school year and if not why...
607.	10/26/2008 7:19:00 PM	I think that the system would benefit by a State wide school calendar and salary schedule. We could make salary adjustments like we do with the ISER study. We could still have a school calendar that has some flexibility but starts on the same day throughout the State. Some of our students are three weeks behind in instruction when the State Qualifying exams are given. This is due to a late start in August, or September in some cases. Not fair to the parents, especially, rural parents who have no school choice.
608.	10/26/2008 7:39:00 PM	Students who are absent more then 10% of the time would lose their dividend check.
609.	10/26/2008 7:40:00 PM	We desperately need preschool programs for EVERY four year old child.
610.	10/26/2008 8:08:00 PM	Parental support is very limited. Attendance laws for elementary students has no backbone. Laws are in place but no incentive for parents to comply. All law enforcement can do is talk to parents. No fines, no firm guideleines. disicpline is another area with limited parental support.
611.	10/26/2008 8:36:00 PM	The gap between urban and rural communities/schools.
612.	10/26/2008 9:14:00 PM	I would change the perspectives from which Science and History are presented in the classroom. All views should be open for discussion, and should not be a one-sided humanistic, Dawin/Evolution view.
613.	10/26/2008 9:31:00 PM	More emphasis on basic education, technology, art's & humanities, less on sports... more on nutrition, health and also more counseling to help kids find out what courses they need to realize their aspirations. There seems to be a serious lack of comprehensive basics, such as history, geography and English, especially grammar and spelling. More sex education, especially for girls, so they will have higher aspirations than to get married and have babies before they even graduate. It's really sad and I don't want my daughter to become another statistic. I want her to know her options and have dreams bigger than the place where she lives. I think marriage and family should be incorporated into sex education, more life skills, how to write a resume, fill out a job application, learning how to balance a check book, address a letter, heck, even learning to use a phone book... what it takes to live as an adult. From what I've seen after 3 of my 5 children got through school was the curriculum was fairly lame... parental involvement and participation is a must. Personally, I think the parents need more education as well, there is too much small mindedness that comes from living in small towns that can't see beyond local limitations. Standards have to be raised, more funding needs to be available to buy text books, to gear junior high and high school students to the world outside of Alaska because we live in a bubble of isolation. Our kids have a really tough time making it and often fail, leading to more teenage pregnancies, drop out rates and suicides because they aren't prepared, they have no clue and are fairly terrified by the news of the 'outside', so are in actuality self limited by ignorance. Kids need to learn about entrepreneurship, starting and running their own businesses, because finding jobs seems to be limited to what is avaiable in small communities or they are forced in order to succeed to move to cities or out of state.
614.	10/26/2008 9:34:00 PM	Start a REAL STRONG program to get parents involved in the schools. In fact all community members - start a program to involve them - set a starndard for others to follow. Study after study have shown that this is the strongest influence of a kid doing well. MOST parents have more time in AK to spend with their kids - smaller towns, short commute distances, etc. Force as much as possible for them to get involved - it is done in private schools
615.	10/26/2008 10:10:00 PM	I would love for Alaska to educate its parents on funding issues. Also the difference between Charter and neighborhood school. I also think it is a disservice to children to rate them on one set of tests. To much emphasis is put on testing and not enough on the whole child.
616.	10/26/2008 10:24:00 PM	I wish there were less students per teacher, and I wish what was taught would relate more to uses in life. Example: I have know idea why I would need to know about polynomials.
617.	10/26/2008 10:59:00 PM	More money, personnel, and efforts in addressing the emotional and mental health needs of Alaska's youth is needed throughout our schools. I'm afraid the ills of society have made a tremendous impact in our ability to educate to the full potential of each and every child.
618.	10/26/2008 11:47:00 PM	Higher standards. The children need to have more technical skill to compete in the world market. There are issues that are avoided in schools, such as the Pebble mine, becaus they are controversial with the parents. I think that in order to be prepared for the future the students have to be informed. We can't just " stick our heads in the sand."
619.	10/27/2008 12:17:00 AM	More funding
620.	10/27/2008 1:01:00 AM	My son like so many others is a special needs student. He works hard in class, is never a behavior problem, loves school and is a great kid. He tries his best, but there is no way he will pass his qualifying exam. He comes from a loving and supportive family with both parents employed as educators. He will grow up responsible, civic minded and a good person, yet he won't get his High School Diploma because he won't pass the writing test. Will he be productive perhaps even more so than someone who passes the test. Be flexible and use some other criteria for those studnets who are not only good people, but try theri best to be rewarded for thier efforts. The certificate of attendance is a joke and an insult.
621.	10/27/2008 1:03:00 AM	Forward funding of education is essential as is the commitment by the state to financially support the schools in rural Alaska. Everyone ses the cost differentials but unfortunately too many of our leaders are out for their parocial interests.
622.	10/27/2008 1:17:00 AM	Create more variety of educational programs/schools for students.
623.	10/27/2008 1:20:00 AM	Educators who work with Alaska Native children must be trained appropriately--they must knw the history, appropriate methods, how to live in a village.
624.	10/27/2008 1:23:00 AM	More funding for intervention practices. Teachers have so very much to do, with the RTI model coming in, it is like piling more onto their plate with no other resources. Excellent teachers are already doing RTI but there are no resources for the Tier ll step.
625.	10/27/2008 1:33:00 AM	Adequate funding for rural areas
626.	10/27/2008 1:33:00 AM	discipline is a major problem - 2% of the students cause 85% of the problem. These students take away educational opportunities for the AVERAGE student!
627.	10/27/2008 1:34:00 AM	Reverse Molly Hooch Law. Too much money and not enough results in rural Alaska.
628.	10/27/2008 1:47:00 AM	We have federally funded programs for the lowest end student, but no federally funded program for the upper end student. We need to create and fund more programs for the average and upper end students. These students need help to reach their highest potential. These are the future leaders and inventers who will drive our economy. It is sad that we are not truely developing their potential. The average student will be inspired and raised to a higher level by the wave exceptionalism. Please put more money in programs that help the average to above average student
629.	10/27/2008 2:05:00 AM	I THINK THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT SOME KIDS NEED TO BE ON A VOCATIONAL PATH AND NEED TO GET THIS TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOL. I BET A LARGE NUMBER OF AK KIDS NEVER GO TO COLLEGE, BUT IT THEY HAD LEARNED A VOCATION OR IF WE HAD VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AT AN AFFORABLE PRICE WE COULD GET EVERY YOUNG ADULT A JOB IN ALASKA.
630.	10/27/2008 2:07:00 AM	I would love to change the expectations of many parents about their child's education. I feel that many don't realize how their attitude toward school is reflected in their child's educational performance.
631.	10/27/2008 2:28:00 AM	I would create more remedial classes for reading and writing in middle and secondary schools. I would also re-institute penmanship standards for children in the elementary levels. I am concerned that kids in the middle schools do not "fail". When they do reach the secondary level many kids do not understand the need to collect credits by passing course work.
632.	10/27/2008 2:51:00 AM	The number of students in a classroom, especially at the primary grades. This is where they can become adept and successful at learning he basics of reading, writing and math. Thing that they will need for the rest of their life.
633.	10/27/2008 3:28:00 AM	Schools that are dumbing down curriculum so more students can graduate. Lack of cooperation between school leaders.
634.	10/27/2008 3:45:00 AM	Parental accountability...there needs to be a way to hold parents accountable for their students attendance, academic success, and behavior issues beyond the broken system that we currently enforce.
635.	10/27/2008 3:46:00 AM	I would change the certification process. It is becoming more and more frustrating to acquire an ALaskan teaching certificate.
636.	10/27/2008 3:51:00 AM	I want to see higher pay-rates for teachers. I also want more attention on the village schools, where there are few teachers who really care and where the majority of students will take nothing permanent away from their education.
637.	10/27/2008 4:07:00 AM	Woun't happen in my lifetime, but it will when our social system fails and requires hard solutions. That the medirocrity of teacher unions will never reward the truly dedicated educator that makes the difference in a childs success. That educators are forbidden to strike, much as police and firefighters.
638.	10/27/2008 4:34:00 AM	Add public pre-school for all children, more funding, advancement based on achievement rather than age, aides in more classrooms, and smaller class sizes.
639.	10/27/2008 4:53:00 AM	It would really help if more families placed as high a value on education as the professionals who work with students while they are at school. The challenge of educating students for the 21st century is much too great to be managed in the 6 hours per day that students spend at school. Students who come to school with an appreciation for the value of education and put forth a good-faith effort generally meet with great success. They leave our system feeling as though they are very well prepared for the next steps of their life. Unfortunately, a significant portion of students pass through our schools without taking advantage of the great opportunities that are provided. Too often, the gourmet meal that is our challenging curriculum and top notch educators is avoided by uninterested students who are content take a big mac to go.
640.	10/27/2008 5:01:00 AM	Class size is a problem due to the large number of special needs students. We have a significant number of children that are below average in nearly all subjects. When the average child is not being challenged in a typical classroom setting then the classroom is failing every child in that room. The school is not a daycare for parents that have no time for them. We as educators parent and teachers alike need to make a change in how school is viewed by many new parents.
641.	10/27/2008 6:02:00 AM	Forward funding, lower class size, expectations that teachers will be of the highest quality rather than warm bodies who take up space.
642.	10/27/2008 6:20:00 AM	To be proud of what our kids can do and to recognize the things that they cannot.Our kids need help to fix the things they cannot do. The affects of the weather and outside physical education need to be looked at as well. Even children in Alaska should not be exposed to the weather at time. When the weather is to rough for fishermen to be out, then it should be to rough for small children to be in as well.
643.	10/27/2008 6:25:00 AM	I would try and figure a way to have more funding to hire on more teachers to handle classroom sizes. I fear that with so many children and one teacher not all students are able to understand the lessons and or have no one on one time with the instructor. Also, could we intorduce more classes to help with health issues and sex ed. For how many years now... we are the highest for teen obesisty and teen pregnacies?
644.	10/27/2008 6:28:00 AM	Have more vocational schools like KCC or combine High School with Vocational training.
645.	10/27/2008 6:36:00 AM	Expand the Rose Urban Rural program or some other program to foster increased awareness of other cultures. NOLS, Outward Bound, a year working on a project.
646.	10/27/2008 7:07:00 AM	Better, more effective principals; More student centered programs that teach to their needs and character. Less emphasis on age level performance and grades. Standards based grading and growth based assessment
647.	10/27/2008 7:41:00 AM	The focus on no child left behind is robbing children of comprehensive education. need more for gifted kids, more in depth, more parent supports, and more very early childhood.
648.	10/27/2008 8:18:00 AM	not enough penis
649.	10/27/2008 2:24:00 PM	Go back to 8th grade mandatory grade completion. Let the true students continue on. Provide more vocational and practical experience for the students who don''t want the traditional education setting.
650.	10/27/2008 2:48:00 PM	Students should not NEED a post-secondary certificate/degree to enter the job market. We need to expand our vocational and technical training, and reduce our dependency on traditional education goals in reading, writing, and mathematics. These are important, but we need to taylor these skills and hone them in the specific vocational/technical areas the students are interested in.
651.	10/27/2008 3:00:00 PM	Less money spent on SPED.
652.	10/27/2008 3:05:00 PM	I would bring back voc-ed. I would bring back the community college system. Right now we have students walking across the stage who have no business doing so. We are finding any loop holes that will bring graduation rates up and it is hurting society as we have many students getting out of school without the skills or the confidence to be productive members of society. We do well with the high end kids but over the past five years our bell curves have turned into two humped camels and we are not servicing the regular kids as well as we used to.
653.	10/27/2008 3:12:00 PM	We need smaller classes and more parental involvement.
654.	10/27/2008 3:25:00 PM	The HSGQE is too big a test. I would like to see annual year end testing in every grade of high school to better track the students progress similar to the SBAs
655.	10/27/2008 3:31:00 PM	success rate
656.	10/27/2008 3:41:00 PM	Embrace higher standards!
657.	10/27/2008 3:54:00 PM	The high stakes testing that is sucking the life and joy out of our schools. Pay based on test scores is joke that hurts teachers, kids and schools. Please stop testing kids to a detriment.
658.	10/27/2008 3:59:00 PM	I am concerned about the quality of education that my children will receive since we do not have the same pool of highly regarded and qualified teachers applying for teaching positions within the state as we did 20 or even 10 years ago. I would hope that the state reconsiders the retirement program and an increase funding for education. We also need to have smaller high schools where students do not feel lost in the crowd. Also, there is a huge need for pre-K education since many families now have and need two incomes to survive - so many of the skills that would have been taught at home are not being taught because of time. Pre-K education would help address those issues.
659.	10/27/2008 4:01:00 PM	Academic standards need to be improved and the drop out age needs to be 18 years of age. Courts need to be involved if students are constantly absent and Home Schooled students need more accountability.
660.	10/27/2008 4:10:00 PM	More pressure on the judicial system to enforce compulsory attendance laws on parents.
661.	10/27/2008 4:16:00 PM	Allow more money to be allotted for CTE.
662.	10/27/2008 4:16:00 PM	The cost for students to participate in extracurricular activities: fees and travel costs mainly.
663.	10/27/2008 4:31:00 PM	Find a way to reach every child at their level (high, medium and low). Stop thinking there is ONE best way to teach a particular subject. Kids all learn differently. The best teachers ignore the fads and teach many ways at once. I have been in this system for long enough to see fads come and go and come again, so get out of that cycle! Make school meaningful for EACH student; give him/her a reason to be there. This may mean taking a few weeks to really did into what makes that student tick, but it will be better than trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
664.	10/27/2008 4:48:00 PM	Look at national standards so students around the U.S. are held to the same standards. All Alaskan need to meet a high standard. Tax payers are paying a lot of money to see that all students are prepared for the the 21st Century.
665.	10/27/2008 4:52:00 PM	I would move from an agrarian-based calendar to one that better supports and holds up our student, faculty and community demographic. We need vacations and breaks at different times than "the rest of the world" because our year is structured very differently than the schools upon which our current model is based. In order for students to receive a public education, I would REQUIRE parental involvement in the school of the child's attendance. In a perfect world, I would also require parents to home school their child for one semester between fifth and eighth grade so that they truly understand how their child's mind processes new academic information. (And in this "crazy" imaginary world, which really COULD exist in a state like Alaska, there would be employment options that would allow parents to afford this semester.) I would eliminate teacher tenure, in exchange for a more rigorous and accurate method of evaluating and retaining a truly professional faculty. (And yes, I am a professional educator. I am not afraid to compete for my job, and defend my ability to perform. However, I also demand the right to expect the same level of performance and professionalism of my colleagues, administration, leadership, parents and students.)
666.	10/27/2008 4:52:00 PM	Increase accountability for parents/guardians. Education should be a team approach involving support and guidance from all of the adult individuals that surround a child. Educators should not be the only ones responsible for raising productive students who contribute to society.
667.	10/27/2008 4:55:00 PM	More funding, more course options for secondary students
668.	10/27/2008 4:56:00 PM	More Native teachers and school board members, more culturally relevant curriculum, more hands-on opportunity for learning traditional skills.
669.	10/27/2008 4:57:00 PM	1. Get rid of the ineffective teachers, and find ways to keep the effective ones!!!!!!!
670.	10/27/2008 4:58:00 PM	I would make academics more challenging.
671.	10/27/2008 5:06:00 PM	More technology, better technology, up-to-date computers.
672.	10/27/2008 5:12:00 PM	Smaller classes + higher quality of teachers statewide. More rural-urban exchanges to help bridge the divide.
673.	10/27/2008 5:12:00 PM	State funded Early Childhood Preschool Programs.
674.	10/27/2008 5:13:00 PM	There are good vocational schools out of the state, but Alaska needs to entice our youth stay here for their training. Our schools need to have national recognition, making it easier for students to get funding.
675.	10/27/2008 5:13:00 PM	I think that four years of social studies should be a graduation requirement for all school districts in Alaska.
676.	10/27/2008 5:14:00 PM	Less emphasis on sports.
677.	10/27/2008 5:17:00 PM	Funding; although the state does fund many small schools in rural Alaska, some of them have been closing and do not have adequate other options to continue with their education. The state should have more options for high school schools away from their home. Mt. Edgecomb should not be the only one that is fully funded. They have limited space.
678.	10/27/2008 5:17:00 PM	More rigorous standards. Our standards are at the bottom of any national comparison study. To be proficient on the SBA or HSGQE test in Alaska is a far cry from scoring proficient on the NAEP or other states' standards based assessments. Shouldn't our standards and cut scores be at least as competative/comparable to South Carolina's standards? Our standards based assessments need to be as rigorous as other state's assessments. It feels dishonest to say our students are proficient when the cut scores are set so low. A student deemed proficient by Alaska would be miles behind in another state and that is discouraging.
679.	10/27/2008 5:18:00 PM	The total lack of accountability for home school parents in both curriculum and meeting state standards. The lack of availability of post secondary and graduate school options in the state. The lack of career, technical and vocational education opportunities for secondary and post high school students. Teacher quality and stability in Bush Alaska.
680.	10/27/2008 5:24:00 PM	More real life experiences being taught to our children. More life skills activities. Not such high numbers of students per classroom. Better teacher/ student ratios.
681.	10/27/2008 5:30:00 PM	Decrease primary grade teacher/ student ratios-especially for first grade!
682.	10/27/2008 5:31:00 PM	I would like to see more creativity in the teaching approaches--to make school not just about learning, but about fun while learning. There are lots of competent people working in the education system in Alaska, but it is still too bureaucratic, with too many barriers. More charter schools!!!
683.	10/27/2008 5:33:00 PM	Funding
684.	10/27/2008 5:41:00 PM	Funding procedures.
685.	10/27/2008 5:41:00 PM	The endless rearranging and restating the progress around testing, and the NCLB acts. We could also do a lot better in defining and simplifying special education regulations.
686.	10/27/2008 5:44:00 PM	I would like to see fully forward-funding for pre-school through k-12. I would like to see low student to teacher ratios in grades pre=k (8:1) through grade 3 (18:1). I believe that children learn best when they feel connected and their ever-growing needs are being met by skilled professional educators.
687.	10/27/2008 5:49:00 PM	What I would like to change is the availability of early childhood educational options and I would support smaller class sizes K-12.
688.	10/27/2008 5:56:00 PM	The expectations are slowly being lowered year by year as more and more pressures are put on teachers to accommodate students who aren't keeping up because of lack of interest, poor attendance and/or pressures to work while still in school.
689.	10/27/2008 5:56:00 PM	I don't like the "No Child Left Behind" thinking or push. I have noticed so many children just being passed from one grade on to the next knowing that that student didn't learn what they should have in the previous grade. I would like to see more trade schooling be in place in Rural Alaska. I realize we don't have the funds, but when I look at our students, I see many who need this training to be successful.
690.	10/27/2008 5:57:00 PM	Nothing.
691.	10/27/2008 5:58:00 PM	There should be more parity between districts in terms of pay, and no penalties if teachers transfer between systems. We shouldn't be discouraging movement between districts within our state- that encourages stagnation. The home school program is a loop hole for students. It's too easy for them to not be held accountable, and public schools and the state have to pay the price!
692.	10/27/2008 6:02:00 PM	To be able to teach to more learning styles instead of just to the mandated testing.
693.	10/27/2008 6:07:00 PM	making sure more students graduate from high school.
694.	10/27/2008 6:09:00 PM	I would change the way the state funds boarding schools. Why does Mount Edgecumbe get state funding and schools like Nenane and Galena boarding schools get the short end of the stick?
695.	10/27/2008 6:15:00 PM	I would like to see policies/dress codes enforced.
696.	10/27/2008 6:20:00 PM	Wean people off entitlement programs that perpetuate victim mentality. Let's get people working toward the American Dream!
697.	10/27/2008 6:21:00 PM	Alaska NEA has too much control.
698.	10/27/2008 6:25:00 PM	I think that Alaska should use the HiPass program and respect all students and TEACH all students. I do not think that currently ALL students receive an education in Alaska. I also do not think that rules or attendance are inforced so if a student is not in school they cannot learn. But teachers need to teach students all subjects and not teach to testing standards.
699.	10/27/2008 6:29:00 PM	Hiring more Alaska Native Teachers to teach our students.
700.	10/27/2008 6:32:00 PM	I don't like the fact a student's success in school is measured by how successful they are on the HSGQE's. I believe we need other avenues for students who can not pass them and we are strongly lacking in supporting special needs student and others who are not academically inclined.
701.	10/27/2008 6:42:00 PM	Many, many more options to college-oriented classes need to be offered to Alaska's students. We tend to have this blind, unsubstantiated belief that all students will attend college after high school. A large number of students are neglected due to this belief.
702.	10/27/2008 6:44:00 PM	NCLB - do away with or drastically change -
703.	10/27/2008 6:53:00 PM	Integrate a coordinated school health program in each school district that is actually a funded mandate. I would also add back consumer and family sciences aka home economics. Many youth and young adults leave school without the basic skills of how to manage their lives i.e., time, resources, home
704.	10/27/2008 6:53:00 PM	Make teachers accountable, some are there because it is a job. They need to work a full 40hrs per week.
705.	10/27/2008 6:54:00 PM	More finanical support for teachers--pay match the cost of living and assistance for continuting college education.
706.	10/27/2008 6:56:00 PM	Tie teacher compensation to results of standardized testing.
707.	10/27/2008 7:06:00 PM	Better Teachers
708.	10/27/2008 7:07:00 PM	Standards based education.
709.	10/27/2008 7:15:00 PM	I would increase funding so that the educational offerings were more than adequate and also equitable throughout all of the state.I would also adopt rigourous standards in all subject areas that would give educators the direction they need to relay to students the information and study habits they need to succeed.
710.	10/27/2008 7:27:00 PM	Higher teacher standards. If there was a way to motivate parents to support their children in all ways for school success. Harsher responses to students with poor attendance records. If they are here they will pass. If they have poor attendance they usually do not pass. Hold parents responsible.
711.	10/27/2008 7:31:00 PM	I would raise academic standards, but not through testing.
712.	10/27/2008 7:32:00 PM	I would have year round school and have school uniforms
713.	10/27/2008 7:32:00 PM	I would get rid of the strict regulations and canned programs that stifle creativity and create apathy amongst the children. I would also like to see apathy gone from many parents.
714.	10/27/2008 7:38:00 PM	replace the exit exam with the Work Keys program. Also look at the funding formula as it relates to rural schools which have much higher costs, less students and more difficulty in recruiting staff.
715.	10/27/2008 7:39:00 PM	I cannot state strongly enought that the HSGQE destroys our students who do not get the diploma for life! Their self esteem goes down, they are the ones who commit suicide as they cannot get jobs, it is a TERRIBLE TRAVISTY!!! Give them a diploma that even notes which HSGQE tests they passed, but give them a diploma!!!
716.	10/27/2008 7:45:00 PM	Allow, support and intice "out of the box" thinking. Definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We need a educational system that is built for the 21st century (versus the current system built for the 19th century).
717.	10/27/2008 7:50:00 PM	Concentrate on the basic. If a child can't read, they can't succeed.
718.	10/27/2008 7:51:00 PM	Funding
719.	10/27/2008 7:56:00 PM	Better pay for staff so they can stay in rural Alaska. Add three & four old funding.
720.	10/27/2008 7:58:00 PM	more support for struggling students and more counseling programs more opportunities for training program certification in high school (ie beauty school, ground school, etc.)
721.	10/27/2008 8:04:00 PM	i would put two full time certified teachers in every elementary classroom. pie in the sky, i know, but i believe it would make a difference. i would make abolish grades and make progress contingent on gaining the skills required, allowing some children to move forward more quickly, others take more time. as soon as mastery is demonstrated the student moves to the next level. i would like to incorporate 'native ways of learning' into the classroom to find ways to make this western industrialist model of learning more relevant to our native population. i feel that all students would benefit, not only natives. native leaders, elders, should be included - should be primary - in developing a model for this.
722.	10/27/2008 8:06:00 PM	Create family centered education initiatives. Value each family as the base from which the student comes.
723.	10/27/2008 8:11:00 PM	The way state funding is distributed. The smaller schools need to have the ability to fund their programs and keep qualified teachers in the bush.
724.	10/27/2008 8:14:00 PM	Cookie cutter fits all mentality. Belief that schools are only obligated to provide minimal progress, rather than maximum development of a child's potential. More parent and community involvement.
725.	10/27/2008 8:22:00 PM	I would work consciously to get more teachers and administrators of color into the system.Oneof the things that I hear from students is Why aren't there more people who look like me? That is necessary if we expect students of color to have a role model and succeed.
726.	10/27/2008 8:25:00 PM	I would like to see better trained teachers. There are too many young teachers who are not as familiar as they should be in their content areas and they are also lacking in the basic skills, such as correctness in writing. They lack a strong work ethic and do not seem to want to work as hard as it takes to be an effective teacher.
727.	10/27/2008 8:33:00 PM	Funding
728.	10/27/2008 8:47:00 PM	The biggest thing I am not happy with about the education in Alaska is the "Phase" system that LKSD is providing for their village students. They dumb down the curriculum and then let the students work at 'their' own pace. This is not how school should be done. There seems to be no real lessons being taught because everyone is at a different place in the phase system. (This is mainly at the high school level.)
729.	10/27/2008 8:49:00 PM	Leadership seems to be lacking. Principals need to be academic leaders who evaluate teachers appropriately and help weed out those who should not be teaching. They need to help with professional development so teachers aren't left out in their own world to waste away intellectually, especially in small schools with only one or two teachers. They need support and growth opportunities.
730.	10/27/2008 8:51:00 PM	More parental involvement. I see more and more kids behaving worse and worse as the years go on. Not only is it disruptive to teachers and classes, it effects my children directly. If parents took a more active role in their child's lives you would see a tremendous raise in grades and graduates. Public school is not just a free daycare.
731.	10/27/2008 8:54:00 PM	all schools should have one system grading them by a grade system, not levelization.
732.	10/27/2008 8:58:00 PM	Clean house and stop making excuses and hire more minority teachers with master degrees. Yes, it will cost you, but it is worth it....
733.	10/27/2008 8:58:00 PM	more support to the families of children in the school systems
734.	10/27/2008 9:01:00 PM	I would fund the local school districts so that we do not have to skimp on our children's educational future. We should not have to make the decision to buy text books or keep the heat on at a reasonable temperature.
735.	10/27/2008 9:02:00 PM	Greater focus on the integration of all aspects of learning and development. Don't rely on social / emotional skills or content areas alone for integrated development. Use explicit interactions and interventions around cognitive development that transend to content areas, social & emotional understanding, self regulation and that promote intrinsic motivation.
736.	10/27/2008 9:10:00 PM	More professional development offered free of charge to teachers.
737.	10/27/2008 9:11:00 PM	More qualified teachers who care about their students actually learning, thinking critically and getting excited about their education; more options for middle schools and high schools; the No Child Left Behind - get rid of it; whining teachers.
738.	10/27/2008 9:10:00 PM	Funding for teachers and programs. Teachers need to be paid more and appreciated so that we can attract and retain good teachers.
739.	10/27/2008 9:11:00 PM	End the Phase System which automatically puts children farther and farther behind. All children should get a diploma if they finish 12 grades, the diplomas should indicate for instance a 1 college level, a 2 jr college level, 3 technical, 4 secretarial, 5 artistic (dance, art, music) ,6 athletic. Everyone isn't an Einstein but everyone has skills which can be a participating part of life and the people around them
740.	10/27/2008 9:12:00 PM	I would start with implementing a standards based model for every school system in the state, then I would offer arts and music to every student (cut back or eliminate some sports), I would also implement a vocational program in every school district and in some regions a Regional High/Vocational School.
