Teacher Union Advocacy

*Updated 1/7/2026

Current Situation

Certified educators are currently working without a contract as the union, the Anchorage Education Association (AEA), and Anchorage School District have failed to come to an agreement. AEA and ASD are now in a 90-day arbitration window, which is the stage that comes after unsuccessful bargaining.

If an agreement is not reached by the end of the arbitration windows on Feb. 11, additional actions may include a teacher strike which could close schools, impacting all families within the ASD.

Background

A competitive contract is important to retain high-quality educators. ASD is experiencing high educator turnover, which AEA attributes to lagging wages and high increases to the cost of health benefits.

Turnover Facts

140+ AEA certified positions currently remain unfilled.
400 teachers on average leave ASD each year, but this year the expectation is between 500-600 teachers will leave by the end of the school year.
ASD lost $2 million of investment last year due to teachers leaving within the first year of teaching.

What Can We Do?

We can help show support for our teachers by taking the following steps:

Testify to the Anchorage School Board via in person testimony, emails, or phone calls. Details on how to do sign up or send testimony can be found here.
Submit a letter to the editor at the Anchorage Daily News supporting a fair contract for educators.
Reach out to state and local politicians about the benefits of retaining quality educators.

Sample Statement of Support

I support certified educators in their efforts to secure a fair and competitive contract. Our educators play a vital role in creating stable, high quality learning environment for children. Supporting fair compensation helps strengthen recruitment, retention, and ensure children receive the quality education they deserve. Investing in educators is an investment in our children's success.

Resources

Information on this page has been sourced from the Anchorage Education Association, for more details view the following links from AEA and ASD.

Anchorage School District: 2025-28 AEA Bargaining Information
Anchorage Education Association: https://www.anchorageea.org/bargaining (You can also find AEA handouts that summarize key information and actions here and here.)

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