Alaska History Timeline: Education By worldpeacenow3 May 17, 1884 The First Organic Act of 1884 The First Organic Act of 1884 charged the Secretary of Interior with the responsibility of educating the school-age children of Alaska, regardless of race. Jan 27, 1905 The Nelson Act of 1905 This Nelson Act established two separate systems of education. This legislation authorized funds for public schools in Alaska exclusively for white children and children of “mixed blood who lead a civilized life. The federal government was responsible for the education of students identified as Alaska Native while the territorial government controlled the education of students identified as white. Apr 16, 1934 The Johnson O'Malley Act of 1934 The Johnson O'Malley Act transferred the responsibility of educating Alaska Native children to state and local school systems. The legislation subsidized education for Alaska Native public school students in a way that would foster educational opportunities that would not otherwise be provided due to their unique social, economic, and cultural environment which cultivated special needs that would foster educational equity. May 23, 1975 Hootch v. Alaska State-Operated School System The first amended complaint was filed and challenged the separate and unequal system of education in Alaska when Molly Hootch, age 16, from the village of Emmonak, and Anna Tobeluk, age 18, from the village of Nunapitchuk, sued the state of Alaska. They argued that the state discriminated against Alaska Native Students by failing to provide local high schools in predominantly Alaska Native villages. Sep 13, 1976 Tobeluk Consent Decree The Tobeluk Consent Decree addressed the complaint made about students having to travel to boarding schools and the need for more accessible local schools located in small isolated communities. It also established that every Alaskan child had the right to public school education in his/her home village and mandated for primary schooling to be available in every community with at least eight students. Jun 26, 1995 AK2K and the Alaska Standards Based School Reform Model Under the AK2K, the Alaska State Board puts into effect a regulation that sets a goal for schools to provide students with working knowledge of English, mathematics, science, geography, history, skills for a healthy life, government and citizenship, fine arts, technology and world languages. Mar 28, 1996 Content Standards in World Languages and Technology The State Board's regulations for content standards in world languages and technology are put into effect. Dec 31, 1997 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District v. State of Alaska The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of plaintiffs’ equal protection claim, holding that school districts and local taxpayers are not guaranteed equal tax rates or equal State portions of education revenues. Sep 1, 1999 Kasayulie v. State of Alaska A settlement was made to address the argument made by plaintiffs that there were constitutional violations on the basis of equity and adequacy. The court held that education is a fundamental right and found that the State system for funding school facilities was racially discriminatory against Alaska Natives in rural districts and in violation of the federal Civil Rights Act. Apr 4, 2001 Competency Testing Bill Passes Education An educational reform bill passes in the state legislature and is signed into law in Alaska requiring competency testing for high school students. Aug 2, 2004 Noon v. State of Alaska The Disability Rights Advocates represented a class of all students in Alaska with learning disabilities who were required to take the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE). They reached a landmark settlement with the State of Alaska to ensure equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Jan 26, 2012 Moore v. State of Alaska The Alaska State Constitution provides that "the legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the state. This landmark case, filed in 2004 and settled in 2012, challenged the adequacy of the public education system in rural and remote Alaskan communities where English is a second language and the extreme climate leads to teacher turnover and high costs. Aug 16, 2016 Tribal Consultations Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) The state's Commissioner issued an official letter addressed to tribal leaders that would foster meaninful tribal consultations during the development of the state's ESSA plan. ESSA mandates for this formal process to take place in order to foster opportunities for a school district and associated tribal leaders to work together in order to meet the needs of Alaska’s Native students. Oct 5, 2017 The Alaska Education Challenge The State Board reviewed and accepted all 13 recommendations under the Alaska Education Challenge. May 16, 2018 Every Student Succeeds Act: Alaska State Plan The state of Alaska's ESSA plan was officially approved with the letter from U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Dec 31, 2018 Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act President Donald Trump amends the 1934 Johnson O'Malley Act by signing the Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act into Public Law as a way to provide Alaska Native students with additional educational services and assistance that will better prepare them for the future.