741.	10/27/2008 9:13:00 PM	I would like to see all children treated equally regardless of their race or learning abilities. I would like to know that children going to school will never hear prejudical statements out of the mouths of their instructors nor will these teachers make remarks or demonstrate their prejudice in the teacher's lounge or when speaking to other teachers. I would like to have bush teachers paid and coveted enough so that only the best work in the bush. Best is not a test score it is excitement and willingness to put in whatever amount of time it takes to develop individualized programs so that students can't wait to get to school each morning.
742.	10/27/2008 9:14:00 PM	More parental support
743.	10/27/2008 9:16:00 PM	When there is a concern for progress toward a IEP goal that there is a stronger intervention to reach goal instead of the goal being lowered or the time extended.
744.	10/27/2008 9:18:00 PM	nothing
745.	10/27/2008 9:18:00 PM	respect for parents and youth rather than just telling them what will be provided for them,
746.	10/27/2008 9:19:00 PM	Teacher qualifications should be carefully reviewed and the tenure system not inclusive to keep bad teachers.
747.	10/27/2008 9:22:00 PM	having more choices to choose from after high school.
748.	10/27/2008 9:22:00 PM	That they shouls also teach behavioral lessons for the students because there are some students that are rude to teachers and to their fellow students.
749.	10/27/2008 9:22:00 PM	Need to have more teachers who teaches education.
750.	10/27/2008 9:23:00 PM	i don't know
751.	10/27/2008 9:28:00 PM	I think our students would really benefit from a year-round schedule. If we broke the school year up in quarters of 9 on and 3 off and a 6 week summer break we would have many more options for teaching and learning.
752.	10/27/2008 9:28:00 PM	Funding to support the mandates to improve test scores. Accountability can be positive if there is a means to providing the support to schools and students that are struggling.
753.	10/27/2008 9:30:00 PM	Have some better teachers who would know how to teach and who know what they are doing.
754.	10/27/2008 9:32:00 PM	Parents need to be held accountable for their child's progress in school.
755.	10/27/2008 9:35:00 PM	The State of Alaska needs to make sure that schools are funded properly to meet every need out there for these schools. For everyone that is tied into the education of the schools
756.	10/27/2008 9:38:00 PM	The teachers.
757.	10/27/2008 9:44:00 PM	The system is time it is full of inequities. We have far too many people in the system who do not engage with students. Put more people in the classrooms, less in offices. Do a better job of preparing college students to be teachers. Classroom management skills are totally neglected and there is little reality behind the approach of the university and the reality of the classroom. Students should do a one year internship as a fifth year and be paid a nominal wage for it. They should experience different levels and also special education.
758.	10/27/2008 9:50:00 PM	I would stop giving dividends to Alaskan students who drop out of school. I also would have students removed who are disruptive or unproductive. If the state must intervene in any financial way, I would like to see the dividend be forfieted for the parents of the students and for the students, too.
759.	10/27/2008 9:54:00 PM	Increase options for preschool opportunities for all children. Adequate funding for school success. Increase family involvement in schools.
760.	10/27/2008 10:02:00 PM	That we not have to teach to the test but to students who have individual interest and goals that will lead them to their most successful place.
761.	10/27/2008 10:02:00 PM	Make parents responsible and reliable for their childrens education.
762.	10/27/2008 10:19:00 PM	More district support for teacher training
763.	10/27/2008 10:31:00 PM	The dictate in the NCLB requirement that all children will reach proficiency by 2013. It's unrealistic, unfunded, and sets the bar too high.
764.	10/27/2008 10:32:00 PM	Educational/Teacher support in the community is lacking--funding is always an issue--from salaries to facility improvements.
765.	10/27/2008 10:34:00 PM	more $$$
766.	10/27/2008 10:39:00 PM	Reverse trend toward large high schools and return to smaller schools that empower more teens to be successful.
767.	10/27/2008 10:40:00 PM	Get rid of Tenure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of Tenure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of Tenure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of Tenure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would also look at SE Alaska schools and put them in districts where their is a good cultural match/
768.	10/27/2008 10:49:00 PM	Give back teaching time to the classroom. One on one - teacher/student. Make the number of teachers per school equal to the number of students. Sometime too big of a class for a single teacher to teach. Implement local cultural techniques to help develop a child if need be.
769.	10/27/2008 11:08:00 PM	I would like to see smaller schools where students and teachers have relationships.
770.	10/27/2008 11:17:00 PM	eliminate resource rooms--all middle and high school students with LD should be mainstreamed. The police should never be called to deal with the behavior of a child K-3. We need a behavior intervention model on the Kenai Peninsula.
771.	10/27/2008 11:17:00 PM	Our standards are low compared to other states. We are graduating students in this state that do not have the skills to compete with their peers from other states or other schools within this state.
772.	10/27/2008 11:37:00 PM	I would like to see less emphasis on NCLB and more emphasis on improvement in student growth and development.
773.	10/27/2008 11:37:00 PM	I would have physical education be a part of every child's day, K-6.
774.	10/28/2008 12:03:00 AM	Less paraprefessionals in the school building and more teachers so that class sizes can be smaller and more personal.
775.	10/28/2008 12:10:00 AM	A stricter policy on evaluations of educators. Too many come through and are given "good" evaluations , no matter what. So therefore, many educators are "written off" as okay, even if they are not. Poor educators cannot benefit our kids, period!!
776.	10/28/2008 12:42:00 AM	I would replace most superintendent – they have lost touch with what is really going on in the schools. They expound on how good they are doing with graduations – yet many students are just passed through the system to keep the number up for the Feds.
777.	10/28/2008 12:46:00 AM	Teacher turn over in our villages is terrible. It seems like we are constantly reinventing the wheel at the beginning of each school year. We need better ways to track student progress in a way that incoming teachers recognize the milestones our children have already accomplished.
778.	10/28/2008 1:28:00 AM	i wish there were more teachers who wanted to be there to teach because they love it than those who just want a job that pays money.
779.	10/28/2008 1:32:00 AM	I would change the math program in the district I am in. I would also change the class sizes, they are to large. The last thing I would change is the funding for afterschool programs. Even if a school is meeting AYP, I think that they too should have the chance to have an Afterschool program as well.
780.	10/28/2008 1:55:00 AM	Increase standards for teachers before tenure is applied.
781.	10/28/2008 2:36:00 AM	I would encourage more parental involvement in Alaska. I would hope that families would see the need for attending school, show interest in their son or daughter's school progress, read with their children, place their student's education as a priority and praise their children whenever appropriate and possible.
782.	10/28/2008 3:01:00 AM	I'm tired of hearing Carol Comeau blaming the poor performance of Alaska students, on the students and parents, rural students coming in, Anchorage's diverse language population, Alaska being different than other states, It's such a bunch of crap and so transparent. The Anchorage School District needs to be more accountable and have more oversight. The school board is weak and does not challenge ASD.
783.	10/28/2008 3:01:00 AM	Would like to see smaller classes and more parent participation.
784.	10/28/2008 3:18:00 AM	Too many cure-all programs that cost too much. Teachers can teach what they know and should be allowed to teach in their own manner to suit the students they are instructing. Even in one locality this manner may need to be altered to suit different incoming students. Different aspirations, different family backgrounds may different learning skills for the students. A skilled teacher can adapt to these changes and is hampered by too many standard-based rules and methods.
785.	10/28/2008 3:25:00 AM	I wish children could repeat a grade level SBA until they achieve proficiency without having to be retained in school.
786.	10/28/2008 3:29:00 AM	invest more money in educating our students and provide quality programs, teachers, and rigorous standards with adequate ancillory support to succeed
787.	10/28/2008 4:04:00 AM	Truancy- need follow through with consequences. Too much testing- teachers are now testing weekly for progress. With all that testing when are they teaching? SPED oversight- too controlling by not allowing districts to make some changes that are better for them... (using minutes per month vs mins per week). AYP- not realistic to think that ALL students will be at grade level by date certain- not all of our students have average intelligence. Limiting exceptions to 1% is unrealistic.
788.	10/28/2008 4:15:00 AM	Fewer standardized tests. More teacher training, higher teacher salaries, and an atmosphere that encourages teachers to help produce well rounded graduates.
789.	10/28/2008 4:51:00 AM	There needs to be more flexibility and understanding for kids who just don't fit into the mainstream. There also needs to be more of a focus on preparation for adulthood - functioning in the workplace, going on to higher education, and also basic independent living skills.
790.	10/28/2008 5:25:00 AM	The support for special education. Funding that reflects the need of the child. You cannot teach the hard kids if you do not have the materials to teach them.
791.	10/28/2008 5:27:00 AM	We need more on hands help with obtaining scholarships for college and vocational educational funding. The funding is there, but our students do not know their options.
792.	10/28/2008 5:33:00 AM	special education laws and administrators
793.	10/28/2008 5:43:00 AM	I would recognize innovative teachers and administrators and make technology more readily available to students who have physical challenges to meeting the workload. I would have more "listening meetings" for parents of Special Ed students, similar to what was held three or four years ago.
794.	10/28/2008 6:03:00 AM	More opportunities for extended learning opportunities for children in all grades, whether they're "qualified" or not. Children will often rise to the challenge if they are given it. I would provide more "real life" situations in education where children see the relevance of what they are being taught. I would provide more apprenticeship programs and information about careers and the training/education needed to achieve different career goals.
795.	10/28/2008 7:09:00 AM	I would revisit the attempt to "standardize" schools across the state and would, instead, help students become who and what they are interested in becoming.
796.	10/28/2008 7:30:00 AM	Teacher supports, not just money, but resources, training, and backing. Less focus on scores, more focus on the child.
797.	10/28/2008 7:35:00 AM	No child left behind does NOT work! The teachers and students are forced to focus on the testing NOT on real place based relevant learning!!! Keep village school systems strong for ALL grades!!!
798.	10/28/2008 9:39:00 AM	Improve the high school graduation rate by meeting the needs of Alaskan students by meeting THEM where they are. Create Individualized Learning Profiles for every student. Better training of teachers to recognize learning differences and disabilities. I have found teachers far too ignorant of and uninformed about learning issues such as: phonemic awareness disorder, written output disorders, even ADD/ADHD. Our future cannot afford this lack of awareness. Our schools & districts have TOO many administrators and not enough teachers & aides.
799.	10/28/2008 1:32:00 PM	More Native teachers in general subjects or subjects that are not Native-specific
800.	10/28/2008 3:20:00 PM	NA
801.	10/28/2008 3:27:00 PM	Get the riff raff out of the schools. There should be penalties for kids who choose to compromise the learning environment.
802.	10/28/2008 3:37:00 PM	More attention needs to be paid to students who are not academically inclined.
803.	10/28/2008 3:41:00 PM	Recently I talked with a young UAA education graduate and asked her if she would consider teaching in Seward. "No way," She replied, "That's the bush." She must have seen the stunned look on my face as I have built a log cabin on the Yukon River and lived seven years the NW Arctic 200 miles from a road. It turns out she was applying for a job in Las Vegas as were 24 of her fellow UA graduates. I was stunned. Three times I asked her how many of her UA classmates wanted to go to Nevada and three times she replied 24. So I asked her why? "Better pay, better benefits, they give you a signing bonus and help you buy a house." Wake up Alaska. Can you tell me what percentage of UA education graduates stay in the state?
804.	10/28/2008 3:46:00 PM	It should not be so difficult for teachers to come to Alaska. I don't see what is being accomplished by all of this hoop-jumping. Higher teacher quality and accountability is a definite standard that we want, but we also have to make sure our state education department works with these individuals who come here so that they have a positive and enriching experience.
805.	10/28/2008 4:14:00 PM	Support for more early childhood eduaction, and re-establish vocational/technical training in secondary schools.
806.	10/28/2008 4:35:00 PM	Standardized testing ... make it more relevant to life here, especially in the villages.
807.	10/28/2008 4:37:00 PM	Get rid of NCLB. Hold students back who aren't able to perform grade-level work until they can. Give teachers extra aides in classrooms with high numbers of high-maintenance or behavior-problem children. Provide programs for advanced or gifted children. Have PE every day due to the high rate of diabetes in children, and it would also allow behavior-problem kids work out some energy so they could focus in class. Teach social studies and/or history to elementary kids.
808.	10/28/2008 4:43:00 PM	I would like to see more acceptance and regulations put on parents towards their child's education. I believe that attendance falls under the parent's responsibility and when enforcement is not able to be effective that utimately the children suffer due to the lack of concern on parents, at all levels of education. I also understand that their are families that have two parents that must work outside the home and therefore the parent involvement is harder to have due to meeting financial responsibilities.
809.	10/28/2008 4:44:00 PM	More teacher accountibility and teacher pay insentives
810.	10/28/2008 4:44:00 PM	Abolish the Quality Schools Model and Levelized Instruction, (standards based education) and revert to the carnegie system.
811.	10/28/2008 5:01:00 PM	Teacher Pay and benefits (retirement)
812.	10/28/2008 5:02:00 PM	I would like more technology and humanity programs.
813.	10/28/2008 5:02:00 PM	Offer more choices for everyday life in careers that do not require a college education or a mastersdegree.
814.	10/28/2008 5:02:00 PM	I would change the qualifications for administrators - they need to have more classroom experience.
815.	10/28/2008 5:02:00 PM	quality of education for all students is not available (ie: school facilities, quality teachers, class size, etc.)
816.	10/28/2008 5:03:00 PM	I have not been to enough schools in Alaska to tell.
817.	10/28/2008 5:03:00 PM	The lack of prep given to students for success outside of high school, as well as the early childhood education options improved.
818.	10/28/2008 5:04:00 PM	Making students more competitive on a national level
819.	10/28/2008 5:04:00 PM	Union affiliations hamper the provision of quality education. Educators must be willing to go beyond the call of duty.
820.	10/28/2008 5:04:00 PM	Class sizes are too large in Anchorage. Schools are built to warehouse too many students. They should be smaller learning communities. Math standards are too low. Anchorage does not require enough Math.
821.	10/28/2008 5:05:00 PM	Would like to see the funding formula for school districts changed so it is more equitable for rural school districts.
822.	10/28/2008 5:06:00 PM	I would change the high stakes testing as the major indicator of a student's success as well as the district.
823.	10/28/2008 5:06:00 PM	Funding shouldn't be such an issue.
824.	10/28/2008 5:06:00 PM	More adequate funding.
825.	10/28/2008 5:09:00 PM	more help and support to the rural sites
826.	10/28/2008 5:10:00 PM	Financial support in all areas of teaching. More support for 1st-2nd yr. teachers. K-12 and post secondary connection in curriculum.
827.	10/28/2008 5:10:00 PM	The pay that the educators receive.
828.	10/28/2008 5:12:00 PM	Increase the funding to support our educational system. Change the retirement for our new teachers and PERS people.
829.	10/28/2008 5:15:00 PM	The funding to do different programs that incorporate both parents and teachers. Allow for more programs that give students the viewpoint/experience to oversee different avenues for a career that they enjoy.
830.	10/28/2008 5:15:00 PM	More vocational educational opportunities beginning as early as middle school. I also feel there should be a national push to eliminate high stakes testing.
831.	10/28/2008 5:15:00 PM	The lack of uniformity. It seems that most schools do things on their own, if we did it together then you would not be needing to reinvent all the time.
832.	10/28/2008 5:17:00 PM	More Native teachers who understand the life and understand how we view education culturally. Offering an alternative like an immersion program where students learn their indigenous language and culture. For legislation to understand, when a child is being immersed in learning their language, they shouldn't be expected to take part in high-stakes testing which is given in English, and most importantly, culturally irrelevant and biased.
833.	10/28/2008 5:20:00 PM	Lack of discipline with students in middle and high school. Low to minimal motivation levels of students in middle and high school. Lack of direction with students in concern of post secondary options. Lack of vocational direction with students who are not considering college as an option. Transition from high school to real world is a big concern. Many students give an initial effort in college but return after the first year to "hang out" in town. We have not had a student successfully graduate from a four year university in many years. Although our curriculum is designed to "pretend" that most of our students are college bound. I would redesign curriculum to track students to help prepare them for real world post secondary transition. High school education in our town is not real or practical. It is not aligned with the real needs of our students. Most of our students have no direction or idea as to why they are in school.
834.	10/28/2008 5:23:00 PM	I wish educators would take seriously the problems kids face in education. If they see that a child is struggling, don't just shrug it off as the kid's lazy or depressed, get them tested EARLY (elementary school) so that the trend does not lead to high drop out rates by the time that student gets to high school. This happened with my son...we, as parents knew he was struggling, we did everything we could to help him, but the teachers did not test him early enough to help him through high school, so he dropped out feeling like a failure. He was tested (finally after we insisted) in high school and it was too late to address learning problems in order for him to graduate.
835.	10/28/2008 5:25:00 PM	More funding. Why is education not more important to the U.S. at large?
836.	10/28/2008 5:33:00 PM	Lack of in-depth, seminar type classes where students have to think rather than just deliver rote learning.
837.	10/28/2008 5:43:00 PM	We really don't have a lot for early childhood options, particularly those that involve parents. If we want children to succeed in the later grades, then we need to start at home with the parents. I would love to see funding for home visiting programs such as Parents as Teachers that have been shown to have long term outcomes.
838.	10/28/2008 5:46:00 PM	Full and Forward funding all the time.
839.	10/28/2008 5:46:00 PM	Close the campuses during the school day. Set higher standards for instructor presence. Establish some acceptable dress codes. Get rid of the cell phones.
840.	10/28/2008 5:47:00 PM	This is more of a national concern--I think that No Child Left Behind has unreasonable expectations. When schools don't meet standards because of students who have IEPs or do not use English as their primary language, I have concerns about the reasonableness of the pressures that are placed on our schools.
841.	10/28/2008 5:48:00 PM	Large school dynamics/ overcrowding/ loss of individualism.
842.	10/28/2008 5:49:00 PM	Funding. More funding would allow us to reduce class sizes and attend to the graduation and drop out issues.
843.	10/28/2008 5:50:00 PM	The base student funding needs to be increased.
844.	10/28/2008 5:52:00 PM	As an educator, it would be helpful to be able to move from one district to another without penalty in terms of placement on the salary scale.
845.	10/28/2008 5:53:00 PM	Less emphasis (the should be none) on language immersion programs at the elementary levels. Education at the elementary level needs to FOCUS on the core materials for success at the secondary levels.
846.	10/28/2008 6:13:00 PM	Make it focused on preparing students for employment whether higher education is in their future or not.
847.	10/28/2008 6:15:00 PM	Have more options for students to enter optional programs mid-year. Offer smaller classroom size, and stable teacher aides. Begin Special Education in the first semester. Does it really take one quarter to settle in, one quarter to observe, one quarter to test, only to begin assisting students in the 4th quarter of the year?
848.	10/28/2008 6:21:00 PM	Make it more rigorous and competitive. Getting kids to graduate, especially in rural areas is difficult. Coming from rural Alaska myself, I understand the implications that this means for the future of the rural community, as many students in rural areas end up living in their community or another rural community-if they don't graduate from college.
849.	10/28/2008 6:22:00 PM	I would like to see the demands go down or stay the same while money is being pulled from education. You cannot keep increasing the demand and lowering the help that is given.
850.	10/28/2008 6:31:00 PM	Dumming down of tests like HSGQE in the past.
851.	10/28/2008 6:31:00 PM	Offer a semester on true Alaska History, people, and cultures on the State of Alaska. Not many students even know the state they live in let alone the city or town. Offer more than one Alaska Native Language in the urban districts, there are people who can teach their Native language.
852.	10/28/2008 6:33:00 PM	Uncertain.
853.	10/28/2008 6:33:00 PM	I would change the ratio of students to teachers dramatically. This would give teachers and students greater opportunity to maximize the precious years of youth for academic, cultural, physical, social and emotional development. Less time spent on managing large groups and more on individual learning and inspiration. I would include strong programs in "asset building" across the state.
854.	10/28/2008 6:40:00 PM	Improved funding especially for mid size districts. Smaller class sizes.
855.	10/28/2008 6:42:00 PM	Funding of course. I think it is a shame that urban schools can continue to provide music, art, sports- extra-curricular activities and rural schools are struggling to maintain basic athletic teams and don't have a band program.
856.	10/28/2008 6:43:00 PM	Vocational awareness beginning in middle school - perhaps an interim between semesters to explore different careers.
857.	10/28/2008 6:46:00 PM	more practical education; life skills; voc ed
858.	10/28/2008 6:48:00 PM	1) increase pay for teachers and teacher assistants to draw more highly qualified teachers back to Alaska and to the field of teaching. 2) increase teacher and teacher assistant pay in order to draw more qualified special education educators 3) increase support and programs that help FAS/ARND students, being that Alaska has such a high rate of alcoholism and these students learn so differently - need to implement effective adaptations for their learning and have qualified staff that can do so. 4) The Diversity of the population in Alaska, esp in Anchorage, requires more support in the ESL field than is in place. Tutors doing the teaching and ESL teachers monitoring is not cutting it. I am also ESL certified and would have loved to work in this field, but the case load is ludicrous for the ESL teacher in the ASD. I think the whole ESL program needs to be restructured, which would entail research on programs in the country that ARE successful, increasing funds to support the best program out there and implementing it. This would be a start.
859.	10/28/2008 6:53:00 PM	the amount of info taught each year in science...too much too fast for middle school
860.	10/28/2008 6:56:00 PM	I would get rid of Everyday Math programs in Anchorage elementary schools. I would also like to see different education opportunities for students who don't plan to go to college.
861.	10/28/2008 7:01:00 PM	1) I would like the state to give early childhood programs that have proven to be effective, in keeping kids in school, expanded resources. We need more effective, progressive early childhood programs for rural & urban areas. 2) The state should pay for voc-tech or university education for all graduates that choose to reside here -- we need to establish and improve upon existing post-secondary options for rural and urban Alaskans.
862.	10/28/2008 7:01:00 PM	Lower tuition for Alaska residents.
863.	10/28/2008 7:17:00 PM	I would like to see higher standards. It is nearly impossible to expect students to do well given the lack of qualified teachers, sub standard facilities and massive behavioral issues. If these barriers could be addressed, it would allow the state as a whole to increase educational standards.
864.	10/28/2008 7:20:00 PM	I would get rid of folks who are in teaching for all the wrong reasons. Specifically, Anchorage Sped. It is dysfuncional, and only serves to destroy our children with special needs. They ignore (do not return phone calls), do not show up for IEP's, provide wrong direction and just plain do not care.
865.	10/28/2008 7:20:00 PM	Class sizes are too large, at the high school level and some middle school level, teachers are in the classroom but are not teaching the students. This is not true of all teachers, there are alot of them out there that are there for the right reason, maybe they need to have surprise visits periodically to see what is really going on in the classroom
866.	10/28/2008 7:22:00 PM	More support for rural school being over seen by urban school districts.
867.	10/28/2008 7:22:00 PM	We have a phenomenal amount of money that COULD be used towards education, but it is not. I would make it a priority to reduce class sizes and provided materials to teachers.
868.	10/28/2008 7:28:00 PM	I would provide more funding for early education programs.
869.	10/28/2008 7:28:00 PM	No Child left behind needs reforming
870.	10/28/2008 7:30:00 PM	I would like to see more state and federal programs to bring teachers to rural Alaska to stay for 5 years or more
871.	10/28/2008 7:33:00 PM	Better funding.
872.	10/28/2008 7:36:00 PM	Some of the school districts are too "top heavy." There is too much management who make work for themselves and call numerous meetings but really don't know what goes on in the classrooms! That is where the money should be focused--on the front lines--the classrooms.
873.	10/28/2008 7:40:00 PM	Class size needs to change. Ratios should not be figured to all teachers and specialists/ pupil, but actual teacher/student ratio in regular educational classrooms.
874.	10/28/2008 7:42:00 PM	We really need to include home visiting programs such as Parents as Teachers in the state system of education. Ample research and follow-up studies have been done to prove home visiting programs like PAT with children from birth to Kindergarten entry not only boosts brain development, it involves parents in kids' learning from the very beginning. The home visiting should not have to depend upon grants (such as Sen. Stevens' grants) for funding, state money should be available.
875.	10/28/2008 7:43:00 PM	I would like to see us withdraw from NCLB refuse Federal Aid, use our incredible wealth to design a school system that meets our needs not Washington DC's.
876.	10/28/2008 7:48:00 PM	Making sure that students actually have grade level appropriate skills before moving them forward. Allowing a child to fail most or all classes and be automatically put in the next grade is a disservice to the child, the family, the teacher and the community. Respect would be required at all age levels in all classes - a dream, but one I have.
877.	10/28/2008 7:50:00 PM	Raise the standards and level of expectation. The High School Qualifiying exam isn't very meaningful when a average student can pass it, without effort, as a Sophmore. Fire non-performing teachers and pay performing teachers more. There are some truely horrible high school teachers that year after year are passed along. These teachers ruin kids. That's not acceptable.
878.	10/28/2008 7:54:00 PM	I would take away tenure. Most of our teachers are great, but there are a few that I would rather home school my children than subject my children to because they(the teachers) lack the skill to be a teacher. A degree doesn't make you good as a teacher and parents are ignored when they have a complaint. I think if you have more than a few parents complaining, you may have a problem
879.	10/28/2008 7:56:00 PM	Alaska recently legislated madatory chx pox vaccines. Chicken Pox is NOT a public health issue. This state is stepping over its bound in legislating what should be parental decisions. It is a dangerous precident to set and we should be screaming our heads off about it.
880.	10/28/2008 7:57:00 PM	It is clear that educational leadership is lacking. We must have clear expectations for all school administrators. School administrators are charged with moving educational communities toward academic achievement growth. They must be given sufficient resources and training.
881.	10/28/2008 8:16:00 PM	The teacher to student ratio. The atmosphere needs to be more personalized.
882.	10/28/2008 8:22:00 PM	More teaching the curriculum and not be focused on the testing from ACFA and AIMSWEB, those are good tools for teachers, but shouldn't be the main focus of education.
883.	10/28/2008 8:38:00 PM	This box is not big enough. There are far too many students in classrooms. There is very little dialouge between parents and teachers, Teachers are overworked. Students are passed on in some cases when they should not be. Students do not feel like they are part of a community at school. There is not enough Alaska Native History taught in schools. Staff/Teachers have negative attitudes and students pick up on this. Communication and Respect are huge. I feel that there needs to be communication between families and the schools and I feel that the students need to respect the teachers and in turn the teachers should do the same. I was very suprised to hear stories my daughter tells me about the way that some teachers talk to students in her classes. Some teachers are not very good role models
884.	10/28/2008 8:42:00 PM	Not all students are college bound, yet we teach that way. We NEED to have 'vo-tech' emphasis in K-6th, middle school NOT just when they reach high school. By then many of those students who may have thrived in this style of learning have dropped out.
885.	10/28/2008 8:44:00 PM	The highly qualified standards of rural teachers having to make video tapes of thier classroom lessons and taking classes along with a degree. All teachers should have to meet the SAME requirements throughout the whole state.
886.	10/28/2008 8:49:00 PM	In some instances, I would like to see curricula which is more relevant and which reaches a higher interest level in content and methods of delivery.
