Alaska History Timeline: Education

The First Organic Act of 1884

May 17, 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.

The Nelson Act of 1905

Jan 27, 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.

The Johnson O'Malley Act of 1934

Apr 16, 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.

Hootch v. Alaska State-Operated School System

May 23, 1975

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.

Tobeluk Consent Decree

Sep 13, 1976

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.

AK2K and the Alaska Standards Based School Reform Model

Jun 26, 1995

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.

Content Standards in World Languages and Technology

Mar 28, 1996

The State Board's regulations for content standards in world languages and technology are put into effect.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District v. State of Alaska

Dec 31, 1997

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.

Kasayulie v. State of Alaska

Sep 1, 1999

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.

Competency Testing Bill Passes Education

Apr 4, 2001

An educational reform bill passes in the state legislature and is signed into law in Alaska requiring competency testing for high school students.

Noon v. State of Alaska

Aug 2, 2004

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.

Moore v. State of Alaska

Jan 26, 2012

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.

Tribal Consultations Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Aug 16, 2016

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.

The Alaska Education Challenge

Oct 5, 2017

The State Board reviewed and accepted all 13 recommendations under the Alaska Education Challenge.

Every Student Succeeds Act: Alaska State Plan

May 16, 2018

The state of Alaska's ESSA plan was officially approved with the letter from U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act

Dec 31, 2018

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.