887.	10/28/2008 8:53:00 PM	We need to establish a basic level for facilities, educations, materials, technology, and teachers that every school should have. Every student in the State needs to have equal opportunities to learn, and based off of this funding should be tied to need, not the ability of lobbyists to sway legislatiors. Communities such as Anchorage should be forced to implement a sales tax of such to pay for this, because they can compared to the situation in many rural communities where there is not the base to raise capital in that way.
888.	10/28/2008 9:02:00 PM	im not sure
889.	10/28/2008 9:02:00 PM	cut back on work load
890.	10/28/2008 9:23:00 PM	I would dispose of the large number of educational bureaucrats who meddle in the affairs of actual educators and set ridiculous policies based on baseless educational fads and political alignments.
891.	10/28/2008 9:24:00 PM	Make language development a part of all subjects.
892.	10/28/2008 9:29:00 PM	Definite need for vocational / career to reach out to all Alaska students, some areas are severely lacking; more accountability of schools in schools re: attendance, policy, discipline, academic results, etc.
893.	10/28/2008 9:31:00 PM	I would require individual learning plans with clear, accessible learning goals for each student. I would also reward hard work and good grades with scholarships to accredited AK post-secondary.
894.	10/28/2008 9:41:00 PM	Using technology to expand education offerings for rural and/or small schools.
895.	10/28/2008 9:47:00 PM	I would ask policy makers/parents/teachers to actively listen students where they want to go with THEIR education and help them to make it work. Public Schools:In every age group, I would ask the learning community of parents, teachers and students to undergo a peaceable communities program. When there is common language (early and later) about how to respect one another with every interaction, students hearts will be open to enjoy learning far more than ever imaginable. Teachers would be taught how to celebrate different backgrounds and integrate different learners and cultures into their curriculum. I would work to form more partnerships in support of the child: Students/parents/teachers, home schoolers/public schools, all learners/potential future work places, all learners/trade schools, rural schoolers/urban schoolers
896.	10/28/2008 9:51:00 PM	more teacher support for teachers in areas in reading,math,and writing more help for the students that are not in Sped but are not performing at proficiency 6th graders in the junior high level or* 8th graders no in the junior high level smaller class size
897.	10/28/2008 10:01:00 PM	Less focus on administration and all incurring costs that go with administration. Allow more control, input and program development to be done by those who are directly affected - the classroom support and educators.
898.	10/28/2008 10:05:00 PM	I would make parents more accountable for their childrens' attendance, behavior, study habits, and effort in school. Education starts in the home, but too many parents leave it all to the schools.
899.	10/28/2008 10:07:00 PM	More alternative programs for students who don't fit into the standard educational system.
900.	10/28/2008 10:14:00 PM	I would hold students to higher standards in education.
901.	10/28/2008 10:15:00 PM	I grew up in this school district facing prejudice in the school and it sounds to me that, that issue has not changed in over 25 years. It's time to make a change since we live in a society with such a diversity in cultures and beliefs. I'm not talking about tolerance but a real understanding and respect for other cultures and beliefs.
902.	10/28/2008 10:30:00 PM	stronger village schools; viable alternative schools
903.	10/28/2008 10:34:00 PM	Fewer mandates from the state school board that don't server our needs.
904.	10/28/2008 10:37:00 PM	See # 11.
905.	10/28/2008 10:39:00 PM	Smaller Ratios and more one on one teaching to special needs children
906.	10/28/2008 10:47:00 PM	I would make culturally relevant education and place-based education as natural as any other school program--math, science, language arts, history, etc.
907.	10/28/2008 10:49:00 PM	That rural schools get the education that big schools get and the funding as well.
908.	10/28/2008 11:04:00 PM	More funding for professional development of all staff.
909.	10/28/2008 11:11:00 PM	1. Better funding 2. Focus on education rather than passing exams and the graduation rate 3. Giving kids vision for what they can be as adults
910.	10/28/2008 11:23:00 PM	Flexibilty.
911.	10/28/2008 11:24:00 PM	Currentlly, class size is a big issue. My 4th grader is in a class with 30 children and she is frustrated by the noise and behavior problems. I think in a state as rich Alaska this is unexceptable. I also think that teachers should be better compensated for the work that they do and valued by the community.
912.	10/28/2008 11:30:00 PM	I would place more emphasis on career and vocational goals beginning in Kindergarten.
913.	10/28/2008 11:36:00 PM	I would increase the emphasis on vocational training.
914.	10/28/2008 11:38:00 PM	I would provide preschool choices for every child in Alaska.
915.	10/28/2008 11:39:00 PM	I would only hire teachers that have a passion for the success of the children that pass through their classroom.
916.	10/28/2008 11:51:00 PM	Interruptive student behavior should be addressed as early as kindergarten, waiting until middle school to deal with habits that have been developing for as long as the students are in school only adds to the dropout rate.
917.	10/28/2008 11:55:00 PM	Significantly increase the application of Native Alaskan culturally releveant materials and approaches
918.	10/28/2008 11:58:00 PM	More rigorous and competitive programs for college bound students, and more technical schooling to prepare other students for employment without a college education. In this melting pot of ethnic backgrounds, we should not treat all students as though they are "college bound", but we do need to teach them to be respectful of others and to be productive and responsible citizens. We need to be aware of the differences in backgrounds and learning styles, and offer more options--with the same expectations of what a good citizen is.
919.	10/29/2008 12:06:00 AM	To identify and address the specific schools that have a lack of parental/family involvement. This must be improved in order for us to be more successful.
920.	10/29/2008 12:11:00 AM	The State should give more money to schools!
921.	10/29/2008 12:25:00 AM	Far too many "pet programs". Expand the programs known to work well (such as ABC schools)!
922.	10/29/2008 12:28:00 AM	Make four year old programs available in schools.
923.	10/29/2008 12:32:00 AM	Choice! Parents need to have a choice for what best helps their children. As Carol stated on TV this year we parents don't have a say so. I have a child in a private school who last year was supposed to be 7th grade reading at a 2nd grade level. I didn't have a choice and the financial hardship continues to break me a widowed parent down daily.
924.	10/29/2008 12:40:00 AM	More financial support from the State of Alaska. I voted many years ago for the Permanent Fund, and was promised that it would be used to educate my grandchildren. I am still waiting.
925.	10/29/2008 12:42:00 AM	Get rid of NCLB and focus on what best serves Alaskan students. Eliminate unfunded mandates. Clearly define early childhood expectations (K is not mandatory, put a preschool in every building to serve all kids, not just special needs, etc.)
926.	10/29/2008 12:48:00 AM	I would create more opportunities at all levels for Alaska Natives to work in schools especially in urban areas.
927.	10/29/2008 12:56:00 AM	More equitable funding.
928.	10/29/2008 1:12:00 AM	Retain the teachers and administrators, the high turnover is slowing improvement down.
929.	10/29/2008 1:57:00 AM	I'd revert to the old funding formula. The present one seems to shortchange rural areas in favor of Anchorage and Fairbanks.
930.	10/29/2008 2:02:00 AM	I think that in our effort to support students in Alaska there has sometimes been so much given that students use it as a crutch and we don't ensure that they can stand alone. I also find it amazing how many students who graduate from schools in Alaska use absolutely ATROCIOUS grammar.
931.	10/29/2008 2:21:00 AM	Montessori learning for the upper grade levels 7-12
932.	10/29/2008 3:01:00 AM	I would like to see vocational programs for our students in rural Alaska, not just the academic route.
933.	10/29/2008 3:55:00 AM	I do not feel that the HSGQE reflects the standards of reading, writing, and math that students will need to succeed in the adult world of work.
934.	10/29/2008 3:59:00 AM	We should be #1 in educational achievement, and we are not. More people should be outraged and looking for solutions. We should put money into the future, which is the kids. Kudos to those who planned this summit, I hope it is effective and leads to real progress.
935.	10/29/2008 4:36:00 AM	funding options
936.	10/29/2008 4:52:00 AM	We definitely need the emphasis on academics; many students will complete at least a Bachelor's degree. However, not every one is on this track. We need to improve the vocational technical programs, so that some of our students will graduate high school with some type of certificate or ready to enter an apprenticeship program for the plumbers, electricians, and mechanics of tomorrow. We would lower the drop out rate and increase the student engagement in education with these programs.
937.	10/29/2008 5:00:00 AM	NO No Child Left Behind
938.	10/29/2008 6:03:00 AM	I would beef up the early childhood programs. We have a lot of incoming kindergarten children who are already delayed due to lack of quality time spent learning basic concepts. We've have missed some very important learning time if they come to kindergarten not knowing how to put on their coat, name 4 basic colors or have never held a scissor or crayon.
939.	10/29/2008 6:34:00 AM	I would like to see education in Alaska draw teachers by offering more incentives such as better retirement and teacher training. I think it would also help to make the certification process less strenuous.
940.	10/29/2008 7:04:00 AM	Better paid teachers, with more incentives to stay in AK, ie better retirement, higher pay, better insurance and housing. I think if we paid teachers what someone should get paid for educating the future leaders of our State we would have more involved teachers and therefor better student scores and kids would enjoy school more.
941.	10/29/2008 7:16:00 AM	All subjects and grade levels would have to coordinate with the previous and subsequent levels so all potential gaps were identified and eliminated - no assumptions, and no surprises. It is outrageous and wasteful that so many students who enter college and trade schools need to take remedial classes.
942.	10/29/2008 8:01:00 AM	Give our teachers another raise. Integrate life skills and healthy coping skills into curriculum so more teens make it to graduation. A 15yr old friend of my son may have not died if the school could have helped her where the legal system failed. Her families domestic violence and drug/alcohol problem resulted in her death because she was never taught how to cope. She could not fix her family and gave up life when she took drugs the first and only time.
943.	10/29/2008 1:22:00 PM	Greater connection between home/community and schools
944.	10/29/2008 3:43:00 PM	Make sure the schools that are strugling to make a differance because of funding get the help they need to make that differance.
945.	10/29/2008 3:49:00 PM	get rid of everyday math program
946.	10/29/2008 3:52:00 PM	One thing I would change about education in Alaska is providing relief to the elementary teacher that is confronted with having to meet the needs of such a wide variety of abilities found in a regular classroom regarding instruction in reading, writing, and math.
947.	10/29/2008 4:03:00 PM	Need to have a better MEDICAL program.
948.	10/29/2008 4:03:00 PM	Better funding. Schools in SE are facing huge budget deficits threatening the ability to offer the students a well rounded education. Living in rural AK it is especially important to offer them what they aren't exposed to in the community setting.
949.	10/29/2008 4:08:00 PM	We need to recognize the short sighted goals of NCLB. Doing well on tests does not make good community members. We should focus on skills that strengthen our communities and our state.
950.	10/29/2008 4:19:00 PM	Vocational/apprenticeship programs need to be made available beginning at elementary levels, and be available to all students.
951.	10/29/2008 4:24:00 PM	In rural areas less homework because of the long bus rides
952.	10/29/2008 4:47:00 PM	I do not know enough of the choices available other than what is currently offered by the Anchorage School District.
953.	10/29/2008 4:49:00 PM	Smaller class sizes. Less pressure on students. More parental involvement. Equal opportunities for EVERY student. That money would be no object.
954.	10/29/2008 4:52:00 PM	I would like to see more funding because my district is in a severe deficit, and travel for activities is so expensive.
955.	10/29/2008 4:52:00 PM	I want change that everybody can have college in their city.
956.	10/29/2008 5:07:00 PM	Support students who are struggling before they fall in the cracks. Even if they all fail all areas let them qualify for resources in schools.
957.	10/29/2008 5:08:00 PM	Sticter discipline
958.	10/29/2008 5:08:00 PM	Alaska's teachers are not only prepared academically meaning they have the paperwork to become a teacher, but that they have Certification in Diversity. Diversity meaning cultural, social class, religious, etc. The teachers need to be able to educate people who are nothing like themselves and to step out of their box and take the students frame of mind. Connecting parents with the school system through relationships is the key to holding teachers, students and parents more accountable to their job.
959.	10/29/2008 5:25:00 PM	I would change how educators look at how to teach children. We don't give our young people the opportunity to look outside of traditional education. We don't all fit the mold of sitting in a nice roll of desks doing what the teacher wants. We need programs that fit the lives of ALL students not just some.
960.	10/29/2008 5:25:00 PM	Playing sports should be less of a financial burden on students and families. Since many schools are rural, I can see why there is such a cost, but feel that the district or the schools should absorb some of the extra costs.
961.	10/29/2008 5:28:00 PM	make standards more rigorous and also the HSGQE
962.	10/29/2008 5:39:00 PM	Much more opportunity to functionally teach 'real-world' skills that are needed at home and in the work world. Serious options to learn trade and clerical skills. Perhaps apprenticeships in local businesses for credit.
963.	10/29/2008 5:42:00 PM	The rate at which postsecondary education is completed, especially in Alaskan natives. The culture diffferentiation outside of AK seems to impact those who would otherwise graduate from college. There does not seem to be as much aide/guidance for those who need it the most.
964.	10/29/2008 5:45:00 PM	Enlightened the masses about the many ideas and strategies found in learning environments that focus on relationships, students interests, dreams and imagination, student directed learning in inclusive environments,that empower provide students with the opportunities to make choices, decisions, set goals, take risks, become the actors in their own life-self-determined. Education is real world learning.
965.	10/29/2008 5:54:00 PM	More focus on the Arts, music, and the development of the whole human being.
966.	10/29/2008 6:04:00 PM	More hands on, active experiences for kids outside of the classroom setting...links with their communities, environment, universities..such as ASRA summer camps
967.	10/29/2008 6:15:00 PM	We need to assess the interests and skills of kids as early and as often as possible. Once it is clear they have a preference in an areas of interest, then let them go in that direction. This notion that every child must go to college or they will be a failure in our culture is distructive of many who really have other interests. In business I've often found those to follow their dreams and are persistent, do well. Many find late in life that what dad/mom pushed them into - away from their own interests and skills, leave them very unhappy and unfulfilled. I support kids with special talents pursuing them. My recent 6 weeks in China revealed a strong interest in doing just this. But it is a choice made by kids and their parents, guided by proven skills and interests.
968.	10/29/2008 6:27:00 PM	I would like to see the No Child Left Behind Act make revisions to students in bush Alaska.
969.	10/29/2008 6:27:00 PM	mixed classes, more oppurtunities to excel instead of being held back due to lack of instructers.
970.	10/29/2008 6:38:00 PM	The student to teacher ratio is over the top and we should have better results than we currently are getting with that many teachers teaching that few students. I think we need brighter and better prepared teachers.
971.	10/29/2008 6:45:00 PM	To go to a longer 4 day week, rather that the 5 day week. Student attendance would be better in the long winter months....thus a better grauduation rate.
972.	10/29/2008 6:47:00 PM	Bullying on shcool grounds.
973.	10/29/2008 6:53:00 PM	More pre and post secondary programs.
974.	10/29/2008 6:56:00 PM	Mixing special education funds with general funds.
975.	10/29/2008 6:58:00 PM	Out of state teacher/administrative hire in the school districts. Or require out-of-state teachers to be educated/informed about the Native culture in the area.
976.	10/29/2008 7:00:00 PM	Students should get place based education and more and more vocational education to improve drop out rates in school.
977.	10/29/2008 7:10:00 PM	I would change how we respond to students. Students deserve to be treated with respect and understanding. I believe we don't have enough options for students struggling with behavioral issues to be successful in our current system. I believe suspension and expulsion are used to often as a means to remove students from educational programs with no fallback.
978.	10/29/2008 7:11:00 PM	The HSQGE so that special education students who really struggle with academics would still be able to get a high school diploma.
979.	10/29/2008 7:12:00 PM	There aren't enough opportunities for students who are not going to college to obtain skills for jobs and life. There should be more vocational training and job opportunities for students.
980.	10/29/2008 7:14:00 PM	nothing.
981.	10/29/2008 7:17:00 PM	teachers helping students if needed help
982.	10/29/2008 7:17:00 PM	i would change the way that teachers follow up on the students grades they may be responsible but they can always use a little help.
983.	10/29/2008 7:18:00 PM	There needs to be more intervention programs for kids that don't have parents who care about drugs or alcohol.
984.	10/29/2008 7:18:00 PM	nothing
985.	10/29/2008 7:29:00 PM	nothing
986.	10/29/2008 7:31:00 PM	retirement for the new teachers
987.	10/29/2008 7:33:00 PM	I think that the teachers should have to go to classes to learn how to be fun teachers.
988.	10/29/2008 7:37:00 PM	Teachers and the way that they treat some students because of the color of their skin. When they see us adults do that every day they are just acting like their parents and peers. Just because of what they look like. Everybody has equal rights here in America so teachers need to remember that when they teach it and show that they can be an adult too.
989.	10/29/2008 7:42:00 PM	More pay for teachers.
990.	10/29/2008 7:45:00 PM	Give more attention to those students that struggle in all courses throughout. Have more tutoring programs for each subject for after school homework.
991.	10/29/2008 7:48:00 PM	EVERYTHING
992.	10/29/2008 7:50:00 PM	nothing that i know of.
993.	10/29/2008 7:54:00 PM	I believe that there should be a personal financial management component for high school students. Successful citizenship includes voting and participating in community processes, as taught in civics classes, but it also means being able to live within one's means and manage family finances.
994.	10/29/2008 7:58:00 PM	I would like to see a greater emphasis placed on math and science at the elementary grade level.
995.	10/29/2008 8:02:00 PM	I would forgive all student loans for those that have a gpa of 3.0 or higher in institutions of higher learning.
996.	10/29/2008 8:18:00 PM	More varied, accessible options to students in rural areas - DISTANCE EDUCATION VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING and also via web 2.0 solutions (think outsourcing for districts, but still within AK), perhaps some more boarding school options
997.	10/29/2008 8:18:00 PM	I would offer gifted and talented programs for our students to challenge the students who need it desparately. I would add more science and social studies to the curriculum. Additionally, I would add more extra curricular activities.
998.	10/29/2008 8:21:00 PM	Disciplinary measures need to cracked down. Too many suicides and drop outs due to harrassment. Why aren't we utilizing our counslers instead of them waisting time on paper work.
999.	10/29/2008 8:22:00 PM	I'd have more Alaska Native teachers, so we would not have to import teachers who do not know and understand the culture the students are raised in.
1000.	10/29/2008 8:29:00 PM	More Voc. Ed. options (instead of reg. ed.)
1001.	10/29/2008 8:31:00 PM	Some districts need to cut administrative staff and focus more on serving kids in the classroom. Involve teachers and administrators who KNOW the ramifications of NCLB on students and districts in developing a more friendly curriculum for various regions in the State.
1002.	10/29/2008 8:42:00 PM	Funding. Fund federal and state educational mandates. It seems like we have to beg for money. More money should go to classrooms and less to administation. It costs me hundreds of dollars to seek out professional development on my own. My district does not pay for any of my costs which saves them money. They routinely send superintendents, school board members and other district staff. Teachers not so much. However, it results in stale staff. Only those few people willing to spend their own money and seek outside training in research based teaching pedagogy get the training vitally needed by everyone in the profession and the students they serve.
1003.	10/29/2008 8:43:00 PM	Teaching styles are too lax and kids are allowed to do whatever. Also that not all schools are treated fairly and many are run down and are going unnoticed.
1004.	10/29/2008 8:45:00 PM	The "middle" academic students need to be supported so that they can succeed under the the high expectations we currently have for our top student. The drop out rate among this middle group is an embarassment.
1005.	10/29/2008 8:50:00 PM	Decentralized administration. Give more authority to local communities over the governance of their schools.
1006.	10/29/2008 8:53:00 PM	We MUST have a string of good technical programs for all of our students that need and want them.
1007.	10/29/2008 8:56:00 PM	focus on math and english. Find out how to teach children with different disablities example adhd, dyslexia.. etc.
1008.	10/29/2008 9:07:00 PM	Better education for the teachers
1009.	10/29/2008 9:16:00 PM	More technical education courses
1010.	10/29/2008 9:20:00 PM	There is a road block between NCLB and Alaska teachers when it comes to teaching in rural areas of Alaska.
1011.	10/29/2008 9:28:00 PM	I would change the curriculum to inlcude useful instruction. Life skills that they will actually be able to use. Ex: Math - Balancing a checkbook, budgeting, and online banking. Ex: Writing - Writing a cover letter for a job. Ex: Reading - How to read a credit card offer that we get in the mail.
1012.	10/29/2008 9:29:00 PM	Add voluntary pre-K beginning at age 3 in every community so that every child needing pre school would be able to have it. This will increase school success, level the playing field, and increase the graduation rate.
1013.	10/29/2008 9:35:00 PM	All educators need to be educated in cultural appreciation. Go back to basics. Educators need to work together and not against each other.
1014.	10/29/2008 9:41:00 PM	I would recommend that the state fund more fully education. What could possibly be a better way to spend dollars than on our children and their future?
1015.	10/29/2008 9:41:00 PM	Provide a huge range or post secondary education support.
1016.	10/29/2008 9:41:00 PM	THe lack of sharing and communication between school districts on successes and failures.
1017.	10/29/2008 9:43:00 PM	Support for beginning teachers needs to increase.
1018.	10/29/2008 9:43:00 PM	Teachers who really like there job and not just in it because of a 9 month job. It has cahnge so much in past few years.
1019.	10/29/2008 9:44:00 PM	Add more flexibility in the curriculum choices and educational methods for education at the high school level.
1020.	10/29/2008 9:44:00 PM	Higher writing standards for HS level students.
1021.	10/29/2008 9:44:00 PM	Have businesses finance tech programs to train students and then guaranteed them jobs
1022.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	More parent accountability.
1023.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	Smaller class sizes
1024.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	The way the union operates, they overstep in areas that are unnecessary and they don't focus on areas that would help out more. They seem to be sweeping problems under the carpet just to keep the teachers complacent rather than fixing problems that could potentially free up more funds for our teachers.
1025.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	More early childhood intervention.
1026.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	give managerial control back to schools and the state- NCLB is not sustainable
1027.	10/29/2008 9:45:00 PM	Support integrated curriculum that includes significant art, physical activity, science and social studies - that is real life rather than text books about separate topics!
1028.	10/29/2008 9:46:00 PM	Financial security of our school systems, without the endless fight with the legislature to get funding increases as necessary!
1029.	10/29/2008 9:46:00 PM	More post-secondary options are needed.
1030.	10/29/2008 9:47:00 PM	Increase performance based incentives for high quality teachers. These incentives should not be based solely (or even mostly) on test scores, but should factor in student, parent, and peer input. Target education funding increases to impact classrooms directly by requiring increased funding to result in smaller class sizes and to be directed to improved teacher compensation to increase retention rates for talented teachers.
1031.	10/29/2008 9:47:00 PM	You need to keep good teachers and the retirement program needs to be reinstated . This will entice many teachers new to the field to consider Alaska as a secure place to work..
1032.	10/29/2008 9:47:00 PM	More challenging courses.
1033.	10/29/2008 9:48:00 PM	I would set higher standards for academic success in our high schools. Too many students are graduating with the belief that they are prepared for college or the workplace only to discover that some of basic skills have been neglected. An example of this are students who head off to college having never been required to write a term paper. Their chances of success in a college level course are dismal.
1034.	10/29/2008 9:48:00 PM	Much more emphasis on education choices following graduation. More opportunity to investigate an plan for what comes after high school.
1035.	10/29/2008 9:48:00 PM	The Teacher certification department in Juneau is a complete mess with unclear and changing requirements. Put certification in the hands of the school districts
1036.	10/29/2008 9:49:00 PM	We prepare all of our students to attend college, but only 25% of them go. What are we doing for the 75% that do most of living, working, and dying in our communities?
1037.	10/29/2008 9:48:00 PM	Increase teacher accountability and academic standards that are on par with national expectations.
1038.	10/29/2008 9:48:00 PM	Start vocational opportunities in middle school.
1039.	10/29/2008 9:50:00 PM	Obvioously, we need to address achievement and grad rates in rural areas. Native boys need our attention. We could benefit from higher academic expectations at all levels; with this, our UA system needs to supply us with better teachers. Harsh, but there it is. New teachers from UA system not of quality of yesteryear. And, we need widespread good early childhood ed.
1040.	10/29/2008 9:50:00 PM	The discipline.
1041.	10/29/2008 9:50:00 PM	I believe we need to reinstate a defined benefit retirement program so we can retain the wonderful new teachers we have and not loose them to states with better systems once they have gotten their feet wet.
1042.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	More choices for thise that are not on the path to college.
1043.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	That there is more options/emphasis on post high school graduation options.
1044.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	Smaller neighborhood schools.
1045.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	While both teaching and performance standards are vital to a students success in school, I wish more parents would get involved with their child's education. I have seen too many instances where parents do not come to conferences, open houses, or contact teachers/schools with concerns until they those concerns are enormous and parents are beyond angry. I would also like to see students take more responsibility for and put forth more effort with their education. All too often, students are attempting to float through school (high school specifically) and not put forth the effort needed to pass their classes.
1046.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	More career and technology courses at the comprehensive high schools
1047.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	The great discrepancy between learning in rural schools verses urban schools. Their is a great discrepancy in the quality of education in rural areas leaving those students at a great disadvantage
1048.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	Hold parents accountable for getting kids to school. More education on pre natal exposure to alcohol and it's long term effects. Value for teaching as a profession.
1049.	10/29/2008 9:51:00 PM	NCLB---teaching to the test stifles teachers' creativity and flexibility
1050.	10/29/2008 9:52:00 PM	NCLB! Education should not be ALL about the the test! Eliminate Tier III for all public employees. We can not hire and retain quality teachers under a Tier III system.
1051.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	I would like to see state funding for, and the creation of, more preschools. Most lower and middle class families cannot afford the few options that are currently available. There is a direct correlation between children that attend preschool and their success in their elementary years, both academically and behaviorally.
1052.	10/29/2008 9:52:00 PM	There needs to be more funding. No child left behind laws need to be changed, especially for rural Alaska.
1053.	10/29/2008 9:52:00 PM	Rural education has problems, but I don't have great ideas to solve them.
1054.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	The state needs to abolish the HSGQE. It is discriminatory towards students with special needs and students who have English as a second language. These students often work above their ability level but are denied a diploma because they cannot pass the HSGQE. There is nothing greater to discourage a student than knowing he/she will not receive a diploma. This is also a factor in the number of drop-outs we have in our state.
1055.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	I would go to year round school.
1056.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	Students in high school need lots more in classroom information and teaching about their career choices and college degrees. Major encouragement about college choices and options, whether colleges, technical, or vocational schools. This should take place from 9-12th grade, anything else is not acceptable. We set the standard and students will try to meet it.
1057.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	Smaller class sizes! We should place a cap on class sizes, especially at the elementary level.
1058.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	The general lack of understanding native/immigrate needs and motivating factors to graduate.
1059.	10/29/2008 9:53:00 PM	Every school should have a bilingual/cultural expert, title one programs at every school, indian ed programs, more training and research based interventions
1060.	10/29/2008 9:54:00 PM	more state funding for teachers
1061.	10/29/2008 9:55:00 PM	The start time for High School.
1062.	10/29/2008 9:55:00 PM	More programs for individual student needs (ie. organization, reading faster, how to look for scholarships, how to prepare for 7th grade as a 6th grade) or if they are available more commuication about them.
1063.	10/29/2008 9:55:00 PM	Education in Alaska needs to be made more rigorous from K through 12 and beyond. Our students are lamentably unprepared throughout our state. While urban areas have generally better educational preparation, they too are not preparing our students for college, nor are they providing enough good training programs for our children entering the workforce immediately after high school.
1064.	10/29/2008 9:56:00 PM	We should offer more preschool options in the public schools. The sooner we reach students and engage their parents as partners in education, the better their outcomes. I've seen too many children get lost in the bigger schools and class sizes are too big. Students need to know that they are known, recognized and that adults care about them. That's very hard to do in schools with big populations.
1065.	10/29/2008 9:57:00 PM	More vocational education for younger students-all grades.
1066.	10/29/2008 9:57:00 PM	A higher parent interest and involvement.
1067.	10/29/2008 9:58:00 PM	Continue to increase funding to meet the needs of students who are not proficient. Provide universal preschool for children so our low-income students have equal opportunities for success in school and life.
1068.	10/29/2008 9:58:00 PM	Students should have their pfd's tied to making adequate personal yearly progress and for attending class. After graduation, adults in Alaska should not be able to receive any assistance from the state if they have not completed an approved program of PK-12 study. Irregular attendance is a critical problem in school.
1069.	10/29/2008 9:58:00 PM	Would like to see more scholarships offered to all nationalities including white folks.
1070.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	greater emphasis on the arts
1071.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	I would add more voc ed courses or have that track available for those kids who do not want to go onto college. Lets get rid of all the optional and charter schools so that we can focus on neighborhood schools. With optional and charter schools, the involved parents are no longer at the neighborhood schools and it is creating a huger equity gap among the schools.
1072.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	Class sizes need to be smaller. Molly Hootch schools need replacing.
1073.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	Funding for early childhood programs.
1074.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	The no child will be "promoted to higher level prior to mastering or nea-mastering his/her level, because the gap will eventually catch up and it is difficult to cement the gap as the years go by.
1075.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	I would like to see districts, schools, and principals truley support career and technical courses, not just pay them lip service. These are the classes that provide exposure and experience students and society are calling for.
1076.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	Smaller class sizes!
1077.	10/29/2008 9:59:00 PM	mandatory kindergarten more focus on elementary education , keeping young ones from falling thru the cracks BEFORE they get to high school try to get more parental envolvement - mandatory?
1078.	10/29/2008 10:00:00 PM	The Department of Education needs to find a way to streamline and hasten the procedure for Alaska certification. The length of time it takes is very frustrating for new hires in our district.
1079.	10/29/2008 10:00:00 PM	class sizes in Anchorage
1080.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	There is still great disparity between the "haves" and "have nots". Students who are at the poverty level have significantly more needs to address and those schools should have even greater funding for the support staff and programs needed to give those students a fair chance of competing. I would also like to see other post-secondary options besides the UA system. We need programs that include doctoral options.
1081.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	Make it something that all students succeed at, enough options where all are successful.
1082.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	As someone who works with evaluations I can see the benefit of a national gradaution and dropout rate calculation that provides for 'real' comparisons between states. More forward funding would allow districts to really plan program focuses and efforts without the unneccessary stress of waiting for budget approvals.
1083.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	Create a limit on class size for all grade levels.
1084.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	Holding parents more accountable
1085.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	Steer more students toward vocational education. Not every child is meant for college and they should not be made to feel stupid if they choose a different carreer choice.
1086.	10/29/2008 10:01:00 PM	Teachers are expected to do more and more with the same--same pay, resources, professional development, planning time, etc.
1087.	10/29/2008 10:02:00 PM	I wish we all had enough materials, books, and resources for all of our students. I really scramble to get enough books to share between two classes.
1088.	10/29/2008 10:02:00 PM	More arts activities; greater independence at all levels--less dependance on federal money and mandates; facilities support for charter schools.
1089.	10/29/2008 10:02:00 PM	We need educators to be trained in child centered learn environments using brain based research
1090.	10/29/2008 10:02:00 PM	Provide specified percentages for the allocation of building funds to different departments. Sometimes, the judgment and decisions of principals (in reference to the allocation of funds) seems unjustified.
1091.	10/29/2008 10:03:00 PM	make school year around
1092.	10/29/2008 10:03:00 PM	Get more money for the things we need.
1093.	10/29/2008 10:03:00 PM	Math requirements for high school, 2.5 credits is a wash. All students need to take a rigorous math curriculum.
1094.	10/29/2008 10:03:00 PM	Some things that I would change about education in Alaska is lowering class sizes, especially in urban high schools where class sizes can reach upward to 40 kids per teacher in elective and physical education classes and to as high as 34 in core classes. Core classes should be limited to a maximum of 28 students.
1095.	10/29/2008 10:03:00 PM	Give principals less power over teachers. Principals routinely intimidate teachers and are overly demonstrative in their use of power to gain respect. Principals need to be reigned in and schools need to be run on a collaborative effort; more by committee than by dictatorial rule.
1096.	10/29/2008 10:04:00 PM	offering more alternative programs
1097.	10/29/2008 10:04:00 PM	Incentives for educators that make differences. Encourage ALL parents to care about their children's education. Incentives for parents when their students finish high school.
1098.	10/29/2008 10:04:00 PM	We need preschool education and vocational education to be available to any and all who want them. We need money to be invested in the education of above-average and gifted students, not just on making sure the below-average can achieve NCLB standards. We also need to improve the teacher retirement system if we want to keep teachers teaching in our state.
1099.	10/29/2008 10:05:00 PM	Extend the school year. Kids have too much time on their hands that get them off focus and off track of their educational goals. Tie school attendance to the PFD. Too many children do not go to school or fail due to too many absences. Alot of the problem is associated with lack of parental involvement in the childs education. Still they get their kids PFD and spend it. Change legal age for dropping out to 17 years old, this will give the student more time to mature and have a better understanding of the consequences.
1100.	10/29/2008 10:05:00 PM	smaller class sizes.
1101.	10/29/2008 10:05:00 PM	Mandated curriculums, NCLB, increase teacher pay
1102.	10/29/2008 10:06:00 PM	Vouchers should be made available to those students who do not fit in the traditional K-12 mold.
1103.	10/29/2008 10:06:00 PM	More support for Special Education teachers who are expected to teach more challenging students in the regular education setting.
1104.	10/29/2008 10:06:00 PM	Higher standards all around, starting at the lowest levels. Focus ALL effort and money on getting ALL kids at grade level reading/writing/math by 5th grade in all areas. More credits to graduate high school, more math. STUDY THE LOWER 48 and figure out what the BEST schools (that are comparable as possible to AK) are doing, especially schools that have turned themselves around. Then implement those things here.
1105.	10/29/2008 10:06:00 PM	More vocational, hands on type classes.
1106.	10/29/2008 10:07:00 PM	Anchorage school district is too large
1107.	10/29/2008 10:07:00 PM	Stop the unessasary cost that the higher in comand of the educational community demand/request like first class plane tickets, fancy/unessasary furniture, hotel suites, personal use vehicals, etc.
1108.	10/29/2008 10:07:00 PM	I would add more counselors and behavior specialists as our children face new and stressful life conditions that hinder learning.
1109.	10/29/2008 10:08:00 PM	I would like to see a return of the 'practical arts' to secondary education. There are a lot of students who graduate without basic life skills (i.e. cooking, budgets, mechanics, etc.). Many of them do not get this instruction at home and they need it to be independent and successful later in life.
1110.	10/29/2008 10:08:00 PM	Higher standards for teachers- somehow figure out how to weed out the weak... weak teachers affect every year to follow. It's not fair to the next teachers or the students.
1111.	10/29/2008 10:08:00 PM	Have it more challenging. When I went to school in New Hampshire for 3rd and 6th grade, our schools did musicals to academics we were learning, and memorized poems to be recited in front of the class. I felt much more challenge out of state in elementary school.
1112.	10/29/2008 10:09:00 PM	Students treated fairly - not just the driven students. Realize that culture barriers are present and be proactive about working with the culture to make kids more likely to go to school. This could include different school hours, more cultural activities, etc. Help the kids understand the goals, what's going on, give them them big picture so they may be more motivated to do well.
1113.	10/29/2008 10:08:00 PM	Better pay for teachers.
1114.	10/29/2008 10:08:00 PM	More pre-k education opportunities for ALL children and an emphasis on smaller schools/smaller class sizes.
1115.	10/29/2008 10:09:00 PM	We need a way to get children that need extra attention but are not poor or special ed the attention they deserve.
1116.	10/29/2008 10:10:00 PM	Mandatory class size reduction when classroom enrollment is more than fifteen (15) students, particularly in the elementary schools!
1117.	10/29/2008 10:10:00 PM	Too top heavy in administration. i would thin it out
1118.	10/29/2008 10:11:00 PM	Please teach to students needs at their level.
1119.	10/29/2008 10:10:00 PM	More importance needs to be placed on the child as a whole, social/emotional learning is just as important as academic learning. Teachers need to develop a greater understanding of positive behavioral supports to promote a desire to learn within our children and to decrease the need for using negative consequences. Kids need to develop of love of learning and that begins with recognizing them as a person, not just another student in the classroom.
1120.	10/29/2008 10:10:00 PM	I see a lot of monetary waste.
1121.	10/29/2008 10:11:00 PM	lack of early childhood educational opportunities
1122.	10/29/2008 10:11:00 PM	Class size, more support for special education, more excitement about our state!
1123.	10/29/2008 10:11:00 PM	I would provide a stable funding source so that our schools don't have to wait until May to find out what their budget will be for August. This would actually be a huge money saver because we wouldn't need to create a variety of possible scenario budgets.
1124.	10/29/2008 10:11:00 PM	More alternatives.
1125.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	I think that not only here in Alaska but in the whole United States parents should be more active in their children's education. I think that we should not give students so much homework. That maybe they should have assignments that the whole family participate in, and that are not so hard that the working family can participate in a 1/2 hour per day time period.
1126.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	I would change class size. Many Anchorage schools have too many students in the younger grades. Smaller class sizes in the elementary school s would greatly enhance student success.
1127.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	Wouldn't it be great if we could have more money and reduce class size, and give our teachers more time to prep and students more time to work on remedial skills outside of the classroom (normal day).
1128.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	Stop passing kids just to get rid of a problem - you don't learn - you fail. Just like real life.
1129.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	- lessen the number of curriculum items taught - increase the standards on the basic subjects, especially in elementary school (teach & expect a high level of excellence in the basics) - more & better teachers so to better apply the high standards associated with excellence in the basics
1130.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	Some of the power needs to be taken from the parents. In secondary education, students should be monitoring their own progress, checking their own homework, and completing their own projects. With too much parent involvement, students don't learn proper study skills and they don't learn how to make good educational choices.
1131.	10/29/2008 10:12:00 PM	Education needs to be made relevant to students. Teachers have to "teach to the test" not how it relates to their students lives and environments. More often then not teachers are not prepared to teach multicultural classrooms, especially in the rural areas of Alaska and everybody suffers and fails.
1132.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	We must bridge the gap between High School and Post-Secondary Ed!
1133.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	The highly qualified nonsense!
1134.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	More arts choices in school.
1135.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	More early intervention/preschool programs for more children. It makes a remarkable difference in each child's educational life.
1136.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	I would love to see smaller numbers of students in elementary classrooms. With a smaller teacher to student ratio, stronger rapport, more one-on-one, deeper, more complex learning opportunites can take place.
1137.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	The amount of time and focus that our schools have to spend on areas of discipline. The strong focus on testing and test scores at the elementary level. The inability to attract and keep dedicated teachers in our school systems, due to pay, work load, discipline problems, etc.
1138.	10/29/2008 10:14:00 PM	Eliminate the Molly Hootch ruling...understand that cannot be done
1139.	10/29/2008 10:15:00 PM	I would make the standards more rigorous and have high expectations for all students.
1140.	10/29/2008 10:15:00 PM	When my students are absent, nothing really happens to them. Schools do not follow through on consequences for not attending school. I had a special ed. student who missed nearly 60 days of school, yet was still promoted to the seventh grade; her parents were never held accountable for this.
1141.	10/29/2008 10:15:00 PM	I would like to see many more early childhood programs in our schools.
1142.	10/29/2008 10:15:00 PM	STOP BASING GRADUATION RATES ON TIME. START FOCUSING ON PERFORMANCE AND THE ACADEMIC PROCESS FOR STUDENTS. OUR SYSTEM AS A STATE IS IN THE BEST POSITION IN THE COUNTRY TO REVAMP AN ENTIRE SYSTEM - ATTRACT NATIONAL ATTENTION AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
1143.	10/29/2008 10:15:00 PM	there needs to be much higher teacher pay to attract and retain excellent teachers
1144.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	Realize that not all students will go to college and help them prepare for other types of vocations and careers. Also to improve education/choice of majors at the university level so that more students could remain in Alaska for postsecondary education. I would also like to see parents become more involved and responsible for their children's success in school.
1145.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	Less of a focus on flash (technology) and more attention to critical thinking. Technology will change, but our need to think rationally is ever present. Sure, we need fundamental computer literacy, but so much time is siphoned off for the process (learning new program) that the product is often slighted.
1146.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	Shift towards smaller high schools in urban areas. Forward fund education and reinstate defined retirement so teachers are not looking for work outside. Provide more vocational and technical training in high schools. Develop a more inclusive pre-k program.
1147.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	Ability to choose schools or have zone exemptions.
1148.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	The teachers retirement system - Get rid of tire 3.
1149.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	We need more funding per student to provide textbooks, technology and smaller class sizes for students. We need to help students who are struggling in the classrooms; how can you when class sizes reach 32 to 35? Working with students while they are in school, engaging their minds with interactive activities, connect the activities with relevance in their lives and keep them from dropping out of school!!!!
1150.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	The curriculum should be more standards based. As should the grading.
1151.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	The funding is just not there to do the job. We need to pay teachers a bit more so the experienced ones will stay while still attracting new teachers. No one wants to become a teacher anymore and that is sad.
1152.	10/29/2008 10:16:00 PM	More focus on students all-around success and less emphasis on numbers in order to get proper funding.
1153.	10/29/2008 10:17:00 PM	I would make grading be more flexible and reflective of the students' abilities. Right now, the grades my student receives at her high school tell me nothing about her strengths in any subject.
1154.	10/29/2008 10:18:00 PM	I would change the policies that fund schools with low student numbers. Some schools have been built and are now maintained for few students.
1155.	10/29/2008 10:19:00 PM	Testing week(s) And teaching writing to a test. Students learn to hate and dred writing because they are forced to learn how to write for a test... they should be given equal time to explore writing for self discovery and creative expression.
1156.	10/29/2008 10:19:00 PM	I would like to see more vocational classes geared toward automotive, carpentry, welding as well a computer training
1157.	10/29/2008 10:19:00 PM	Change the funding formula and time so that funding for the classroom can be based on the actual numbers of that year, rather than the previous year's estimates.
1158.	10/29/2008 10:19:00 PM	More teacher pay
1159.	10/29/2008 10:19:00 PM	focus on the basics, reading, writing, math, behavior. Uphold standards and retain students who are not able to pass tests at grade level.
1160.	10/29/2008 10:20:00 PM	-post-secondary vocational program availability -required HSGQE
1161.	10/29/2008 10:20:00 PM	Fewer regulations and unfunded mandates.
1162.	10/29/2008 10:21:00 PM	Make all schools (from staff to students) more diverse.
1163.	10/29/2008 10:21:00 PM	The rural communities do not have the advantages of offering extensive subjects for all students, due to the lack of accessibility, mostly geographically. The urban communities are unable to keep up with the technology as well as space in the schools for their growing communities due to lack of funding.
1164.	10/29/2008 10:21:00 PM	Technology. I believe Alaska schools lack significant use of current technologies.
1165.	10/29/2008 10:22:00 PM	Standards based instruction.
1166.	10/29/2008 10:22:00 PM	Class sizes are too large. Teacher contact is crucial to identifying student needs. It is not programs that make differences it is having teachers and small class sizes. Elementary classes should not have "on average 28.3 students". That equates to class sizes swelling to 36!
1167.	10/29/2008 10:22:00 PM	I would like to see the cost of post secondary education reduced everywhere in the nation. We are burdening our young people with heavier and heavier education debt, which can take 15-20 years for them to pay. As a society we are giving them a chain and ball right out of the shoot. I'm not suggesting tax payers pick up the entire bill, maybe a portion. There ought to be more creative solutions.
1168.	10/29/2008 10:22:00 PM	More electives...lower ASD credits to 21 credits..more individual class choices.....more OJT. VOC-ED.... Once kids pass the HSGQE offer a Basic Diploma and let them move on or take specific classes in the area of interests...VOC/College Prep....
1169.	10/29/2008 10:22:00 PM	Higher standards, more arts education in curriculum.
1170.	10/29/2008 10:23:00 PM	I believe the loss of young people from the villages. This is due to many, many factors, only one of which is education. But I also believe the relevance of education to the rural lifestyle and community may help maintain an environment where students (graduates) would want to live.
1171.	10/29/2008 10:23:00 PM	I wish that students felt more welcome at school. When a student skips school too much, they are "punished" with OSS. This just means they will miss more school, causing them to fall further behind. They then have a mountain they feel they can't climb and drop out. There needs to be a better support system in place for these students.
1172.	10/29/2008 10:24:00 PM	remove the performance pay add a statewide attendance policy that is enforceable and rigorous (ex: no more than 10 absences to be able to pass class or grade) statewide curricula
1173.	10/29/2008 10:23:00 PM	I would offer more verity in the types of schools and instructional focus the meet the needs of more kids.
1174.	10/29/2008 10:23:00 PM	I would like to see two things, 1) an understanding of the general development in early childhood with emphasis of children needing to understanding concepts at their developmental levels rather that simply memorize academic facts and 2) more opportunities for vocational support starting after elementary school.
1175.	10/29/2008 10:24:00 PM	Increased communication between parents and schools.
1176.	10/29/2008 10:25:00 PM	Stop requiring the attendance dates for high school students. If a high school student has straight A grades, then they should not be harassed about missing extended periods of school.
1177.	10/29/2008 10:24:00 PM	K-6 needs to be much more rigorous. I spend way too much time as a 9-12 teacher going over things that should have been covered by 6th grade.
1178.	10/29/2008 10:25:00 PM	lower class size and caseloads
1179.	10/29/2008 10:25:00 PM	Testing for special education students. Self contained special ed students do not need algebra credit, they need to be able to balance a check book and give correct change. Writing standards are OK but more time on how to fill out employment aplications and introduction letters would be good.
1180.	10/29/2008 10:25:00 PM	respect for education; not all students fit into the same mold. Post secondary should not be just academic.
1181.	10/29/2008 10:26:00 PM	The certification process, moving the DEED into Anchorage. Removing red tape that prevents good teachers from teaching.
1182.	10/29/2008 10:26:00 PM	I would make more vocational programs available for students who don't fit in the standard curriculum.
1183.	10/29/2008 10:26:00 PM	MORE AFFORDABLE POST SECONDARY OPTIONS.
1184.	10/29/2008 10:27:00 PM	Early childhood programs would be mandatory in all public schools.
1185.	10/29/2008 10:27:00 PM	that we not focus on test scores and graduation rates but remember there is more to success - not every student will go to college, offer more tech school, journeyman and apprentice opportunities for students to learn a trade - most plumbers and electricians make more than I do
1186.	10/29/2008 10:27:00 PM	Indian Ed and Bilingual education programs need to be utilized more effectively. These stand-along, hit & miss programs are missing the mark. Often these professionals' skills are far underused. Whoever has authority should be looking at coordinating their services with Title One and Special Education in order to better serve the students' needs.
1187.	10/29/2008 10:27:00 PM	Enough time in the day to offer students a chance to be in my class
1188.	10/29/2008 10:28:00 PM	The way schools are funded.
1189.	10/29/2008 10:29:00 PM	smaller class size
1190.	10/29/2008 10:28:00 PM	TOP HEAVY EDUCATION DEPT, NEED MORE PEOPLE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH KIDS
1191.	10/29/2008 10:30:00 PM	I would like for schools to go all year round with breaks as needed.
1192.	10/29/2008 10:30:00 PM	strenghten discipline in the schools and make administrators accountable
1193.	10/29/2008 10:31:00 PM	Forward funding of budgets
1194.	10/29/2008 10:31:00 PM	NCLB needs to be revamped or done away with!
1195.	10/29/2008 10:31:00 PM	I have been in education for 21 years and am frustrated daily by the lack of oversight in relation to teacher behavior and techniques. THe union has crippled administration and very bad teachers are kept on for many, many years because they are unable to be fired. Small things such as sarcasm and regular put downs w/ a "tone of voice" from teachers really hurt kids on a daily basis. Where is the regulaion? How about employees that run a private business, from SCHOOL, where is the oversight or formal investigations? It is too easy to be a poor educator here in this state and our kids suffer because of this.
1196.	10/29/2008 10:32:00 PM	The discipline procedures. There are too many students who waste time (and therefore, waste educational time).
1197.	10/29/2008 10:32:00 PM	More money and better planning for rural schools, smaller class sizes in all schools, better funding for all schools, better retirement program for new teachers
1198.	10/29/2008 10:33:00 PM	expand use of technology to make curriculum more meaningful and students more active learners
1199.	10/29/2008 10:34:00 PM	I would use the Alaska Native knowledge and make it applicable in teaching the students how to read, write and do math...make school more relavant for the rural communty schools.
1200.	10/29/2008 10:35:00 PM	Better education in rural Alaska, but that means a change in attitutde
1201.	10/29/2008 10:35:00 PM	Fewer charter/specialized schools which cost huge amount of money to fund with fewer students. I support vouchers for parents to home school or to pay for private school.
1202.	10/29/2008 10:35:00 PM	The requirements of having the No Child Left Behind still stay entact as the system will work if only the teachers would be more positive about system and quit gripping about not being worth while. The paraprofessionals of the state have been behind improvements and changes and have been the for runners with implementation of changes to assist our children comingup through the schools. Only rural Alaska has not been reached approriately, but that the nature of the beast and our states environment and smaller out lying areas.
1203.	10/29/2008 10:36:00 PM	Better relationships between teachers and students in rural schools, more diversity in teaching and administrative ranks, better support for early childhood educators, including a more vigorous commitment from the state university system to support professional development in the ECE field, increased quality childcare and pre-school activities (especially for the near poor), more meaningful opportunities (music,art, physical activity etc.) for students, better relationships between schools and lower-income parents, more and better academic guidance for students who are at risk of failure
1204.	10/29/2008 10:35:00 PM	Reduce student/teacher ratios
1205.	10/29/2008 10:36:00 PM	I feel there are to many kids that can not pass the High School Qualifying exams because the curriculum doesn't teach what they need to.
1206.	10/29/2008 10:36:00 PM	Change the idea that education is a right to a privilege.
1207.	10/29/2008 10:36:00 PM	I would like to see more offered for those who are not college bound in the way of apprenticeship programs etc. so that the emphasis is not "go to college or nothing".
1208.	10/29/2008 10:37:00 PM	create school options for students with special needs--reading and math instructional methods, other than what is offered in separate settings, like schools just for those with a particular need-the private sector is providing this and we should also so many parents are dissatisfied with the lack of options and progress for those students with learning disabilities--especially in the area of reading
1209.	10/29/2008 10:37:00 PM	More opportunities for those who are not college-bound.
1210.	10/29/2008 10:37:00 PM	Alaska should have the strongest, best public education system in the country. We should begin working with our children in preschool , early learning centers. Education should be fully funded annually.
1211.	10/29/2008 10:37:00 PM	Meaningless academic goals and no child left behind need to go. I would add more music, art, and physical education, and vocational/career education opportunities. We need MUCH smaller secondary schools in urban and suburban areas. We need more parental involvement and less TV, video games, and other electronics. We really need a good sex education program k-12 and maybe further, like the OWL (Our Whole Lives) program. I would like to see UAA become more of a real college like UAF. But college programs need to break more with tradition, become less bookish, become more vocation oriented, and loose meaningless requirements designed to preserve faculty jobs. Why don't we have a college like Berea or Evergreen? How about more attention to the lives of kids of working parents, and begin by bringing back community schools. How about year round school (48 weeks a year with fewer in-service days)? I work for ASD year round, why not the state's teachers.... (Raise their salaries - they are NOT paid enough for what they do.) Oh, and fine though our teachers may be, they need to teach more and depend less on meaningless homework.
1212.	10/29/2008 10:38:00 PM	The way education expects everyone to conform to the urban way of school and busines without taking into account the cultural experiences of the students and parents.
1213.	10/29/2008 10:38:00 PM	I wish there was a fist class university in Alaska. Not in Fairbanks as many students would never attend due to the weather.
1214.	10/29/2008 10:39:00 PM	1. Legislate maximum class sizes 2. Weight students for those sizes based on special needs 3. Develop or use curriculum that tests a student to find those things that they are missing, them prescribes work/instruction that will instruct to those needs. 4. Provide an aid in any classroom that has more than 15 students K-3 and 20 students 4-6.
1215.	10/29/2008 10:39:00 PM	I would ask the educational leaders (e.g. superintendents) to take a stand as far as abusive parents in the schools and make some hard decisions without always entertaining a worthless "public process" I would work to provide adequate funding for special education programs and management at the school level so that students who need to be challenged are not held back by teachers having to teach to the lower skilled students. I would try to equalize opportunities for college bound students as well as technology/vocationally bound students.
1216.	10/29/2008 10:39:00 PM	However, the class/student ratio needs to be adjusted. I feel that would enhance the educational success of all the students.
1217.	10/29/2008 10:39:00 PM	I would like to see a better teacher salary and retirement plan, especially for new teachers. We are now losing some of the best and brightest as a result of the new retirement system.
1218.	10/29/2008 10:40:00 PM	Options for struggling learners, or behaviorally challenged, or unmotivated learners.
1219.	10/29/2008 10:40:00 PM	Get out of the No Child Left Behind program
1220.	10/29/2008 10:43:00 PM	I feel that laws on the books about holding parents accountable for their childs attendance should be enforced. I believe schools have a full time SRO officer and should utilize such for enforcing laws about attendance. If a parent knew they would be held financially responsible (by having to pay fines) if they allowed children ages 5 - 17 to not attend. I think more parents would be forced to accept responsibilty.
1221.	10/29/2008 10:44:00 PM	Educators and parents need to lose the assumption that all our students must go to a university to succeed. Many (most?) would benefit from learning a trade or skill before going on to a degree-seeking program.
1222.	10/29/2008 10:45:00 PM	Parents need to be educated so their children can focus and learn. Forward funding so budgets are known in advance.
1223.	10/29/2008 10:46:00 PM	more professionalism by teachers
1224.	10/29/2008 10:47:00 PM	As always, more funding for schools.
1225.	10/29/2008 10:47:00 PM	The idea that more money means better results.
1226.	10/29/2008 10:48:00 PM	Teacher pay.
1227.	10/29/2008 10:49:00 PM	more continuity in training and professional development as well as an emphasis on developing language skills in early childhood education programs
1228.	10/29/2008 10:49:00 PM	Not enough money going to programs in Alaska. Class size.
1229.	10/29/2008 10:50:00 PM	I would put more concentration on academics and a few less "assemblies". I believe the teachers do not have enough time to cover everything.(p.s.- I am not a teacher) On the other hand, The fine arts should be part of education- it is a difficult balance to accomplish .
1230.	10/29/2008 10:54:00 PM	In my experience, we spend most of our time, money, and energy trying to motovate and manage at-risk students. I wish I could focus on the students who want to learn, and who could make incredible strides if given more time, money, and energy. In order for education to become a good investment for our future society, we should expand those programs which reach the greatest number of student who have the highest probability to become contributing members of our community.
1231.	10/29/2008 10:54:00 PM	Start times of middle schools ten minutes later, elementary 20 minutes later in Anchorage. The transportation department can not make it to schools on time. The town and the busses are so much bigger. Can not do it in the time given.
1232.	10/29/2008 10:55:00 PM	more classes on social interaction, more technology
1233.	10/29/2008 10:55:00 PM	I would fully fund preschool in Alaska. I would make the mandatory attendance age 5 years. The University of Alaska needs to increase its standards significantly. We need a minimum entry criteria. UofA schools are like community or trade schools, not universities. The teacher education programs are particularly disappointing (bachelors, masters, and continuing ed classes.)
1234.	10/29/2008 10:56:00 PM	The home environments are far too often our childrens' biggest handicaps. This has created so many high-needs students. Presently, I have nine special ed students in my class of 27....among them are four (yes, four!) emotionally disturbed students who require special behavior plans. We have got to bring class sizes down! I am dying this year because of the high numbers! HELP! I have worked so hard to make AYP each year in spite of bilingual and behavior issues, but I don't think I can do it this year. I am so sad.
1235.	10/29/2008 10:56:00 PM	Funding. We don't need any more million-dollar studies to tell us that smaller class size works and helps even the most reluctant learners to succeed. Teacher pay is no longer in step with reality (which means that all should see a cost of living increase every year and that it all stays in line with inflation. I know too many teachers that are working more than one job during the school year, they work during the summer, and some work over Xmas break. This is not by choice. If teachers in the Bush were paid more and given more support, there would be more success for students and less turn-over by teachers. There is a serious challenge in the Bush that needs a more serious look. Lastly, if schools had the power to send chronic no-show students to another facility and get them out of the classroom. I hate to be so blunt but dead wood sinks a sailing ship. These kids, bless their hearts, need to be taken out of the classroom and given help elsewhere so that the other kids can learn.
1236.	10/29/2008 10:57:00 PM	Improve our teacher retirement system and up our teacher salaries. This will attract more teachers to AK so we can pick and choose who we want and not have to scrap to get anything that breaths! We are desperate for Sped teachers. We have tough standards for our kids. More early childhood services for our youngest children, which will improve outcomes as they get older.
1237.	10/29/2008 10:58:00 PM	More funding, smaller class sizes, less administration, less push of technology is the answer to everything, more support of teachers, students that come to school prepared, no more social promotion.
1238.	10/29/2008 10:58:00 PM	I would provide more programs and facilities for the students who struggle behaviorally and academically. Many students needs are not being met, and there is so much red tape to cut through that many parents, students, and teachers give up.
1239.	10/29/2008 10:58:00 PM	Better funding - but not on the backs of Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, etc. property tax payers. Bush communities should contribute more.
1240.	10/29/2008 10:59:00 PM	The difficulty to attract and maintain great teachers because of constant changes in certification requirements and regulations that may be different for different educators. Very confusing, frustrating and debilitating for the entire cadre of Alaska's teachers.
1241.	10/29/2008 11:00:00 PM	NCLB
1242.	10/29/2008 11:00:00 PM	Smaller size classes!!!!! Is 35 students in a classroom reasonnable? I would like to have more parents, professional, and lawmakers to come visit our classes and be aware of challenges we (educators) are face to every day. Demanding higher standards is NOT the problem to our education system. You can have the best teachers/educators and accomplish so little, when 80% of class instruction is spent on classroom management. K-12 education is about teaching KIDS (not adults). Kids are at a different development process than responsible mature adults. Our challenge is to keep all students focused and on task at all times, when they want to play and goof off, and are so easily distracted by other students. The more students there are in a classroom, the more difficult it becomes for ONE educator to keep the classroom on task. Is this about receiving the best education possible for our students, or is it about cost and number only???
1243.	10/29/2008 11:01:00 PM	Less emphasis on sports in the schools.
1244.	10/29/2008 11:01:00 PM	We need more vocational education.
1245.	10/29/2008 11:02:00 PM	More arts in the schools.
1246.	10/29/2008 11:02:00 PM	First of all, the lack of funding, and the inequity between schools in the Anchorage School District. Some schools have wonderful facilities and equipment, while others (like Airport Heights Elementary) are still working in a building that has not been upgrades since the 50's. Also, the creation and purchasing of "new" programs that are just more 'fluff'.
1247.	10/29/2008 11:03:00 PM	More choice for non-college track students. More systemic staff development for the related service branch of education. These surveys focus on the perspective of classroom teachers--there are many more involved in the education of children than teachers.
1248.	10/29/2008 11:04:00 PM	I would like to see the old style of methods be brought back into the classroom. We have gone away from phonics, rules of English, and proper handwriting skills simply taught to what ever the district, and congress decides to impliment to our children. I believe in the rules of English that will never change and the 70 phonograms-45 sounds of English that will hopefully never change (simply taught and comprehended) and the writing skills that seal these into the whole man. This method taught properly will prove there is no way anyone could not learn to read within a couple of months.
1249.	10/29/2008 11:03:00 PM	More parental responsibility for the students ans well as more student accountability. Instead of NCLB there needs to be more empahsis on personal ownership of their education.
1250.	10/29/2008 11:06:00 PM	More funding for rural schools.
1251.	10/29/2008 11:07:00 PM	In addition to giving kids something to hope for after graduation, I would work on making sure that there is an atmosphere of mutual respect between students and teachers. Verbal putdowns of students would not be tolerated.
1252.	10/29/2008 11:06:00 PM	We must help students with both vocational and academic opportunities. Class sizes must get smaller in the intermediate grades.
1253.	10/29/2008 11:07:00 PM	for the high school programs to be as connected as the middle school programs
1254.	10/29/2008 11:07:00 PM	I would very much like to see a high school requirement in in early childhood development. I envision it as a class to teach behavior techniques as well as physical and mental development of young children, in hopes of giving young adults some tools they need to be good parents. There could be a written or oral exam as a waiver for those who already have basic parenting knowledge. There is a need for this due to societal changes in family structures and the loss of strong role models.
1255.	10/29/2008 11:08:00 PM	The demands placed on the program by the NCLB laws with the lack of funding to meet the requirements.
1256.	10/29/2008 11:08:00 PM	I do feel that there should be an emphasis on life after high school, through vocational tech. programs at school sites. King Career Center is amazing, but the individual schools should somehow be involved in building site based programs.
1257.	10/29/2008 11:10:00 PM	More vocational-technical schools
1258.	10/29/2008 11:12:00 PM	I am shocked and puzzled by the graduation statistics. I personally know of some students who have dropped out of school and am at a loss to explain why it happens so often. If i could change one thing, it would be to put resources towards finding a solution this unfortunate problem.
1259.	10/29/2008 11:12:00 PM	I would eliminate SBA and HSGQE testing. We need authentic assessment and portfolio based assessment.
1260.	10/29/2008 11:12:00 PM	The policy orientation of the commissioners office.
1261.	10/29/2008 11:14:00 PM	Let the villages go to school in their native tongue...teach English of course but allow them to learn in their native languages.
1262.	10/29/2008 11:15:00 PM	Encourage manners and a polite attitude among all members of the educational community. People often seem hostile.
1263.	10/29/2008 11:15:00 PM	More on-the job types of training & education. Higher academic standards at younger ages to ensure students are ready for high school.
1264.	10/29/2008 11:16:00 PM	The state should pay full scholarships up front for all students who are accepted into the most demanding institutions of higher learning and not just those who want to pursue careers in medical, dental, health services or other areas where there is a critical shortage of qualified workers within the state.
1265.	10/29/2008 11:18:00 PM	In elementary school, especially in Title One schools, the class sizes need to be much smaller. The teacher to student ratio should not be more than 22 to 1, in my opinion, for the best learning environment for every child.
1266.	10/29/2008 11:18:00 PM	Greater administrator accountability and less emphasis on sports.
1267.	10/29/2008 11:20:00 PM	The special education programs. I would stop warehousing special needs children and provide meaningful individualized education.
1268.	10/29/2008 11:21:00 PM	Kindergarten MUST be made mandatory and there must be some follow up for parents who do not bring their kids to school. We can't teach kids who aren't here. Mandatory pre-K is made necessary with today's requirement that kids leave kindergarten reading level 2 texts! Special education programs consume too much of the funding and resources. The needs of the many often are treated as subordinate to the needs of the few. This is a national issue, as well.
1269.	10/29/2008 11:21:00 PM	I would like to see training programs that would enable a high school graduate to get a job that will support them. Not just classes and testing for those who will go on to college with scholarships or parent support.
1270.	10/29/2008 11:22:00 PM	I would require higher standards and more dicipline.
1271.	10/29/2008 11:23:00 PM	The kids have to want to learn and succeed in school--it has to start from the home. Families must bring about a change of heart. Families that are involved in their students' school lives lead to much more successful students.
1272.	10/29/2008 11:23:00 PM	How it is funded (or under-funded). Educators should never have their hands tied when it comes to providing to students needed resources.
1273.	10/29/2008 11:25:00 PM	More parental involvement.
1274.	10/29/2008 11:24:00 PM	Class size needs to be reduced in many schools.
1275.	10/29/2008 11:24:00 PM	Have the university start accepting credits from other states.
1276.	10/29/2008 11:25:00 PM	Better pay and retirement package for new teachers to ensure we attract the most well qualified candidates to Alaska.
1277.	10/29/2008 11:26:00 PM	Penalizing schools that do too well by taking some of their teachers away.
1278.	10/29/2008 11:27:00 PM	I wish there was a way to improve education in Bush communitities.
1279.	10/29/2008 11:28:00 PM	Class sizes are too large. Some schools have all the "latest and greatest" in technology and supplies while others are still getting by with outdated materials.
1280.	10/29/2008 11:29:00 PM	Urban schools need to learn Alaskan cultures early in education and accept the cultures.
1281.	10/29/2008 11:30:00 PM	The general feeling by parents and teachers that "just okay" is an acceptable goal. That children don't need to strive to achieve more, that if they're going to stay in the village it really doesn't matter. That it is okay to just promote kids until high school when it "really counts" because by then it is too late.
1282.	10/29/2008 11:31:00 PM	to hold students more accountable for their behavior and their school work -- passing grades could be tied to the driver's license program for those under the age of 18 -- poor grades means loosing their license or extending their provisional license -- improving the truancy rate -- miss school no driver's license (Texas currently has such a plan and it really is working there)
1283.	10/29/2008 11:38:00 PM	more support of students not wanting to take the "college" route. more technical schools and options
1284.	10/29/2008 11:40:00 PM	It would be great if there were vocational options for student's in secondary school
1285.	10/29/2008 11:41:00 PM	The No child Left Behind Act
1286.	10/29/2008 11:42:00 PM	We need smaller class sizes and more parental involvement!
1287.	10/29/2008 11:44:00 PM	I would like to stop giving schools a "failing" grade if they don't make adequately yearly progress on standardized tests. I'd also like to see the full funding of education in Alaska before school districts budgets' are cut, so that we don't have to plan to cut programs and then get funding at the last minute.
1288.	10/29/2008 11:45:00 PM	Reduce the student/teacher ratio. Smaller class size allows teacher to individualize instruction to meet the needs of every student.
1289.	10/29/2008 11:45:00 PM	Ensure small class size for the Title one and at risk schools, especially in K-4th. Have public Pre-K options.
1290.	10/29/2008 11:46:00 PM	Make full time pre-school available to all
1291.	10/29/2008 11:46:00 PM	Rural education does not seem to meet the high standards in some villages. Also, funding and class size are always issues! Finally, the need for a statewide public early childhood program.
1292.	10/29/2008 11:47:00 PM	INSTEAD OF ATTENDING SCHOOL FOR 9 MONTHS, GO TO A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM.
1293.	10/29/2008 11:49:00 PM	I would change the amount of emphasis put on passing tests and get back to a more rounded curriculum. There doesn't seem to be any time to teach social studies and science any more. I would also like to see more emphasis put on physical education and basic wellness.
1294.	10/29/2008 11:50:00 PM	I would like to see schools reaching out to parents in order to strenghten the partnership between parent, child, and school. I would also like to see the school systems doing more to promote diversity.
1295.	10/29/2008 11:50:00 PM	I would like to see higher academic performance standards for Alaska's students and a reduction in requirements based on the 'nice extras' like 6th grade band/orch.
1296.	10/29/2008 11:51:00 PM	1. implement smaller class sizes 2. add as graduation requirements classes in the arts and world languages 3. need more teachers which ethnically represent the students they teach 4. better pay for teachers so they will stay in Alaska or stay in the field of teaching
1297.	10/29/2008 11:53:00 PM	In my opinion, Special education should not be included in the over all score for the school. If I student does not meet the goal then we need to look at individual progress. Sometimes they have huge personal growth but can't pass the tests.
1298.	10/29/2008 11:54:00 PM	Requirements for NCLB... NCLB requirements are even more unrealistic for our rural school districts.
1299.	10/29/2008 11:56:00 PM	More oportunities for vocational training for under achieving and struggling students. Many students feel if they're not going to college then what's the point of graduating from high school.
1300.	10/29/2008 11:56:00 PM	More connection between homes and schools. I would like parents to feel good about coming to school and participating in their child's education.
1301.	10/29/2008 11:58:00 PM	Funding more of the needs to make education work for all students. This includes adding bilingual staff (who can speak the languages needed), lowering class size, and holding parents more accountable for their part in their children's educations.
1302.	10/29/2008 11:58:00 PM	The formula for funding both rural and urban schools needs to be increased... rural schools especially need the support right now.
1303.	10/29/2008 11:58:00 PM	More pride and emphasis on trade schools and skills. An ability for students to choose a "non-college" track when in high school and really train for a career.
1304.	10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM	Allowing each geopraphical area to arrange their school calendar around the importance of traditions in their community such as fish camps and/or hunting season.
1305.	10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM	Programs to better assist and prepare first year teachers.
1306.	10/30/2008 12:03:00 AM	I really would like to see the pay scale higher for the state of Alaska. We are loosing many of our good teachers. It is so expensive living here in Alaska with our fuel, food, travel expenses, and our health insurance being as high as it is. It isn't quite fair that schools should have to pay more of the allocation for what they are paying now. How will bush schools survive?
1307.	10/30/2008 12:03:00 AM	Making the high schools places where students learn how to succeed in the real world---whatever their real world is.
1308.	10/30/2008 12:03:00 AM	I would have year-round school. I would limit class size to 18 in primary grades (K-2). I would limit class size to 24 in intermediate grades (3-5).
1309.	10/30/2008 12:04:00 AM	Make early childhood education available to all families.
1310.	10/30/2008 12:04:00 AM	Middle schools need a lifeline. The ones in Anchorage need a place for students who are on suspension, long term, but aren't SPED, and don't quite need McLaughlin. We need more optional classes like what King Career Center offers in Anchorage, for other schools and for middle schools.
1311.	10/30/2008 12:04:00 AM	Funding, paying teachers what others in our community make with the same education, more support for technology, good computers for teachers to use (laptop) so you can take home. Helping disfunctional families, helping families get off drugs and alcohol.
1312.	10/30/2008 12:06:00 AM	Smaller class sizes at all grade levels: teacher/student ratio
1313.	10/30/2008 12:06:00 AM	There is a lot of stress put on schools (and bilingual students) because of the "No Child Left Behind Act. Test scores should be looked at in relation to the issue of non english speakers and ESL speakers in schools.
1314.	10/30/2008 12:08:00 AM	small class size and higher salary for teachers
1315.	10/30/2008 12:10:00 AM	I would offer more early childhood education so that more students come to school with the skills needed to succeed. I would offer more opportunities for struggling students and more educational programs for their parents. I wish all students had an opportunity to succeed. And I wish those teachers that are not invested in the teaching process and not invested in helping children succeed would not be allowed to teach.
1316.	10/30/2008 12:12:00 AM	Increased funding is needed to provide more early education programs, parent education, and secondary programs that include technical and career-oriented training.
1317.	10/30/2008 12:16:00 AM	Standards need to be much more rigorous. For example, moving to a minimum passing grade of 70, as in other states and districts.
1318.	10/30/2008 12:17:00 AM	To be able to have other academic options such as Aprenticeships, Technical and Vocational programs while still in H.S. or after graduating.
1319.	10/30/2008 12:18:00 AM	Provide more in-class support for regular classroom teachers with Sped Ed. kids at the beginning of the school year. I would like to see the school budget finalized by the end of each school year for the NEXT school year, so that staffing can be adequately located, teachers can prepare/take classes/locate materials during the summer so that they can prepare for those high needs kids - i.e. sped. educ. kids
1320.	10/30/2008 12:19:00 AM	Less emphasis on socio-emotional learning...let's just teach our kids to read and write. That is ultimately what they need to succeed.
1321.	10/30/2008 12:22:00 AM	Access to technology
1322.	10/30/2008 12:26:00 AM	Students are offered a variety of education choices, but they need to be expanded. Teachers should be allowed to move among their certified areas, not be pigeon-holed in one subject. Money needs to go to the schools (specifically) and have a direct impact on the students, not the 'district' personnel nor surveys (or studies, or testing). Districts get better qualified educators by offering comparable salaries, not with the 'we need better then we'll pay more' attitude.
1323.	10/30/2008 12:27:00 AM	More attention paid to students who are struggling but don't qualify for special education services.
1324.	10/30/2008 12:28:00 AM	eliminate the nonsense that comes with no child left behind. more than half our students are not going on to college and need more options for education/trades. I think that it is critical that all students have the opportunity to go into some of the trades (vocational school), and that is as well respected as the option to go on to university.
1325.	10/30/2008 12:28:00 AM	State funding of every school library on a per pupil basis would give equal access to information to all students, regardless of where they are.
1326.	10/30/2008 12:30:00 AM	Get rid of NCLB. It makes all of us as educators feel as if we have all failed if our school is 'on the LIST' of not making AYP. We all work very hard to help VERY child succeed. To reward only a few is wrong!!
1327.	10/30/2008 12:34:00 AM	More funding ofr individual teachers to use in their classroom. If districts expect students to write with pencils and on paper, then they also need to provide the pencil sharpeners and the paper baskets. Teachers use too much of their own money on management just so that they CAN teach.
1328.	10/30/2008 12:34:00 AM	I would allow vouchers for parents who want other options for their children. Many of the charter and immersion schools are really different options of parental choice.
1329.	10/30/2008 12:36:00 AM	More funding to schools.
1330.	10/30/2008 12:37:00 AM	get a degree and learn
1331.	10/30/2008 12:37:00 AM	I would want to have students learn the basics of education then, go into a trade or vocational school so they have skills in the job market to provide for themselves and/or family.
1332.	10/30/2008 12:40:00 AM	Flow from one school to another. Consistent expectations of staff across schools.
1333.	10/30/2008 12:44:00 AM	I would recommend that we have uniforms (could just be polo shirt and jeans) so students aren't judged by the clothing they wear.
1334.	10/30/2008 12:45:00 AM	I think more power to teachers to impose discipline to students. This will make teaching a class smoothly and focusinf more on the subject or content, rather than to deal with behavior problems in the classroom. I believe that parents need to get involved actively in their child's education at all times since pre-school. Education is both home and school partnership and not the school alone. School can take care of the academic, but character can be molded both and developed at home and community. There is no excuse for good parenting. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives need to step up in times of need.
1335.	10/30/2008 12:46:00 AM	I would be honest in talking with students about what they want to do and start pointing them in that direction early. For many students this means that we need to be offering vocational education at the middle school level so that students can graduate from high school with certification in the vocational field of their choosing and that vocational education is valued as much or more than traditional academic education. All students need money to attend school and a trade is a way for them to earn those funds and attend college without having to go into debt.
1336.	10/30/2008 12:47:00 AM	Preparation for the "outside world" is important. Without teachers, parents & community to help prepare the student to live, work hard and thrive - it is very difficult for the Alaskan student to accomplish what they dream. I would challenge our schools to prepare them better. And for urban communities to have them travel to rural communities and/or serve those less fortunate than themselves to help them have more compassion for others.
1337.	10/30/2008 12:47:00 AM	I would like to see the Base Allocation increase. Schools are seeing a fraction of that money and it has not kept up with inflation and the rising costs of maintenance, etc... I would like to see legislation that mandates increases in the Base Allocation so that education is funded adequately. This would alleviate the problem of education funding being held hostage in the legislative process.
1338.	10/30/2008 12:50:00 AM	Smaller PTR and additional funding in the classroom. Thank you.
1339.	10/30/2008 12:50:00 AM	Students and parents need to take more ownership in the education process.
1340.	10/30/2008 12:51:00 AM	Increase academic standards.
1341.	10/30/2008 12:51:00 AM	I have a plaque that says "stop and smell the roses". Just remember each flower has a different smell so, each child learns in their own way. We need to remember that. I have a child that is highly intellegent and one that has difficulties in reading. She has been in your school district since 3rd grade and last year in 7th grade she was only reading on 3rd grade level. I decided to home school her and it was beneficial. It was a one on one and she learned so much and can keep her grades in 8th grade above C's. My point is stop and check on each student even if it means have longer days at school--teachers are here to teach these kids to become adults that can function normally in the real world. Some need an extra hug, helping hand, pat on the back it means the world to them.
1342.	10/30/2008 12:53:00 AM	I would like to see it go back to the basics and be rebuilt without all the fluff. Math should be math not reading with math situations thrown in. Math should be practical and hands on. All teachers should be teaching lessons that are inclusive of all learning styles in the classroom--not just their own preference.
1343.	10/30/2008 12:54:00 AM	Emphasis on Math, Reading and Science.
1344.	10/30/2008 12:56:00 AM	Early education..we need more of it!
1345.	10/30/2008 12:57:00 AM	The school calendar to shorten the summer holidays and have more mid term breaks. Less knowledge lost over the summer
1346.	10/30/2008 12:57:00 AM	An end to no child left behind. Less standardized testing (everyone can have a bad day testing). A realization that not every child may achieve absolute excellence.
1347.	10/30/2008 1:00:00 AM	I would increase the salary to teachers and administrators in order to increase quality and retention.
1348.	10/30/2008 1:01:00 AM	I think schools could be more efficient and successful with smaller class sizes. I have seen my daughter's current kindergarten class at 25 students and I feel that is much too high for the lower grade levels.
1349.	10/30/2008 1:02:00 AM	I would ensure that the SPED programs comply with IDEA so that parents can stop suing to enforce the law. I am not litigious but had to do this for my son. He was in Eigth Grade reading at a Fourth Grade level and getting A's and has a genius level IQ. What is wrong with this picture?
1350.	10/30/2008 1:10:00 AM	For students, I'd like to see more focus on ways to serve others.
1351.	10/30/2008 1:13:00 AM	The connection between school and home is sometimes tenuous at best.
1352.	10/30/2008 1:16:00 AM	more money for teachers
1353.	10/30/2008 1:17:00 AM	Less testing...
1354.	10/30/2008 1:22:00 AM	More funding for lower class size and more technical/career components. A nursing academy at high school level, for instance.
1355.	10/30/2008 1:26:00 AM	More cooperation between K-12, post-secondary and business.
1356.	10/30/2008 1:31:00 AM	how they divide up the funding, support staff IE bpo and custodial budgets keep getting smaller, the techology for janitors is mooving ahead too.
1357.	10/30/2008 1:31:00 AM	I would change the fact that all kids are on track for pass or fail diplomas and offer a vocational option for those we know will not qualify for a diploma so that they may have a job skill they can use when they are finished with high school.
1358.	10/30/2008 1:31:00 AM	-more early childhood (prek-3rd grade) speech and language evaluations and teaching -more teachers--making small groups possible (kids are needier in their language and social skills) -more direct teaching of social skills -more access to counseling and emotional/mental health care workers -easier access to sped services in early grades (we make them get too far behind before they receive help)
1359.	10/30/2008 1:37:00 AM	Realize that we need to educate the entire child, which means taking into account issues in the family, community, physical well being, self-esteem, culture, and spiritual components that all have a major impact on the success of a child in school. Bring in other professional support personnel, besides teachers, to meet this need. Pay all more who work for the schools, especially in bush/village Alaska. Offer college loan forgiveness for all who work in school systems.
1360.	10/30/2008 1:40:00 AM	A clear merged curriculum between rural and urban schools. All students would have similar expectations and avenues for accomplishing same.
1361.	10/30/2008 1:51:00 AM	Too many students in elementary classrooms. No consequences for absences until students are in high school.
1362.	10/30/2008 1:54:00 AM	Required education courses and ongoing support for parents as their children enter the school system.
1363.	10/30/2008 1:59:00 AM	Provide students the information they need for post secondary education. We need to let every student know that there are programs for every ability level and that academic strength is just one route they could pursue. Too many students do not know about the existing opportunities. We are in need of the hands-on students who could excel in apprenticeship, and vocational careers. Graduating students are lacking basic living skills-handling their finances, doing their laundry, cooking basics. Yes, they should learn this at home, but as I listen to my children it makes me cringe because many kids just don't get it.
1364.	10/30/2008 2:04:00 AM	The state standards are lower than the national standards. Bring the standards up.
1365.	10/30/2008 2:12:00 AM	Unfortunately, because many parents had poor experiences in school, they devalue education to their children. The children, then, have little desire to learn.
1366.	10/30/2008 2:14:00 AM	Being a part of NCLB--get rid of it!
1367.	10/30/2008 2:14:00 AM	Class size
1368.	10/30/2008 2:15:00 AM	Salary for teachers. Class size.
1369.	10/30/2008 2:20:00 AM	The formula needs to be reformulated so that rural & bush schools receive a much greater chunk of education dollars. In Alaska, these schools need more money than urban schools.
1370.	10/30/2008 2:22:00 AM	more post secondary choices in anchorage
1371.	10/30/2008 2:29:00 AM	Class sizes
1372.	10/30/2008 2:33:00 AM	I would like for the high schools to start preparing the students better for post-secondary education. I think that right now we are preparing students enough to get through high school but not enough to do well at a post secondary school.
1373.	10/30/2008 2:35:00 AM	August would be used strictly for establishing a classroom educational environment (classroom procedures, establishing student ownership of their education, bonding between teachers and students). Assessment teams would go to EVERY school during August to conduct all testing (DRAs, etc.). The "lost" time in August would more than be made up for by teachers not having to multi-task to the point that it degrades the ability of the teacher to teach.
1374.	10/30/2008 2:36:00 AM	ELIMINATE the Regional School Districts. Replace with Advisory School Board Chairperson who knows alot more about their communities. Allow Alaska Native History and Languages in the curriculum.
1375.	10/30/2008 2:40:00 AM	more technology
1376.	10/30/2008 2:44:00 AM	My dream would be class size no larger than 15 students.
1377.	10/30/2008 2:59:00 AM	The teacher/pupil ratio. Classroom sizes are to big throughout the K-12 programs.
1378.	10/30/2008 3:03:00 AM	In Anchorage too much money goes to the wrong sources: buildings instead of students; special education services instead of gifted curriculum and instructors; administrative pay increases vs. increase in classroom teachers. Anchorage is much too large a district to be truly accountable for the breadth of standards it is supposed to deliver. Students do not care. They do not perceive the connection between academics and their life, job choices, etc. Many students from diverse backgrounds (almost 50%) want to learn real skills. Where can they take this energy? Why have vocational goals and programs become obsolete? Why does the KCC not function as a vocational facility - I was very surprised to learn only students who had met all the high school graduation qualifications were elligable to participate in the programs there.
1379.	10/30/2008 3:09:00 AM	-Students want relevance and flexiblity. -Offer more "third session" classes as well as "third semester" classes, e.g. classes offered after the normal school day ends and in the evening as well as running a summer semester with a full range (not simply remedial classes) will go a long way to lower drop-out rates and increasing graduation - More classes that offer both high school and university credit simultaneously
1380.	10/30/2008 3:10:00 AM	Adapt rural schools for more success.
1381.	10/30/2008 3:14:00 AM	More funding!
1382.	10/30/2008 3:23:00 AM	Tell the government that we no longer want to be a part of the No Child Left Behind. The tests that are administered are not the best way to gauge the learning of the students. It puts unnecessary stress on the students.
1383.	10/30/2008 3:27:00 AM	Increase the number of technical/vocational programs in the schools. For example, our state could use several more schools like KCC.
1384.	10/30/2008 3:27:00 AM	The level of technology support is something I would change. It seems that schools are focused on getting hardware and software within their buildings; however, there are not tech teachers or specialists available to assist teachers or students.
1385.	10/30/2008 3:32:00 AM	Class size.
1386.	10/30/2008 3:35:00 AM	Void all tenure language by state statute after 20 yrs of service. It produces mediocrity in the teaching profession. If we could rid ourselves of it completely then we should make a bold move to do so.
1387.	10/30/2008 3:37:00 AM	Possible, all school have lower class size numbers--improve teacher/student ratios.
1388.	10/30/2008 3:38:00 AM	Better curriculum, especially in math and reading.
1389.	10/30/2008 3:39:00 AM	The law allowing dropping out before 18. I also see too much administration and positions that do not help the classrooms.
1390.	10/30/2008 3:41:00 AM	More creativity and vocal freedom.
1391.	10/30/2008 3:59:00 AM	First year teachers should receive more help so that they won't burn out.
1392.	10/30/2008 4:01:00 AM	I think that there need to be more options for high school aged students to encourage them to stay in school.
1393.	10/30/2008 4:03:00 AM	Smaller Class sizes
1394.	10/30/2008 4:07:00 AM	That parents are informed at what grade level their child is performing at and has achieved success each year of their public school education. An exit exam that is at an 8th grade level does not qualify a good portion of our students to be prepared for meaningful employment and unfortunately there is nothing posted anywhere that this is the reality of our state standards. Further more students who meet or exceed AYP standards never know if that which is deemed adequate by our state is at a level that will allow this child to succeed in top notch colleges.
1395.	10/30/2008 4:11:00 AM	A system that is more able to help individual students achieve which could include more technical, vocational options beginning in 7th grade. Actual help and programs for students who have behavior disorders. A system that realistically measures students progress, i.e. measure them at the beginning of the year, and again at the end of the year to measure growth.
1396.	10/30/2008 4:15:00 AM	teacher-student ratio, which is too high. No more than 25 students should ever be enrolled in any secondary classroom
1397.	10/30/2008 4:20:00 AM	Required parent involvement. Parenting classes. Higher expectations for students and teachers. More money and time spent on creating classes and electives that kids actually want to participate in rather than loathe and create havoc.
1398.	10/30/2008 4:26:00 AM	Higher standards
1399.	10/30/2008 4:28:00 AM	The ONE SIZE FITS ALL mentality that is ever increasing,
1400.	10/30/2008 4:38:00 AM	There is too much of an emphasis on Reading, Writing and Math to the point where today's kindergarten classes are now what first grade used to be. I think this has led to the increase in social/behavior problems in the schools. The kids no longer have time to play and learn some of those basic social skills.
1401.	10/30/2008 4:39:00 AM	move further away from curriculum decisions based on NCLB AYP.
1402.	10/30/2008 4:52:00 AM	Fewer administrators and more teachers. Lower elementary class size of 15 max.
1403.	10/30/2008 4:58:00 AM	Reduce class sizes; smaller classes (15-20) provide the needed means to meet the individual needs accommodations required by federal and state laws. Lengthen the school day by 30 minutes, without increasing curricular contact hours, to enable actual on-task use of that contact time by not including transition times in subject times.
1404.	10/30/2008 5:02:00 AM	Stop jumping through hoops every year to get funding from the state legislature. Make education a top priority. Without good public education our state will fall behind.
1405.	10/30/2008 5:05:00 AM	We need to change school hours (be more flexible) to Juniors and Seniors who are working to pay for clothes, food etc. Some students are out on their own at this age whether we like it or not or they are helping their parents out by working to pay for some of the household costs.
1406.	10/30/2008 5:10:00 AM	more professional development for all teachers, lower class size in urban schools and incentive for college grads returning to AK
1407.	10/30/2008 5:12:00 AM	There's a lot of choices but no real consistency between city and village or other outlying areas.
1408.	10/30/2008 5:14:00 AM	We need a permanent source of funding for our schools. The budgetary ups and downs are discouraging and disheartening.
1409.	10/30/2008 5:17:00 AM	Funding Lower class size
1410.	10/30/2008 5:19:00 AM	That we work with the more challenging children away from the other children so it doesn't hinder them from learning or frighten them from wanting to go to school.
1411.	10/30/2008 5:23:00 AM	additional funding for career and technical education programs at each site. The current formula does not give adequate funds for small schools to operate voc ed programs.
1412.	10/30/2008 5:27:00 AM	Smaller class sizes in elementary school and a focus on children that are below proficient (like having non proficient first grade students move to a class the following year that is in between 1st and 2nd grade so they can gain the skills necessary to be succesful in 2nd - not retaining them, but having them in a small class that is focused on all the first graders that weren't proficient the previous year). I would also like to see schools with more updated technology (document cameras in every room, new laptops for all teachers - especially once we start using SBAR, iPods for student use, etc).
1413.	10/30/2008 5:33:00 AM	I would like to see more early childhood programs and intervention to help kids before they get to kindergarten. Programs that offer parents support for their special needs child is also needed.
1414.	10/30/2008 5:42:00 AM	That quantity of information is not the primary goal of the education, especially at the younger ages, rather we want the child to have authentic love and wonder that encourages the same behavior as they specialize into a specific area or find employment.
1415.	10/30/2008 5:44:00 AM	Students today can not learn in classrooms of 28-35, which is especially common in the late elementary grades. Children of today are growing up in a world/life environment that is different from what their teacher's experienced. Classes of these sizes do not allow individual academic and emotional needs to be met. Lower class size is a necessity at ALL grade levels and not just K-2.
1416.	10/30/2008 5:44:00 AM	The urban schools need to have a better teacher/student ratio because many kids can slide under the radar if they don't shine or if they don't cause trouble.
1417.	10/30/2008 5:48:00 AM	I would offer and support opportunities for educators to exchange for a quarter, half a year or full year. Many of our teachers have never taught/lived in the bush and don't have an understanding or appreciation for another's point of view. Also, the exchange of ideas should always be welcome!
1418.	10/30/2008 5:51:00 AM	More early childhood programs such as preschool for average income families not just for low SES families or children of a certain ethnicity
1419.	10/30/2008 5:52:00 AM	Class size in elementary school. These are the formative years of education. Without the basics, you are fighting an uphill battle towards graduation. With the diverse population and needs of Alaskans, we need to focus more on the kids in the early grades.
1420.	10/30/2008 5:54:00 AM	The tolerance for the level of bullying and violence in the schools. My child doesn't want to attend because of the amount of bullying that takes place. It's at a level that is overwhelming for an individual teacher to remediate.
1421.	10/30/2008 5:56:00 AM	early childhood prep for preschoolers.
1422.	10/30/2008 6:01:00 AM	I really would like to see more options for early childhood education. I would insist on low class sizes in Title I schools. I would offer incentives to parents to take classes. Topics could include: nutrition, behavior management, subject matter such as algebra, English language and culture classes...
1423.	10/30/2008 6:03:00 AM	Have affordable/free early childhood education programs available statewide Classes available for parents who would like to know how to help their child succeed in school. NCLB is not a good or realistic program for urban and especially rural school districts. Eventually all schools are doomed for failure. NCLB must be changed or repealed for the state of Alaska.
1424.	10/30/2008 6:05:00 AM	Trying to get parents more involved in their child's education success. Teachers no longer can simply teach; they must be counselors, nutritionists, child advocates, and more. Education is a gift and our society needs to respect this right (For example, contrast American respect for educators and the education system with that of Japanese citizens.)
1425.	10/30/2008 6:07:00 AM	The increase in PTR in schools; esp. in elementary school, where much of a child's basic skills are necessary for them to attain success later on in their academic life. Also, the push to teach to the test, in order to meet AYP, instead of looking at individual student growth for schools and teachers.
1426.	10/30/2008 6:06:00 AM	Better teachers who dont push their own agendas
1427.	10/30/2008 6:14:00 AM	Professional pay for teachers
1428.	10/30/2008 6:17:00 AM	The reason for education is to help our students be able to make choices for work, further schooling, and improve the quality of life. This includes traditional rural and urban societal values. Education helps provide choices for the residents of this state. Let's keep in mind that we are all in this together and that public schools are not exclusive of the rest of the communities that our citizens live in. We need flexiblity to provide education that will help the rural and urban populations. We have all heard that we want our children to make these choices but the education that is offered is still a one size fits all. Our lives are not determined by a scripted text published by some distant publishing company. Neither should our students futures be determined by a one size fits all test. Let's provide relevant education.
1429.	10/30/2008 6:17:00 AM	Refocus high school so that it meets the needs and talents of all students, not firstly those bound for university and others only secondarily.
1430.	10/30/2008 6:18:00 AM	I would like to see Alaska go to a year round school calendar.
1431.	10/30/2008 6:26:00 AM	Better enforcement of national parent involvement standars for all schools. Not just the schools that are Title I which are required to follow NCLB. Also, a more diverse cultural resource system, not just AK Native resources.
1432.	10/30/2008 6:41:00 AM	reduce teacher/student ratio increase early childhood opportunities for those with limited resources educate urban teacher with regards to Alaskan Native culture and village culture
1433.	10/30/2008 6:41:00 AM	More virtual classrooms and apprenticeships for students.
1434.	10/30/2008 6:47:00 AM	The teacher certification process needs to be examined. It takes far too long to process these applications and the instructions are unclear, imprecise, and, at times, contradictory. Try answering the phone, replying to emails promptly, and actually helping with a concise answer to inquiries so teachers aren't wasting their time worrying about re-certification and spend more time actually helping Alaska's children.
1435.	10/30/2008 6:48:00 AM	For urban districts, create smaller learning communities and schools, especially at the secondary level.
1436.	10/30/2008 6:53:00 AM	See comment in box #11.
1437.	10/30/2008 7:02:00 AM	spending of educational funding
1438.	10/30/2008 7:10:00 AM	I would create more flexibility for attaining a high school diploma, making requirements more relevant, purposeful and meaningful to the students. I would develop a varied tiered diploma system and develop a contract system with high school students whereby they contract for what kind of diploma they want, depending on their potential career choice. I would compare Work Keys and the HSGQE and determine if Work Keys could supplant the HSGQE. I would reduce class size for primary grades, concentrating on reading and math, and reducing the emphasis on other subjects. I would promote early childhood education.
1439.	10/30/2008 7:12:00 AM	I would change the way tenure works so that we don't keep inadequate teachers teaching our future citizens. I would also like something put in place that insures some parent responsibility and accountability.
1440.	10/30/2008 10:19:00 AM	Too early start time for high schoolers is negatively affecting test scores and drop out rates. Elementary school children wake up earlier so have them start early and High Schoolers start last. The high school class schedule rotation makes it very difficult for students to take University classes. Merit pay for master teachers.
1441.	10/30/2008 12:29:00 PM	We need a much stronger connection between K-12 and the world of work. Students need a realistic foundation for becoming productive citizens by having a strong work ethic. Not all students need to go to college -- training and education at a career and technical school is just as valuable as college! Students should be offered more opportunities in middle and high school for career and technical education.
1442.	10/30/2008 12:39:00 PM	Get vocational programs in every high school. You want to improve graduation rates, then target the kids who are not graduating. Although more rigorous standards are important, the students who are dropping out are doing so often times to get jobs to support families etc, they are failing in the traditional model.
1443.	10/30/2008 1:37:00 PM	1.Continuing developing the RTI model and employing strategies to address at-risk students such as are offered in the Reading First Program. One place to start would be to fund a full time instructional/assessment coach for each elementary school.
1444.	10/30/2008 2:08:00 PM	Less bureaucracy
1445.	10/30/2008 2:30:00 PM	take away the graduate test for it does not meet the needs of the students for all students do not test good. It is not a good tool to see if our students are meeting the stands for a student could be able to do the work but at the test they draw a blank or get stress out and do poorly on the test.
1446.	10/30/2008 2:42:00 PM	Two things. First, educators need to have a clear signal that the expectation is that they stay current with the latest educational technology hardware and software, so that the money spent on these items isn't wasted and that the teacher doesn't become the barrier that prevents student learning in the classroom. Secondly, discipline in the hallways and in the classroom needs to be tightened down and enforced evenly. Right now we have great rules in student handbooks but the administration/security force is too small to evenly enforce them, and the average educator does not feel it is his/her job to discipline students within their classrooms, much less in the hallways and common areas. A conducive atmosphere for education starts with a calm, disciplined school environment where students are expected to show respect for each other and for their teacher/administrators. Tardy / Truant / Behavior policies need to be enforced with real consequences that happen quickly. Otherwise the students get the message that it is all a paper drill and overall learning is negatively impacted by a small group of students who are allowed to continue to break the rules with only minor, if any, consequence.
1447.	10/30/2008 2:54:00 PM	Hold kids accountable. No extra credit to improve grades, etc.
1448.	10/30/2008 3:06:00 PM	We really have to do something about huge class sizes.
1449.	10/30/2008 3:07:00 PM	The post-secondary opportunities - I would increase them.
1450.	10/30/2008 3:07:00 PM	With the condition of society, we must lower class size and provide the funding for each student not just one category, but all. We must increase the amount of technology experiences and give students guidance and real reasons to use this tool.
1451.	10/30/2008 3:10:00 PM	Class size in urban schools are too big. There should be a maximum of 25 students to a class room with one teacher and special services, teacher experts, etc. should not be counted as having students which makes the ratio of student to teacher look smaller. As a middle school math teachers, most of my classes are 30+ students.
1452.	10/30/2008 3:19:00 PM	With most students not going to college, open more vocational career choices to interest them in at least getting a one or two year degree in a career field to be able to support themselves.
1453.	10/30/2008 3:31:00 PM	Class sizes are too big, and there is too much money spent on special education.
1454.	10/30/2008 3:32:00 PM	more instruction about respect for other people, cultures, etc., and individual accountability
1455.	10/30/2008 3:37:00 PM	Needs to be better training for principals.
1456.	10/30/2008 3:46:00 PM	I am still new enough that I have not found anything I would want to change at this time.
1457.	10/30/2008 3:46:00 PM	Teachers need to be paid more. Teachers in Title 1, over crowded, and multiage classrooms need to be paid an extra stipend. Class sizes also need to be reduced so we can make better connections with our students and can catch the students up who have very little parent support. Title 1 schools should be allowed to control their curriculum more. Get CORE out of there.
1458.	10/30/2008 3:50:00 PM	Consistent and appropriate funding for Special Education programs.
1459.	10/30/2008 3:51:00 PM	The classroom size
1460.	10/30/2008 3:55:00 PM	more equity between urban schools and native village schools
1461.	10/30/2008 4:01:00 PM	Funding so that class size can be dropped.
1462.	10/30/2008 4:03:00 PM	need more funding lower class size
1463.	10/30/2008 4:11:00 PM	I would create more vocational programs because not all students are interested in going to college. I think, part of the problem with the graduation rate is that the education system caters mostly to college bound students and leaves students that are either not academically prepared or have no interest behind. Students become frustrated and lose interest in school.
1464.	10/30/2008 4:13:00 PM	there must be additional and ongoing funding that we can COUNT on
1465.	10/30/2008 4:13:00 PM	Parent involvement!!!!
1466.	10/30/2008 4:14:00 PM	smaller class sizes to meet needs of students
1467.	10/30/2008 4:18:00 PM	Offer technology and vocational programs to those who don't intend to go to a college or university. Offer classes again related to family life(budgeting meal preparation child care nutrition), and shop(small engine repair, woodworking,boat building etc... ) in the villages.
1468.	10/30/2008 4:19:00 PM	The state should save the PFDs of the eligible children into an account until they are 18, or graduated out of high school. Then, those children would have money enough money to go to college with. I realize this is really the job of the student or the parents to save the money into an account, but there are a lot of families that blow the money away on useless things, such as video games or big-screen TVs. For some of these families, intervention by a third party would be appropriate.
1469.	10/30/2008 4:21:00 PM	I would like to eliminate all federally mandated testing.
1470.	10/30/2008 4:21:00 PM	I woul;d like to see overall teacher pay be increased so that we can continue to attract quality teachers and be competitive with other states.
1471.	10/30/2008 4:22:00 PM	The funding is a huge problem. Let's face it - we live in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the WORLD, and we still don't have enough state funding for education. It's too much to keep depending on taxpayers for funds. They're tapped out, and it's easy to see when they start voting down much-needed bonds.
1472.	10/30/2008 4:22:00 PM	add subjects of interest to the students other than academic
1473.	10/30/2008 4:23:00 PM	Move towards a more vocational mode of schools and put bck in home economics, wood shop, and life skills classes.
1474.	10/30/2008 4:23:00 PM	That the bullying stops against the children who are slower, mentally, physically or challenged in other aspects of learning and living, and this is tolerated by the teachers and the students. We need to have a caring place, not a place the kids do not want to go.
1475.	10/30/2008 4:27:00 PM	emphasis on basic skills, hard work, good behavior.
1476.	10/30/2008 4:27:00 PM	I would like to see Early Childhood classes in all the schools.
1477.	10/30/2008 4:28:00 PM	Add more technical and vocational training. We are losing many students because they are bored or unable to complete high school. I agree we need to have a certain level of educational standards (HSGQE), but we need to focus the attention of those juniors and seniors who are not college bound into productive training for their future. They may not need an English literature class, but they would benefit from an English class that teaches more technical reading...they kind they will face in the work force. There is no reason to keep kids in traditional curriculum if it does not serve their needs. We need to redefine and update our curriculum to meet our students changing needs.
1478.	10/30/2008 4:32:00 PM	The Anchorage School District is too big. It is more like a system of schools than a school system. Like the smaller communities and villages in Alaska, the ASD needs more smaller learning community opportunities. Also, the teachers need to have a little more freedom in their classrooms to develop their teaching styles. The state is too strict in regards to curriculum. I would also implement dress codes and school uniforms - it would cut down on depression and bullying among students.
1479.	10/30/2008 4:32:00 PM	Lotery replaced by voucher Rural education and special education need higher support from the state Increase the number of school days
1480.	10/30/2008 4:33:00 PM	Somehow get parents to be better parents and not rely on teachers to do that "job"
1481.	10/30/2008 4:36:00 PM	More opportunities for secondary education at in-state rates using lower 48 colleges and universities.
1482.	10/30/2008 4:36:00 PM	More teacher/student ratio so teachers can spend more time with kids individually.
1483.	10/30/2008 4:44:00 PM	Instead of building schools in very small rural areas, have many of them connected virtually to classrooms. This would take the pressure off rural areas of trying to recruit teachers to the bush.
1484.	10/30/2008 4:48:00 PM	Enhance the existing discipline support for the classroom, especially in middle and high schools.
1485.	10/30/2008 4:50:00 PM	We need to offer more options for students. Not every student is going to college. Perhaps those who do not pass the exit exam could get vocational endorsements on a diploma or endorsements for those areas of the HSGQE that they did pass. I think we have dropouts because they cannot pass certain parts of that test. But that should not keep them from getting a diploma that shows what they did do. We are making students feel like failures because they do not fit neatly in our system.
1486.	10/30/2008 4:50:00 PM	Teach fewer "skills" in elementary school in mathematics. Narrow the scope and teach the few things well instead of the many things poorly.
1487.	10/30/2008 4:51:00 PM	No child left behind program, more time for advanced learners in the classroom to be challenged while the slower learners have more one on one time with teachers.
1488.	10/30/2008 4:53:00 PM	Rewrite the standards so that they are actually aligned with what is being taught when. check out California's stadards for instance.
1489.	10/30/2008 4:55:00 PM	change how and what we teach in the bush schools to be more relevant to life in the bush
1490.	10/30/2008 4:55:00 PM	Forward funding education so that teachers and administrators are not guessing from year to year what the legislature will be giving them
1491.	10/30/2008 4:58:00 PM	Believe in the students so they would see they can dream.
1492.	10/30/2008 4:59:00 PM	More preschool education so children come to school ready to learn. More support to challenged families offered within the school so their children can concentrate and succeed in school.
1493.	10/30/2008 5:00:00 PM	I would make parents more accountable. I would want to find a way to make student success something that actually is a team commitment.
1494.	10/30/2008 5:00:00 PM	A large number of states accept teaching certificates from other states without much additional balloon chasing. The 'recertification' process for Alaska is both antiquated, laborious, and unnecessary. I know several very well qualified and certificated teachers who have simply given up on obtaining an Alaskan license because of both the process, and inability to get timely answers and paperwork from their home state and Juneau. Maryland has one of the most progressive and demanding teacher programs in the nation. Their teaching certificate is accepted by many states in lieu of a resident certificate. It took me almost nine months to get the state of Maryland to process and mail a 'required' form to Juneau. By the time it arrived one of my Praxis expired, and the entire process began yet again. Permit districts to process state standards! Alaska needs teachers, not red tape!
1495.	10/30/2008 5:01:00 PM	More progressive on the top and more support for the bottom of the system. Maybe being appointed or elected doesn't qualify one as an expert. As opposed to the common "wisdom," having attended a school doesn't qualify one to make educational decisions.
1496.	10/30/2008 5:04:00 PM	More technical, vocational support for students who are not college bound; develop more successful programs for Native Alaskan students and bilingual students.
1497.	10/30/2008 5:07:00 PM	Fully funding our programs already in place.
1498.	10/30/2008 5:11:00 PM	Smaller class sizes and the ability to attract and keep excellent teachers.
1499.	10/30/2008 5:11:00 PM	Class size is too big.
1500.	10/30/2008 5:12:00 PM	Include cultural standards so that the people from the regions and their families can be participants in the lives of their students.
1501.	10/30/2008 5:14:00 PM	We spend too much time and money on intensive needs. The model needs to change. Spending 12 years to teach a child to lift their bottom to help with a diaper change is not ok. We need more vocational education; perhaps something along the lines of the "O" and "A" levels of England. The University of AK is substandard, an embarrassment. We need the junior college back. If we are to maintain a four year college, it needs to improve in quality. Finally, I support the voucher system, charter schools, etc... Anytime families are involved, students do better.
1502.	10/30/2008 5:16:00 PM	I would make early education opportunities (Preschool) available to all students, not just special education.
1503.	10/30/2008 5:20:00 PM	I am a counselor in a high school and I often feel like I am unable to reach the kids who need my support the most. Our case loads are so large that I spend much of my time dealing with schedules and crisis management. I would love to be able to go into classes more often, offer more groups, and create more connections with my students. Every year there are students that spend the whole school year unaware that I could be a source of support because I have too many kids to reach all of them. I believe that smaller case loads would allow us to reach more of those students that are currently falling through the cracks.
1504.	10/30/2008 5:22:00 PM	Funding is always tough. Economy is always tough, recently especially. For Rural Alaskan children, I think more funding for activities abroad would help benefit the children to leave their communities after graduation. Giving them more of a sense of the world and first hands on, on the differences urban cities have vs. rural communities.
1505.	10/30/2008 5:24:00 PM	Smaller schools, more vocational ed offered at all schools. Less lecture, college prep classes
1506.	10/30/2008 5:25:00 PM	This is more district specific, but some of the standards are a bit redundant and unnecessary. If those could be changed then teachers could focus on more education rather than being overwhelmed by a list of standards. Plus, a lot of the standards are things that should be taught in the home and by the community, not the teacher. Parental classes would have a very positive effect on education and the role of the teacher.
1507.	10/30/2008 5:26:00 PM	More discipline and respect at the secondary level. So much garbage goes on that is tolerated and passed over.
1508.	10/30/2008 5:26:00 PM	Increase interest and hope for future occupation that jives with cultural values and local sustainability of the state. Focus can not be only college, but also must prepare for trades cultural work.
1509.	10/30/2008 5:28:00 PM	Not tying the diploma to the HSGQE.
1510.	10/30/2008 5:28:00 PM	From grade 1 promotion be based on ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; END SOCIAL PROMOTION IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!
1511.	10/30/2008 5:28:00 PM	REAA does not work Local School Boards only.
1512.	10/30/2008 5:30:00 PM	Everything
1513.	10/30/2008 5:35:00 PM	We need to get the behavioral issues under better control so that teachers don't have to waste sooooooooo much of their day dealing with the disrupters.
1514.	10/30/2008 5:40:00 PM	nothing
1515.	10/30/2008 5:40:00 PM	Make it so that ALL students across the state will be prepared for college-level work so they feel they can succeed.
1516.	10/30/2008 5:41:00 PM	Have parents who are more concerned and involved in their student's education. Have community service programs or challenge programs that are integrated into the curriculum, so that students get outside themselves, and concentrate on someone/ideal other than themselves. Effort to reduce the rampant materialism and consumerism evident in our urban high schools. Uniforms!
1517.	10/30/2008 5:41:00 PM	I would provide elementary teachers with trained tutors in the classrooms that have high academic and behavioral needs students. I would provide elementary teachers with alternative programs within the home school where students who are having behavior issues can be lead in developing appropriate social skills to succeed in the regular classroom. Students who are in classrooms with high behavior concerns are being cheated in their own education.
1518.	10/30/2008 5:47:00 PM	Funding concerns from year to year
1519.	10/30/2008 5:48:00 PM	We as the educational community, need to make sure that all of the rigorous testing to make A.Y.P., is in the best interests of all Alaska's students.
1520.	10/30/2008 5:50:00 PM	Send more money out to rural schools and build new schools that will be more suffient for villages.
1521.	10/30/2008 5:54:00 PM	The continual fight over money. Teacher need to be paid a fair wage for their work. I also think that building around the area should always be well kept and safe for students.
1522.	10/30/2008 5:55:00 PM	Get rid of No Child Left Behind. Too costly and unrealistic for rural and special needs students.
1523.	10/30/2008 6:01:00 PM	Let the parents decide where to send their kids with more financial support for private schools if children need help with dyslexia
1524.	10/30/2008 6:02:00 PM	Classroom size
1525.	10/30/2008 6:02:00 PM	Ensuring ALL teachers care for ALL students.
1526.	10/30/2008 6:02:00 PM	I like to see curriculum that challenges the students, especially in rural Alaska. Our students need to analyze, problem solve, and do critical thinking skill. We also need to include vocational education in our schools to prepare students into work force. We need to encourage Native Alaska and Alaskan Natives to pursue higher education in the field of teaching. Bilingual education is crucially needed in rural Alaska. Parent involvement is essential in our schools.
1527.	10/30/2008 6:03:00 PM	I would like to see the parents get more involved with their children's education especially in the rural villages and remote areas. They need to ensure that their children are doing their homework, feeding them right, attending parent-teacher conference, and most importantly giving them assurance and love.
1528.	10/30/2008 6:04:00 PM	I do not believe that every student learns in the same way, nor can be a students knowledge or growth of knowledge be tested in the same way. Our state tests are not an accurate reflection of truly how much a student knows or has learned. There should be a different way to gather data such as portfolios using a rubic to meet state standards.
1529.	10/30/2008 6:06:00 PM	Make it year round to go with the hunting and fishing seasons of Alaska. To reduce class size to 21 or less in EVERY classroom. More virtual classrooms, and technology starting in Kindergarten.
1530.	10/30/2008 6:09:00 PM	The required Alaska Studies class in high school is not accomplishing its intended purpose and for the most part is not well set up or taught- college bound students have a hard time getting all the AP classes in while still getting the required gov't, AK studies and history in. It would be worth revisiting this requirement. I value learning about AK but it needs to be better taught.
1531.	10/30/2008 6:12:00 PM	All children do not learn at the same level, but they are expected to do so in our school. I would allow teachers to divide students into groups with similar capabilities. The slow ones get lost today and the really smart ones get bored. We need to fix that!
1532.	10/30/2008 6:17:00 PM	Successful charters schools with a census lower than an abitrary number of 150 students continue to be underfunded by a substantial amout. This is unacceptable yet is allowed to continue year after year. The state and school districts offer charter schools as a choice yet does not offer the full support other public schools enjoy. Charter school teachers do more with less and their students/families have to fight for facility space and equal funding.
1533.	10/30/2008 6:17:00 PM	Better early education opportunities.
1534.	10/30/2008 6:20:00 PM	I strongly believe that ALL administrators are out of touch with what is happening in classrooms. Either once a week each administrator should substitute in a classroom OR every fifth year each administrator should teach for a year. Too much time out of a classroom puts people out of touch with what teachers work with on a daily basis.
1535.	10/30/2008 6:26:00 PM	Unfortunately, I often hear that This or That is the "newest" thing in education and that we should all get on board and one of two things is true. For example, the new thing may have been around for a while and it just hadn't reached here yet (certain philosophies of methodology). People who come in from out of state have a lot to offer. No one, and I mean no one, has asked my opinion or referred to my expertise in the two and a half months I have been here. I have 20 years experience. I might have something to say... And as far as "new is better" - we all know that in education there are phases and fads. Some bear examination. And some bear ignoring!
1536.	10/30/2008 6:28:00 PM	I am very hopeful that we can find a replacement for "No Child Left Behind" and its punishing aspects. I am very supportive of the need to address the different segments (economically disadvantaged, etc.) of our student population, but I believe that this total focus on standardized test scores as a measurement of educational progress and growth is discouraging students and teachers. I believe the increasing drop-out rate is directly tied to this testing obsession and until we find a different way of measuring success (grad. rate, student and teacher satisfaction and connectedness etc.) we will continue to lose our students and teachers.
1537.	10/30/2008 6:30:00 PM	We have to fund what is needed in the classrooms before we fund more overhead and administration.
1538.	10/30/2008 6:30:00 PM	Equity with technology in schools.
1539.	10/30/2008 6:34:00 PM	Inadequate funding formulas
1540.	10/30/2008 6:34:00 PM	More oversight of home schooling. Right now, a parent can withdraw a child and tell education officials that they are going to home school their child. Sometimes the child shows up a few years later, re-enrolling in a traditional classroom, and is several years behind academically. Why is it the state of Alaska isn't assuring that home schooled children are actually learning?
1541.	10/30/2008 6:35:00 PM	More parental involvement (email correspondence) More cultural education programs
1542.	10/30/2008 6:38:00 PM	The number of students per classroom needs to decrease. A total of 20 - 25 students should be the cap per classroom/per teacher.
1543.	10/30/2008 6:41:00 PM	Class sizes need to be small enough that all students needs can be met. Larger sizes to often cause students to fall through the cracks and get way behind others.
1544.	10/30/2008 6:43:00 PM	More computers in classrooms. If you want us to have students using and learning technology, get computers IN CLASSROOMS. Increase assistance/options for disruptive students in schools.
1545.	10/30/2008 6:44:00 PM	More realistic standards. Standards for early ed are unrealistic and don't take into consideration were these children are academically when entering school.
1546.	10/30/2008 6:51:00 PM	Strong connection between DEED and DOLWD in terms of reality checks on jobs available in the state and how to begin careeer development at the very early grades and immerse this throughout the public school experience. I sit on the AWIB as an Alaska Native and I know many of our urban and rural Native students and not connected to the world of work nor are their families.
1547.	10/30/2008 6:52:00 PM	The Grade point average needs to be closer together, so if a students transfers from a smaller school to a larger like Anchorage their transcript credits somewhat match.
1548.	10/30/2008 7:02:00 PM	Class size must be reduced for all age levels.
1549.	10/30/2008 7:03:00 PM	Hold students to the highest accountability and give them the foundations neccessary to grow, become the best person they can be and succeed in life.
1550.	10/30/2008 7:06:00 PM	I would like to see teachers teaching students about real life skills and challenging them to take ownership of their learning to another level. I would like to take away the NCLB, QSI, levels, etc out of the system as they are destroying our families, communities and children. I would like to see 50 % of the educational system have Indigenous employees or in leadership positions. I would like to see an office of Alaska's Indigenous Peoples Higher Education Affairs at the state of Alaska EED and university system who report directly to the governor, commissioner, the board of education, president and board of regents - Indigenous Peoples reporting directly (unless they are in those positions tehnselves) to the person selected to be in charge. This is to strengthen the Indigenous voice instead of it being filtered through the tiered reporting system and not really sure what it looks like from its original presentation - direct reporting and INVOLVEMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AT THE INITIAL THROUGH THE FINAL PLANNING STAGES/TABLE.
1551.	10/30/2008 7:09:00 PM	I would reduce the population in the very large schools.
1552.	10/30/2008 7:15:00 PM	The procedures for writing and managing IEP seems to be overly complicated.
1553.	10/30/2008 7:20:00 PM	Add preschool programs to all elementary schools- especially Title I schools.
1554.	10/30/2008 7:21:00 PM	More funding.
1555.	10/30/2008 7:22:00 PM	That proper funding is made available for each schools' needs.
1556.	10/30/2008 7:27:00 PM	I would like to encourage teachers to keep growing as professionals in a community of support. I feel that we've been focusing on the teacher as a technician, versus the teacher as a professional.
1557.	10/30/2008 7:30:00 PM	I think we should have more Saturday school.
1558.	10/30/2008 7:31:00 PM	The passing standards and when should the school allow a student to move onto the next grade or hold them back. Too many students fall through the cracks and are pushed to the next grade when the skills and expectations (standards) Haven't been met. There are too many students entering high school and they cannot write a complete paragraph or have not learned basic math skills. These are the ones that drop out. Students need to be more engaged in school. The lessons need to connect with the students world.
1559.	10/30/2008 7:33:00 PM	I would allow students to have more independance over their education.
1560.	10/30/2008 7:36:00 PM	I wouldn't probably.
1561.	10/30/2008 7:37:00 PM	Make it a little harder. Or more challenger.
1562.	10/30/2008 7:38:00 PM	homework
1563.	10/30/2008 7:38:00 PM	I would change the schools and i would make better school facilities and boarding schools.
1564.	10/30/2008 7:38:00 PM	If i were to change anything about the education in Alaska, I'd probably go for the sports/fitness. I strongly think fitness should be taken serious especially among those who needit the most.
1565.	10/30/2008 7:40:00 PM	Special Education system is ineffective for LD population. Need GREAT minds to come up with some new models for service delivery!!!
1566.	10/30/2008 7:42:00 PM	Stricter oversite of Charter Schools.
1567.	10/30/2008 7:43:00 PM	Education in general needs to become more well rounded. Not just about learning to read and write but learning what those tools are for. Also, there needs to be far more focus on teaching children empathy at an early age. Getting them to understand that stepping on others to get to the top is not helping our society.
1568.	10/30/2008 7:43:00 PM	I would put the teachers through a thourough examination and make sure they will not only be able to teach the students well but be able to connect with them well and make their education fun. Students themselves would be the judges who know best of all.
1569.	10/30/2008 7:43:00 PM	class sizes
1570.	10/30/2008 7:44:00 PM	Have more options for students who do not do well in college prep classes and programs. This way they are more successful and those who are in the prep programs have less distractions.
1571.	10/30/2008 7:44:00 PM	not having to do pointless subjects if you already know how to do them.
1572.	10/30/2008 7:49:00 PM	having a couse in what you what to learn
1573.	10/30/2008 7:50:00 PM	Lack of education about real life
1574.	10/30/2008 7:57:00 PM	More effort to attract the best teaching staff possible.
1575.	10/30/2008 7:57:00 PM	Not allowing teachers to label students, give them all an equal oppurtunity to learn. Some teachers give up on students or don't believe in them enough to try harder, and the students are graduated whether or not they have learned anything or some teachers allow students not to do classwork/homework if they can pass a test.
1576.	10/30/2008 7:59:00 PM	More funding for career related courses in all schools.
1577.	10/30/2008 8:01:00 PM	Teachers, to stay longer than their contracts.
1578.	10/30/2008 8:02:00 PM	I would put all the high schools in Uniforms of their school color. Equal the playing field. Students that are behind in any grade level should continue school year round.
1579.	10/30/2008 8:02:00 PM	Grduation rates
1580.	10/30/2008 8:08:00 PM	In a big district like Anchorage, I would like to see better coordination of efforts among departments. For example, we want teachers to build strong classroom communities but also ask them to devote specific time blocks to various subjects using specific curricula. There is a sense the there are not enough hours to do all that is being requested of them. I believe it is possible to have healthy classroom communities with a strong academic focus, but I'd like to see interdepartmental coordination of efforts toward this end.
1581.	10/30/2008 8:08:00 PM	I would improve teacher pay. We are loosing a lot of good teachers because of pay and benefits. Many young teachers are not staying after a year or two of teaching. Pay must keep up with inflation and the cost of living. Experienced teachers are also frustrated with the lack of real pay increases. Contracts look fine, but once adjustments have been made to union dues, medical insurance....real pay increase is not realized.
1582.	10/30/2008 8:11:00 PM	More support for preschool special education
1583.	10/30/2008 8:13:00 PM	I would give more support in the early childhood years. It is vital that these students develop reading and math foundations.
1584.	10/30/2008 8:17:00 PM	More money/paid time for Life Skills to develop curriculum since there isn't much out there for the most severe kiddos. Also change the IEP process to make it more simple or more paid time to complete the ridiculous amount of paper work.
1585.	10/30/2008 8:20:00 PM	Providing new and more opportunities for rural Alaska.
1586.	10/30/2008 8:21:00 PM	Provide earlier and continuous teaching about careers along with developing a solid set of employability skills. Students (at all ages) need to have expectations not only about academic standards but about the "soft" skills, behaviors and attitudes that will enable success in society.
1587.	10/30/2008 8:21:00 PM	Lower class sizes, more funding for support of No Child Left Behind, find a better way to reward successful students, teachers, and schools than the incentive bonus. We need to get more parent involvement in their child's education. Teacher's can't successfully educate on their own.
1588.	10/30/2008 8:29:00 PM	More support of the arts as a curriculum standard.
1589.	10/30/2008 8:33:00 PM	I would change the pay for teaching assistants in special education. We can not keep them or attract them when they can not make a living off of their pay. Bus assistants make more then teaching assistants who are exposed to many more behaviors and school issues. Many times the TA is the one biggest asset to a teachers class. I would also like to change the mandate that both goals and objectives need to be measurable. Understandable that one or the other requires measurability, but not both.
1590.	10/30/2008 8:37:00 PM	Staff continued training in cultural, and communicating unconditional positive regard for each and every student. Kids need to know, and feel they are valuable with every adult contact in our public school system.
1591.	10/30/2008 8:37:00 PM	nothing
1592.	10/30/2008 8:40:00 PM	more teachers
1593.	10/30/2008 8:40:00 PM	the cleanlyness
1594.	10/30/2008 8:42:00 PM	I would like to change the older school's condition. Make the schools a better and safer envirnment for students.
1595.	10/30/2008 8:42:00 PM	?
1596.	10/30/2008 8:43:00 PM	have more careers choices.
1597.	10/30/2008 8:43:00 PM	teachers that would like to help
1598.	10/30/2008 8:43:00 PM	the disaplen systems and drug use.
1599.	10/30/2008 8:44:00 PM	The starting hour
1600.	10/30/2008 8:45:00 PM	not sure i don't have a problem with it
1601.	10/30/2008 8:46:00 PM	everything
1602.	10/30/2008 8:47:00 PM	More schools so that there arnt as many kids in a class.
1603.	10/30/2008 8:52:00 PM	Reduce class sizes, include for more AP classes into our high school
1604.	10/30/2008 8:53:00 PM	nothing
1605.	10/30/2008 8:59:00 PM	Teachers who have been teaching for MANY years, instead of new ones off the assembly line
1606.	10/30/2008 9:07:00 PM	Increase parent involvement
1607.	10/30/2008 9:11:00 PM	I would change class size. I really do not like that so many elementary classrooms are having to be split between grade levels. I think it is unfair to the students and unfair to teachers. We already put in so much overtime to provide the lessons for one class and throwing another grade level into that class cheapens the experience for the students. What is so bad about having a small class size? Why do they have to be crammed together and given less learning opportunities.
1608.	10/30/2008 9:23:00 PM	ensure that arts education is a basic component of education in the state
1609.	10/30/2008 9:26:00 PM	I would like to see more community events that tie to education that will engage families in educational events outside of the school setting.
1610.	10/30/2008 9:33:00 PM	Housing huge, vast, overwhelmingly large numbers of students in one facilityy--multi-grade levels. The neighbothood school is a great idea. Putting 6th graders in middle school with 7th and 8th graders is the most inane idea ever. You are taking students who are still children and forcing them to grow up too quickly as they try to keep up with the 8th graders. Ugly situation with disastrous results. Shame on the Alaskan communities who have instituted this.
1611.	10/30/2008 9:38:00 PM	I've taught 5 years in the Alaska bush--Diomede, Hydaburg, Bethel, North Slope's Barrow, and Gustavus. Now I'm in Fairbanks. I saw so much wasteful spending and greed among educators, parents and administrators. I came to Alaska to breakdown barriers and learn from others in a respectful way. It's understandable that the reception among Natives was negative at times, because the people who came from the lower 48 into those villages were often destructive. Education in Alaska needs to teach by example--support the environment, leave trash at home, buy less, teach more.
1612.	10/30/2008 9:44:00 PM	The way highschool and junior highs handle discipline problems. Too often kids are suspended if they act up. This sets them up for failure and they drop out. Our drop out rate is horrible. We have to find an alternative program for kids who don't conform to the rules. We have to find another way to reach these kids.
1613.	10/30/2008 9:48:00 PM	That adequately funding schools wasn't seen as "throwing money at the problem".
1614.	10/30/2008 9:56:00 PM	Proper Funding Higher standards Accountability for Parents to get students to school prepared to learn
1615.	10/30/2008 10:03:00 PM	Some teachers need to check their personal views at the door. Less Administrators and more Teacher aides and support for special needs and resource classrooms. Smaller class sizes; children with behavioral issues are left behind, ignored and passed on to grades. These children can barley read their graduation certificates, let alone complete a job application. Sex education needs to make a come back OR require mandatory parenting classes for the "Britney Spears" wanna- bes.
1616.	10/30/2008 10:07:00 PM	We have to have more student accountability. In the ASD, parents can and will excuse their students' absences and misbehavior just to keep them out of trouble, instead of allowing their students to make mistakes and get consequences because of them. Students have to realize that if they do something they shouldn't, they will have adverse consequences, and the parent should not be able to interfere.
1617.	10/30/2008 10:10:00 PM	Finances need to be based on factors including remote location. Activities should be funded outside the cap so all students can participate. WE need funded for preschool, 3 & 4 year olds NOW if you want to make a significant impact on drop out rate.
1618.	10/30/2008 10:11:00 PM	More choices for different learning styles. Especially at the middle and high school level. I do NOT like any of the charter or alternative programs for this middle and high school, with the possible exception of Rilke Schule which does cover middle school.
1619.	10/30/2008 10:13:00 PM	Parent involvement and the culture of enabling that has come to be.
1620.	10/30/2008 10:14:00 PM	Stronger and more consistent consequences for students with chronic behavior problems who take the majority of a teacher's time and energy, which is not fair to the majority of the class and can create a negative climate within a school.
1621.	10/30/2008 10:14:00 PM	Our standards are far too low. We have continually lowered our standards so that our rural students can be "successful" which is hurting our students in the long run. Instead of lowering our standards we need to be raising our expectations. We have, in essence, given up on our rural students as being incapable of learning. Students will raise themselves up, or lower themselves down, to the expectations we set. STOP DUMBING DOWN ALASKA!
1622.	10/30/2008 10:14:00 PM	I would change the NCLB criteria to better reflect life in Alaska, and to include address more meaningful expectations for some Special Education students.
1623.	10/30/2008 10:14:00 PM	I don't like the big scientifically developed curriculum. I am old fashioned.
1624.	10/30/2008 10:16:00 PM	A smaller class size.
1625.	10/30/2008 10:17:00 PM	student/teacher ratio. And ensuring teachers are supportive and work with parents for success.
1626.	10/30/2008 10:18:00 PM	Funding. For such a wealthy state we do not put enough into education.
1627.	10/30/2008 10:26:00 PM	Absense policies
1628.	10/30/2008 10:31:00 PM	Explain to parents/ kids earlier than high school what the requirements are to be on a course to attend college. Offer a sex education type course in high schools.
1629.	10/30/2008 10:37:00 PM	Hand a broom and a shovel to those who don't care about education -- give them an incentive to care.
1630.	10/30/2008 10:38:00 PM	I have a limited experience---I like the optional school at Anchorage School District.
1631.	10/30/2008 10:43:00 PM	Public preschool programs for at risk children. More career centers for Juniors and Seniors in high schools to attend to acquire good skills to go work in the community.
1632.	10/30/2008 10:48:00 PM	More secondary vo-tech oportunities. construction wood shop auto shop welding electronics small engine repair
1633.	10/30/2008 10:49:00 PM	more alaska native elders as teachers or supports and being paid for their knowledge.
1634.	10/30/2008 10:52:00 PM	I think that more boarding schools might help some students make the jump from their village life to a place where they can find good jobs and raise great kids.
1635.	10/30/2008 10:55:00 PM	There needs to be more education on Alaska, like Alaska history and Alaska government (you can tie it in with US government).
1636.	10/30/2008 11:03:00 PM	Elementary lunch choice.s
1637.	10/30/2008 11:17:00 PM	Get rid of NCLB across the board--it DOES not work in Alaska!
1638.	10/30/2008 11:27:00 PM	The class sizes are too big. Students need more one on one help then we are able to give them due to large class sizes.
1639.	10/30/2008 11:27:00 PM	More financial assistance to allow school choice to obtain facilities!
1640.	10/30/2008 11:31:00 PM	Wow our young citizens. We are at a unique juncture of resources and historical times. These young citizens could be receiving the best education in the world and walk away with money for future education or business adventures. Promote this. Make it happen.
1641.	10/30/2008 11:36:00 PM	More career training.
1642.	10/30/2008 11:42:00 PM	Education should fit the culture and community. Outside standards are misplaced and will continue to be politely resisted.
1643.	10/30/2008 11:48:00 PM	More exposure to the different cultures within America, not just Alaska. Students need to have a wide range of diversity.
1644.	10/30/2008 11:49:00 PM	Make school attendance compulsory through age 18
1645.	10/30/2008 11:49:00 PM	Remove the high school graduation exam. Better pay for teachers. More choices for educating students. More resources and programs to treat alcohol & drup issues.
1646.	10/30/2008 11:49:00 PM	I would increase counseling at the elementary levels and offer a greater depth of vocational activities beginning at a younger age.
1647.	10/30/2008 11:49:00 PM	What I would like changed is the HSGQE and not granting all students a diploma. There could be a weighted diploma by the curriculum program the students chooses to follow through high school.
1648.	10/30/2008 11:59:00 PM	High school students who pursue the vocational track do better in the job market, in terms of both employment rates and wages than those who stay in the academic track but don't belong there. For practical purposes, about two-thirds of high school students are work-bound. We should be devoting about two-thirds of our attention and resources to their needs. Greater focus on voc/tech education.
1649.	10/31/2008 12:09:00 AM	Students who cannot read/understand English would not be allowed into a regular school. Kids who will never be indepedent (wheel chair bound/ in diapers/ on a feeding tube) should not be in a regular classroom. Kids who are not able to meet the requirements set at their grade level should not be allowed to move up to the next grade regardless of what the parents or the principle say. The teacher knows if the kid is ready or not. Expectations and concequences should be in place at all levels. Kids who are withdrawn for absences should have their PFD's garnished by the state. Waivers for summer school should only be given to kids who are doing well and want to get ahead- not those who fail semester after semester. CITC classes would go away- this is segregation. Freshman Academy would go away. Wood Shop/ Auto Shop would come back into the regular schools and not just King Career Center. More technical stuff for the kids that won't or don't want to go to college. More physical education requirements. *No LPF test out. You can't test out of math or history why P.E.?
1650.	10/31/2008 12:22:00 AM	One needs to retain quality teachers in rural areas and prepare these teacher to teach in the rural areas
1651.	10/31/2008 12:23:00 AM	increase funding - especially salaries for teachers - to attract the very best to the profession. people are being hired now who would never have been considered ten years ago! Restore pensions for public employees.
1652.	10/31/2008 12:26:00 AM	Too many specialists. Too much administration.
1653.	10/31/2008 12:37:00 AM	Discipline and behavior issues have become worse over the years. Parents need to be more involved - as a partnership with the teacher, not in place of them.
1654.	10/31/2008 12:47:00 AM	increased funding for rural schools
1655.	10/31/2008 12:56:00 AM	I would love it if we could make educational decisions that are in the best interest of our children and independent of the NCLB act. The insanity of 100% proficiency goals with constantly increasing standards does not treat students as individuals. It does not look at issues of students with disabilities. It does not provide the staffing necessary make these goals.
1656.	10/31/2008 1:05:00 AM	More Native teachers.
1657.	10/31/2008 1:07:00 AM	NCLB makes teachers put too much effort into the lowest end of the academic spectrum, neglecting the rest, whom are potentially our states biggest asset.
1658.	10/31/2008 1:29:00 AM	I would like to change class size to a max of 15 elementary students per classroom.
1659.	10/31/2008 1:34:00 AM	More technology needs to be infused. There are wonderful programs that can enhance learning, but access to computers remains a difficult task. I applaud the ASD's recent addition of technology to the budget as a line item, and feel that continued support in this area is crucial. We are in the 21st century, technology education is crucial!
1660.	10/31/2008 1:40:00 AM	Class size needs to be low in the primary grades in ALL schools if the teachers are to reach struggling students. This is the age group that needs interventions for success in their entire school experience. With removal of disruptive students and low class size, much can be achieved. K - 2 are the foundation years of person's education. The stage is set for the rest of your life. 15 students with vast ranges in abilities is plenty for 1 teacher.
1661.	10/31/2008 1:55:00 AM	More math and english/writing teachers are needed to lower the class sizes and specialize instruction in order to reach ESL, special education, at-risk and other differently abled learners.
1662.	10/31/2008 2:03:00 AM	We need better funding for teachers so we can continue to draw quality teachers to Alaska. The High School needs to start later in the morning at 9am. The elementary schools need to start the earliest at 7:30am.
1663.	10/31/2008 2:30:00 AM	Lower class size - no more than 20 students per class.
1664.	10/31/2008 2:34:00 AM	Insuring the teacher student ratio is low enough for student goal attainment correlates with standards.
1665.	10/31/2008 2:41:00 AM	More focus on Talented and Gifted students, with a redistribution of resources throughout the entire spectrum of achievement.
1666.	10/31/2008 3:09:00 AM	I would get rid of No Child Left Behind. That program only encourages teachers to teach the tests so their school will pass. That is no way to pass on knowledge that kids will retain. And thats what education is all about right?
1667.	10/31/2008 3:12:00 AM	Higher standards in elementary school, so the students would be academically prepared for high school, or retain them if necessary.
1668.	10/31/2008 3:16:00 AM	Standards are too high and we need more vocational programs.
1669.	10/31/2008 3:22:00 AM	Reading, writing and math should be the goal of public education. Classes like history, science, biology, art, music, and band are secondary. The problem with public school is they try to do to much. Once a child knows how to read, write, and knows the most widely used mathematics then they are able to survive in the economic world. They are able to learn independently if they wish. Without those essentials they are not able to learn independently. If I can read then I can read a book about biology, physics, psychology, and astronomy. If we try to give a child too much they won't master anything. The public school spreads itself to thin. Yes, the high achievers should be given more to do. The majority of the students need to master the basics first before they move on.
1670.	10/31/2008 3:26:00 AM	I would like to see teachers get more support in their classrooms via aides, collaboration time with other teachers, and even more professional development opportunities.
1671.	10/31/2008 3:37:00 AM	smaller class sizes. More funding for education. My daughter has 42 kids in her l.a. class - there aren't even enough desks.. that is ridiculous!!!!
1672.	10/31/2008 3:38:00 AM	I've written letters upon letters to Gov. Palin --- we need to evaluate the programs in bush Alaska and do something else.
1673.	10/31/2008 3:41:00 AM	culturally revelant education is needed
1674.	10/31/2008 4:18:00 AM	Some students seem to be pushed along to higher grade levels when they are not yet prepared. These students need more attention early and parents need to be involved asap - not only when they get reports that their child is not succeeding.
1675.	10/31/2008 4:54:00 AM	I would like to see greater support of education through funding of schools to provide teachers with the materials needed to provide a high quality education at the K-12 level.
1676.	10/31/2008 5:04:00 AM	DEADLINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Children whom are turned away when their birthdate is so close to the deadlines are going to suffer in the future! What happened to the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT????
1677.	10/31/2008 5:08:00 AM	I often question the policy of tenure for teachers. Schools are preparing children for a very competitive world, and teachers need to be meeting high standards. Teachers need to feel the same requirements to perform as those of us working in any other job. Teachers often enter the profession because they are driven by a sense of duty or public service, but this should not allow them to hide behind the job security offered by tenure. Administrators need to be able to fire under-performers.
1678.	10/31/2008 5:16:00 AM	More parental involvement.
1679.	10/31/2008 5:54:00 AM	I believe that more money could be put into the classrooms. I also do not feel that it is proper that some schools, in the same district, have so much more than others. I would like to see a more level playing field in which the students would all have the same opportunties. We teach diversity and how all are the same, how they are just as special...yet we have schools who have all they need and then some along side of school who barely have what they need to function on a daily basis. How is this fair to students or teachers?
1680.	10/31/2008 6:14:00 AM	More funding.
1681.	10/31/2008 6:14:00 AM	I am not sure
1682.	10/31/2008 7:01:00 AM	We need the ability to attract quality staff. I feel comfortable with my current pay, but I am deeply grateful that I was hired before the gutting of our retirement plan.
1683.	10/31/2008 8:18:00 AM	Smaller classroom sizes & more opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school.
1684.	10/31/2008 8:23:00 AM	Do not allow NCLB $ to tear apart the fabric of our educators by awarding some and not others. The schools that receive the incentive do so due to higher socio-economic populations, or charter status that allows an elite population. There are schools in the district that will never make it, due to their diverse populations; this causes hate and discontent within our community of teachers--in a job that is already tough enough. Would love to see more apprentice-oriented programs for all types of children, and better funding for elementary schools (they are RIPPED OFF on their budgets compared to Middle and High schools.)
1685.	10/31/2008 8:42:00 AM	Revamp special education.
1686.	10/31/2008 2:54:00 PM	GLEs -- they must be rewritten, in particular the Physical Science ones at the high school level
1687.	10/31/2008 3:27:00 PM	Funding formula needs to change.
1688.	10/31/2008 3:40:00 PM	I would like to see a change at the national level in the NCLB requirements that states have to meet to reflect a more realistic view.
1689.	10/31/2008 4:21:00 PM	Class sizes and funding.
1690.	10/31/2008 4:29:00 PM	Within special education the need for both measurable goals and objectives in the IEP is redundant and goes beyond the expectation of the federal guidelines. It makes it that much more difficult for case managers rather than to reduce paperwork (one of the things the law was suppose to do).
1691.	10/31/2008 4:32:00 PM	The reliance on tech ed and a return to vocational ties in every school (wood shop, auto shop--the trades). With college graduation levels they way they are and the reality that most kids do not finish college but rather go into "the trades" it seems like our schools are not addressing the real future of clientelle. It appears that the only goal of education is to prepare kids for college when that is not where a high percentage of our kids end up.
1692.	10/31/2008 4:42:00 PM	Give more options than graduation with diploma or certificate of attendance, something directed towards those that will be successful in blue collar jobs.
1693.	10/31/2008 4:52:00 PM	Funding for all students, rural and urban. Economic incentives for quality educators to remain in Alaska, or move here from out of state. Economic incentives for our best students to remain and/or return to alaska, such as a loan forgiveness program as was implemented in the past.
1694.	10/31/2008 4:57:00 PM	So many requirements for teacher certification and lack of pay for educators turns away good teachers, rather than drawing quality educators to Alaska. The ones who are here really care, but we could attract even more. I would like to see more actual job training and career counseling. So many students don't know what they want to do after graduation.
1695.	10/31/2008 4:58:00 PM	Teacher quailty
1696.	10/31/2008 5:02:00 PM	Greater focus on the student:teacher ratio with regard to class size. There also seems to be a disconnect between what is good for the regular classroom and what is good for special area classes (keeping numbers low in classroom while doubling up in PE, Music, etc.). For specialists to "teach", they need the same class size considerations.
1697.	10/31/2008 5:03:00 PM	Keep standards high!
1698.	10/31/2008 5:11:00 PM	More effort to provide vocational/career opportunities for todays students.
1699.	10/31/2008 5:16:00 PM	I would make sure there is K-16 alignment of curriculum and pedagogy. Some of the university departments are striving to do this but others seem to not know how to listen to the needs and in some cases, they become the ivory tower.
1700.	10/31/2008 5:43:00 PM	the whole system
1701.	10/31/2008 5:53:00 PM	Making all parents and grandparents know that the State Department of Education is aware of the past treatment of Native people, forcing Western way of being and learning, and that a research into how best to apologize for the way we were forced to learn "western educational requirements" will be a highly regarded stepping stone to the healing process for many Natives. Include Native history, language and culture requirements into the curriculum mainstream.
1702.	10/31/2008 5:55:00 PM	I would like to see each school district work with its individual schools to establish a community standard. What is it that community wants to see in a graduate of that school? Good citizenship? Strong academics? An emphasis on trades and technology? the arts? A cultural emphasis? If the community members work together with the schools to establish those standards, then each time a new teacher/principal/cook/custodian/coach comes in to the school, they can reference those standards and know what it is that the school is working toward. As it is, each time a new staff person comes to a school, precious time is wasted trying to figure out what it is that the community/parents want, compared to what the teacher/district/state wants, and sometimes gaps are left in the children's experience and education.
1703.	10/31/2008 5:58:00 PM	More money for pre-k education. Higher High school graduation
1704.	10/31/2008 6:00:00 PM	Make more opportunities available to all students
1705.	10/31/2008 6:01:00 PM	Colleges simply need to do more to attract our high school graduates. Students grow up in a such an isolated state they naturally want to "get out" as soon as they graduate. A serious investment needs to be made in order to keep the youth here. I would suggest that the majority of the investment be made directly to the students (scholarships/grants) and a smaller amount to the institutions.
1706.	10/31/2008 6:09:00 PM	Teachers are under too much pressure with having to deal with all of the tests and programs - realistically, don't know if this will ever change though.
1707.	10/31/2008 6:12:00 PM	EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. More vocational/career based classes or programs at the secondary level. We need to lose the assumption in our high schools that all kids are college bound.
1708.	10/31/2008 6:13:00 PM	More funding for Special Education.
1709.	10/31/2008 6:17:00 PM	Earlier networking with students by community agencies/businesses to support student's ability to participate in exploring vocational options long before graduating. Become responsible students/adults.
1710.	10/31/2008 6:23:00 PM	Art should be a full time position in each school. Children should get art each week instead of just 16 hours over the course of the school year.
1711.	10/31/2008 6:26:00 PM	Schools would have less interest in the success of sports and more interest in the student's academic success. Also, that parents would have more interest in their children being well educated and do anything to make that happen.
1712.	10/31/2008 6:27:00 PM	More School staff advocating for students that don't have anyone to advocate or guide them. Include helping students in need with basic needs, so that they can focus on academics.
1713.	10/31/2008 6:36:00 PM	1. passive attitude for trainning kids for global and cultural diverse and difference 2. less beauracratic time consuming slow actions to correct problems. 3. more trainning requirement for special education teachers and related staff
1714.	10/31/2008 6:44:00 PM	Graduation rate.
1715.	10/31/2008 7:10:00 PM	Teachers are overworked, underpaid, and expected to perform miracles when parents aren't as involved in the solution as they should be.
1716.	10/31/2008 7:11:00 PM	Smaller class sizes, even if it means year round school, teachers could better assist student needs and assess what standards they need to improve on.
1717.	10/31/2008 7:17:00 PM	Smaller class sizes, less bureaucracy
1718.	10/31/2008 7:21:00 PM	connection for students from education to world of work. We still have huge numbers of students graduating with no clue on where they are headed and why?
1719.	10/31/2008 7:21:00 PM	All students need the guarantee that no matter which school they attend (urban or rural) the same educational standards and expectations will exist.
1720.	10/31/2008 7:31:00 PM	funding for rural areas to increase to accomodate costs of living
1721.	10/31/2008 7:32:00 PM	I would like to see far more choice and diversity in options for teaching and environments for students--one size does not fit all. Less focus on NCLB and more on authentic learning.
1722.	10/31/2008 7:36:00 PM	I would offer incentives for educators to pursue their goals of continually improving their teaching practice through professional growth that is relevant and sustaining. I would put more financial resources into lowering class sizes at all levels and increasing access to technology. I would eliminate unnecessary extra curricular programs taught during the instructional day that are not proven successful by research because they take away from instructional time for basic skills. I would keep or start programs that help students develop a positive connection with the community at large.
1723.	10/31/2008 7:40:00 PM	Creating or providing community revelant classroom materials, especially for the high school qualifying exams. Most bush students do not understand things beyond their villages, including the English language.
1724.	10/31/2008 7:45:00 PM	Better college prep for those students going on to college especially outside schools.
1725.	10/31/2008 7:49:00 PM	Education in Alaska needs to incorporate virtual schools using technology to access information for students learning. Funding in Education also needs to be properly address as we are the richest state and still we lack with state funding.
1726.	10/31/2008 7:52:00 PM	More real contact to the outside world, get out of the box.
1727.	10/31/2008 7:58:00 PM	Provide a mechanism for evaluating teachers that allows us to eliminate 'bad' teachers or educate them about how to be more effective. If salary was linked to effectiveness perhaps fewer teachers would just work to "collect a pay check". I am a teacher yet I still see this as one of the most frustrating things about out education system.
1728.	10/31/2008 7:58:00 PM	There needs to the ability to have school choice. Students can only go to school with their district. If the parent decided to put the child in an out of district school, no transportation is provided. For some parents that is an impossible situation.
1729.	10/31/2008 8:02:00 PM	1. Teacher professional development should be free. I shouldn't have to pay to take a class that helps me teach my students more effectively! 2. There should be a more authentic teacher evaluation process. Inadequate teachers should not be allowed to continue to teach. It is a waste of taxpayer money and student potential.
1730.	10/31/2008 8:08:00 PM	In a state that has a surplus of money, there should be a better focus on how we can improve all of our schools and remove the disparity betweeen rural and urban.
1731.	10/31/2008 8:21:00 PM	Support and respect as professional (define and refine as you see fit) especially those teachers and para-profesionals that work to educate children in Title 1 schools. Do the public and our elected officials really know and appreciate the additional challenges?
1732.	10/31/2008 8:22:00 PM	Class size. This is a research-based change that would positively impact student learning. Technology. We can't train students for the work environment without it.
1733.	10/31/2008 8:29:00 PM	Teaching would be for learning not for testing.
1734.	10/31/2008 8:40:00 PM	Alaska desperately needs more preschool programming and funding for special needs preschoolers! Mandate KG!
1735.	10/31/2008 8:45:00 PM	We need more choices for students who are not college bound. They need more programs that will help prepare them for the working world.
1736.	10/31/2008 8:54:00 PM	More funding
1737.	10/31/2008 8:54:00 PM	We need smaller class sizes. We need more time to work with fellow teachers to plan and share our ideas. Our buildings are also dirty. It is difficult to learn in an unclean setting.
1738.	10/31/2008 9:03:00 PM	All schools have pre-school options. There are too many expectations for kindergartners and when there is no pre-school available in an area that automatically puts them behind.
1739.	10/31/2008 9:05:00 PM	teachers who came to our office for a few hours were suprised to hear that clear handwriting played as an important role in our business. Make sure that students have clear handwriting skills
1740.	10/31/2008 9:11:00 PM	Not sure.
1741.	10/31/2008 9:20:00 PM	Provide more support for the rural school districts. By support I mean in all formats including financial and technical.
1742.	10/31/2008 9:25:00 PM	Class size should be mandated to be at or below 25 for all teachers - research indicates it is one of the most effective ways we can improve learning in a classroom.
1743.	10/31/2008 9:38:00 PM	I would relax the stressful expectations in grade school, especially K-3. I would put all 6th grade students in Junior High or Middle School. I would increase funding at the elementary level where the basics is the most significant to a child's education.
1744.	10/31/2008 9:55:00 PM	Mandatory early childhood education, or increased funding for early education centers for at risk youth and families. For children that receive little to no family support, it is hard to expect teachers to reach children if they have had five years at home with no interventions. If early childhood education had more support, we could identify those children sooner, and help get them the attention they need to be successful and ready to learn when they start kindergarten.
1745.	10/31/2008 10:25:00 PM	Establishment of career and technical programs (vocational education) through out the state and/or regional learning centers.
1746.	10/31/2008 10:25:00 PM	Funding. Without funding we will continue to have half baked programs with lower quality teachers. High quality teachers will come if we offer higher salaries.
1747.	10/31/2008 10:26:00 PM	Raising behavior standards at the middle and highschhool level so that students are more repectful and grateful for the educational opportunities they are given. Many students spend most of their class time texting others in class.
1748.	10/31/2008 10:42:00 PM	Districts allowing people with degrees in other fields to come into classrooms and teach without have a degree in education (as long as they are enrolled in an education program) is what I would change. This was used as a way to help bush high schools, but is now being used as a way to fill ALL positions in rural and urban schools. It is unacceptable to not have a trained, professional teacher with our Kindergarten / Elementary and Special Education students. The fact that this is hidden from parents by giving these 'teachers' provisional certificates is horrific.
1749.	10/31/2008 11:00:00 PM	I would change how we teach in rural Alaska. Quit hiring Lower 48 teachers to work in rural areas and hire teachers that want to work in rural areas. This would minimize the teacher turnover rates. I hear horror stories about Lower 48 teachers and their comments about not wanting to work in rural Alaska. Quit wasting money on those who do not sincerely care about our Alaska Native people.
1750.	10/31/2008 10:59:00 PM	I would change the way that curriculum is introduced and not taught to teachers. For example a decision is made from the district level to adopt a program, and yet there is no money or time invested to train teachers in the new curriculum. This makes the curriculum virtually useless. When teachers are trained and feel comfortable with a CORE program, that is when academic growth is seen.
1751.	10/31/2008 11:04:00 PM	Get more teacher's involved in making decisions about things such as technology. WE are given computers, but some of us feel as if our hands are tied because we can't choose what goes in them. Yes, we were to give the principal a list of what we wanted months before they came.
1752.	10/31/2008 11:06:00 PM	Mandatory preschool education. Our young students are entering kindergarten unprepared for a school setting.
1753.	10/31/2008 11:17:00 PM	HSQ Exam
1754.	10/31/2008 11:30:00 PM	The way money is spent by districts - being run by political boards results in funds going to inappropriate or non-target programs when emphasis should be given to core and remdedial classes.
1755.	10/31/2008 11:32:00 PM	I believe that kindergarten should be made mandatory.
1756.	10/31/2008 11:34:00 PM	Funding for K-12 would be set 1 year prior to need(e.g. 09/10 funding budgeted in 08/09--Forward Funding).
1757.	10/31/2008 11:34:00 PM	Ensuring children with special needs get the help they need. Parents need to fight too much with the schools to get what their children need. Each school responses differently and not all the schools follow the IDEA law.
1758.	10/31/2008 11:38:00 PM	Tolerance for having to discipline. There should be standards that are set and up held. Discruptive students make it hard for other students to learn. Parents need to be held responisble. Some students do not want to be in school...let them leave and decide on their own, when they are ready let them come back to actually learn. I think this is why the MAPP program is so successful, the students want to be there.
1759.	10/31/2008 11:37:00 PM	Quality teachers in the bush that understand the challenges of village life and integrate learning.
1760.	10/31/2008 11:52:00 PM	I do believe that we need to find a way to reach all children. We have extremes when it comes to culture and and abilities. Alaska is not the lower 48 and expectations need to meet the needs of our population. The money is here...we need to LOWER CLASS SIZES at all levels. I had a class of 14 students for the first (and likely only) time last year. I can't tell you how much of a better teacher I was because I was not overwhelmed constantly. I could grade a class set of papers during my prep and not at home. I could allow my writers to write and write without the fear of the 12 page story to edit hanging over my head. I believe strongly that class size is the easiest solution to many of the problems we have in schools. Kids will not slip through the cracks if we lower our class numbers. Teachers can effectively meet a broad range of needs when they have classes that are much smaller than what they are now.
1761.	11/1/2008 1:07:00 AM	higher funding for education, focus on preschool and family needs so we are not incarcerating them later
1762.	11/1/2008 2:10:00 AM	Stronger connect with work force and higher institutions of learning to support and provide learning opportunities for students as an articulated part of their educational career.
1763.	11/1/2008 2:30:00 AM	Smaller class sizes, especially through 3rd grade for literacy improvement.
1764.	11/1/2008 2:40:00 AM	Too many kids' education is disrupted by their peers acting out or being a constant discipline issue in class. Time is so valuable and parents need to be held accountable for the way their children act. I think DFYS needs to be more involved, especially when the same individuals are turned in and nothing ever seems to come of it because nothing is ever done.
1765.	11/1/2008 3:27:00 AM	Too much testing with a single type of instrument=paper and pencil. Other options to measure success should be offered.
1766.	11/1/2008 4:19:00 AM	Foster more enthusiasm towards technology and science, find ways to bring it home with local careers.
1767.	11/1/2008 4:26:00 AM	Additional technical training and "on the job" training.
1768.	11/1/2008 4:33:00 AM	Manditory early childhood programs. Higher high school graduation. More opportunities for students not on the college track.
1769.	11/1/2008 5:09:00 AM	Enforce attendance for those who wish to skip school, and help them to learn in a school environment.
1770.	11/1/2008 5:32:00 AM	Raise the expectations and create a true "system" of education focused on the child mastering the basics early on so they can all succeed with choices of interest. If we continue with a system based around the teacher and the conveniences of the teacher we will fail. We cannot have a system designed around parent involvement when we know there will be no involvement. This can be due to no interest, alcohol, lack of literate or educated parents, disfunctional homes, no food etc.
1771.	11/1/2008 6:29:00 AM	If I were given a magic wand and know I could make one wish that would positively impact student engagement / academic achievement I would wish for higher levels of parental support. When parents value education they tend to demonstrate their support by: making sure their child gets to school on time, communicating with their child's teacher, they use positive language when talking about the school system, they provide time and space for homework to take place, and they reinforce values of respect among individuals. So, while I'm throwing out my wishes.......I'd also like to change how special needs children are being services......the goal is to identify needs and write goals and determine amounts of time to address those needs. More times than not, I see needs identified and based on school schedules, times are allotted. Our special needs population would be gaining much higher levels of skills - and in turn, score much higher on statewide assessments.
1772.	11/1/2008 11:19:00 AM	I would suggest three changes. No. 1. Nearly all professions now have "assistants" -doctors have physician assistants, lawyers have paralegals, dentists have dental assistants, etc. I think we would dramatically change all classrooms if we gave every teacher their own aide/paraprofessional. This person would be assigned PER teacher, not per class, not per student. These individuals would be provided at least a 1 year training course on how to be a good aide. Teachers would receive a 20 hour course in supervision of an aide. The aide would the teacher with: 1) paperwork; 2) communicating with parents; 3) another set of hands for whatever the teacher needs. I believe we would do more to help kids and teachers by doing this than by any other thing we can do. The state can pass volumes of standards and pages of laws and rules but if the teacher doesn't have time to do anything, nothing gets done. Having their own aide would help the teacher to get done what they need to get done, would reduce parent frustration, and would help achieve success for all. (It would also help during this economic downturn to employ people). These aides would not be student specific, i.e. for special education or ESL kids; those would be in addition.
1773.	11/1/2008 2:51:00 PM	Back to the basics first. Not so much social engineering. Making sure that the success of the student does NOT depend upon parental support because many of the students don't have parental support. Direct teachers to use the time that they have with the students to be used to the optimum for ACADEMICS.
1774.	11/1/2008 2:55:00 PM	I would like to see a change in vision from traditional didactic teaching to learner centered, project based learning where students move ahead as they achieve standards.
1775.	11/1/2008 3:27:00 PM	I would make education more relevant by tying it to local needs, culture, concerns, and industry. Apprenticeships with local industries that are also designed toward meeting the Alaska Standards (which I think are find) to improve students skills and knowledge are needed. Students need to know how to apply their learning to be motivated to persist and pursue in building knowledge. Many students think that they are getting an education that prepares them for college, but when they get to college, the caliber of work is something for which they are not prepared. I believe it is because our students are not used to revising and improving their work at the high school level to the point that it meets the standards each time. They are given an assignment, complete it, turn it in, and it is graded based on the standards without fully meeting those standards. A student gets an A, B, C, etc.... but never fully meets the standards or learns to do so. Again, students should enter programs, such as those focused on completing one or two larger projects, that require them to revisit and revise their work until it meets the standards so that they understand what that work entails. Then those students will be more greatly prepared to pursue college or workforce requirements more independently when they need to do so.
1776.	11/1/2008 4:43:00 PM	Get the computers out of the elementary schools until kids know how to write neatly. All children have access to computers via home, friends, library afterschool programs. Get the basics down first, then add the fringe. k-4 kids don't need to know how to push a mouse, they need to know how to hold a pencil. Improve cultural understanding beyond native/non-native to alaska vs non alaska cultures
1777.	11/1/2008 5:09:00 PM	I'd like to see continuous training for teachers and more accountability to make sure our teachers provide quality education, especially at the high school level. This is the age where many students have stopped enjoying school and high school teachers need to make education relevant and interesting connecting it to the real world.
1778.	11/1/2008 7:11:00 PM	More counselling for students. More mentors. More compassionate teachers/staffs.
1779.	11/1/2008 7:27:00 PM	I would like to see the funding in our gifted programs increased. It seems that the numbers are increasing at a great rate. I would like to see these teachers in the classrooms working with general education teachers. The strategies that are used with gifted learners are benificial for all students, just as the strategies used with ESL/ELL students are great for all students.
1780.	11/1/2008 7:41:00 PM	Better communication from the school and school board to parents re curriculum changes. Implementaion and oversight of gifted programs in rural schools.
1781.	11/1/2008 8:40:00 PM	Parents are a critical link to school success. They too need to be held accountable for supporting their child in the academic process. This is most important in the formative years of K-8. Without responsible support and accountability, teachers can only do so much.
1782.	11/1/2008 8:44:00 PM	The paperwork required for special education.
1783.	11/1/2008 9:20:00 PM	Offer pre-k as a paid opportunity for parents instead of preschools.
1784.	11/1/2008 9:25:00 PM	I believe that we should not have to fight for money every year. It is hard to plan for the future when you don't know what the financial situation will be in the fall. Forward funding is great! Education should not be held hostage by politicians every year.
1785.	11/1/2008 9:26:00 PM	Access to high quality child care and early childhood education for children from all income levels. Parenting support classes for parents from all income levels. Oddly, it seems impossible to find these things when you make a good income.
1786.	11/1/2008 9:47:00 PM	more pre-school opportunities within neighborhood schools
1787.	11/1/2008 9:58:00 PM	PRE SCHOOL There needs to be more options for children leaving Infant Learning Programs and there needs to be a preschool option for typically developing children that is affordable. THIS WILL SAVE TONS OF MONEY in the long run and WILL LEAD TO HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, FEWER PROBLEMS WITH CRIME, the list is endless.
1788.	11/1/2008 10:59:00 PM	Based on what we know about human development in general, and brain research in particular, I believe Alaska and the nation should ensure top notch early education opportunities for all. Parenting skills, effective programs for pre-school children, and alignment with K-16 education would go a long way toward building a healthier state and nation.
1789.	11/2/2008 12:08:00 AM	I would like to have class size capped at 24.
1790.	11/2/2008 12:08:00 AM	Broader early education services and having peer students in preschool. Preschool and early intervention is the biggest bang for our dollars in helping children to be successful. If my daughter would have had the direct instruction that my son received, her dyslexia and learning differences may have resulted in much less stress in learning. Early intervention works and we need more. More teacher training in teaching and less in theory.
1791.	11/2/2008 1:08:00 AM	Consider the high mobility of military students. AK studies do not benefit military students that move frequently. Teachers (high school teachers) should be required to post assignments and grades on-line. This will enable parents to ensure their student is keeping up with assignments and doing well.
1792.	11/2/2008 1:13:00 AM	Lower class sizes and foster a school/family connection.
1793.	11/2/2008 3:38:00 AM	more classroom technology
1794.	11/2/2008 6:35:00 AM	more funding, smaller class size, higher teacher salaries
1795.	11/2/2008 6:58:00 AM	I would like to change the assessment of schools based on high-stakes testing to include more of a portfolio assessment of each school. I like that we make schools accountable to teach our young people well, but the current system has many flaws that especially hit us hard in Alaska.
1796.	11/2/2008 8:04:00 AM	Keep the Buddy Bear preschool system with at least 2 bears per class.
1797.	11/2/2008 8:05:00 AM	The competition for dollars. Seems unfair that small schools who need a base amount to run their school would have to compete with larger schools who operate on an excess. I'd level out the funding.
1798.	11/2/2008 5:26:00 PM	Greater emphasis on early childhood education, greater involvement of the parents in their child education beginning with preschool, restructure funding so schools don't have to change their curriculum to fit the funding, but rather to use the funding to further their curriculum.
1799.	11/2/2008 5:55:00 PM	There need to be more concise standards for Kindergarten. The standards compared to lower 48 are not great for the lower grades.
1800.	11/2/2008 6:48:00 PM	Tie school attendance to receipt of the PFD; streamline the educational bureaucracy; move to a standards-based assessment instead of the traditional grading system; zero tolerance for disruptive students, regardless of IEP designation; remove the law restricting the second amendment rights for school emloyees.
1801.	11/2/2008 6:48:00 PM	Teachers are professionals and need to be treated as such and this includes increases in salaries. Higher salaries and accountibility work hand in hand. We want the best and as such need to pay for the best, but this requires us as a community to hold teachers accountible for being the best.
1802.	11/2/2008 7:23:00 PM	The single largest issue I would advocate change for is to provide the financial means necessary to allow for educational goals at the State and Federal level to be met at all public schools. It has been said that money will not fix the problem however it certainly won't hurt it.
1803.	11/2/2008 8:54:00 PM	I would provide funding for transportation so optional programs are truly open to everyone. This is especially true for middle school students who are failing in the traditional settings but have no transportation the other choices. I would provide more funding and opportunities for vocational programs at the high school level. I would change the testing so ESL students who are new to this country do not have to take the test for at least 3 years. I would encourage providing more time and money for professional development.
1804.	11/2/2008 9:29:00 PM	We need more parent involvment and support.
1805.	11/2/2008 11:01:00 PM	Post secondary costs - whether a student chooses to go to a vocational, technical or traditional college, the fees and costs are getting to be prohibitive to students for many income levels, but especially low and middle class families.
1806.	11/2/2008 11:29:00 PM	Change to the German model of education; however, I would devise a college prep route for those students who wanted to change later in their high school career.
1807.	11/2/2008 11:46:00 PM	Stop one size fits all
1808.	11/3/2008 12:35:00 AM	Increased ESL programs, improved language, reading, math skills for all students, especially remote village students.
1809.	11/3/2008 1:02:00 AM	Stronger emphasis on vocational & technical classes for middle school and high school students. Alaska has some excellent training opportunities for post K-12 education, and these should be better known among K-12 schools.
1810.	11/3/2008 1:56:00 AM	I would put more money into vocational classes, help fund the arts/music programs and try to teach more of our students how to make a living with their hands and not just their minds. I would do away with the need for starting teachers to submit the videos of their teaching a class and submitting it to the state to have them be certified.
1811.	11/3/2008 2:31:00 AM	I feel it is ABSURD that there is no formula for school funding. That we have to stress out every year about funding is crazy.
1812.	11/3/2008 2:35:00 AM	Stop putting everything on the schools. My student's school is focusing on social and emotional learning. I don't want that I want my child to be working on projects, using creative thinking, following academic opportunities. This social carrying of students in the public scenario needs to stop. We need to focus on education not social and emotional wellness - this is the job for the State. Get Child Protective Services overhauled and develop other agencies to help support families - not the schools
1813.	11/3/2008 2:41:00 AM	More time for the IGNITE students to attend their special programs
1814.	11/3/2008 3:10:00 AM	I would develop a model alternative education program that school districts (even small districts) can adopt. I don't agree with "tracking" students, however, keeping kids in a traditional setting who DON'T WANT TO BE THERE absolutely ruin the educational experience for the other students. Sure, having "integrated" classrooms is okay, but I think alternative high schools, even middle schools, could be structured to provide an education and also the emotional, social and health issues some of our children have. It's a mess out in the trenches. You should send this survey to all middle and high school teachers --- promising their anonymity and protection -- they know what it's like.
1815.	11/3/2008 3:54:00 AM	I think that all our children should be taught money management and real life situations in high school.
1816.	11/3/2008 4:58:00 AM	I would like to have every child with special needs have a qualified teacher. There are many special education programs being implemented by teaching assistants with very little training and by teachers without special ed training. Also I would like salaries or caseloads to be attractive enough to attract qualified special ed teachers, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapist etc.
1817.	11/3/2008 5:25:00 AM	I would make sure gifted children are served. Some of Alaska's statutory language is great on the subject but the districts ignore it. It is VERY difficult to advocate for a gifted child and there is no inter-district option either. A magnet school needs to exist which serves gifted children and their special and unique needs. These children deserve a quality education and it is extremely difficult to do here. As a result Alaska loses one of its greatest resources.
1818.	11/3/2008 6:55:00 AM	Teach students and parents that public education isn't a righ