Education

Program helps developmentally delayed

Every weekday during the school year, about a half-dozen young adults gather in the basement of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church near downtown Palmer. With planners and picture lists in hand, they go over their goals and obligations for the day ahead.

Audio Slide Show: Next Step program

Alaska youths gather to hear, speak out on range of issues

As Obama-Biden supporters rallied on the Park Strip, and McCain-Palin supporters cheered their heroes on the ground floor of the new Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center, an entirely different sort of civic movement played out on the huge building's top floor Saturday afternoon.

Trio of finalists chosen for museum position

Three finalists have been chosen to fill the director's position of the University of Alaska Museum of the North.

Students join to bring mandatory sex ed to schools

Amber Sawyer, a UAA junior, along with other politically minded Anchorage college students and even local high schoolers, is hoping to reform the way sex education is taught in the state.

Bush costs prompt exodus to cities

With growing evidence of a Native exodus from villages to cities, Mayor Begich and schools Superintendent Comeau on Monday asked Gov. Palin to organize a task force to find ways to stem the migration.

PDF: Begich-Comeau letter regarding Bush emigration

Struggling Native school hopes buses give it a lift

The struggling Alaska Native Cultural Charter School hopes to tackle enrollment problems by offering bus services to students.

Video: Tour the new charter school

Galena Air Force station handed over to educational center

The military held a ceremony on Tuesday to hand over the U.S. Air Force station at Galena so that it can be turned into an educational center.

Project shares portraits, stories of kids seeking adoption

"My name is Albert. ... My happiest moment was when I turned six because my whole family was there." These are the words of a child involved in the Heart Gallery of Anchorage, a project featuring the portraits and stories of local children in need of "forever homes."

Chester Valley school project goes over budget

The Anchorage School Board has tossed another $980,000 toward the reconstruction of the Chester Valley Elementary School.

Teachers' contract talks will go before arbitrator

An arbitrator is being asked to revive contract talks between the teachers' union and the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

UA decides to raise tuition for the fifth time since 2003

The University of Alaska board of regents decided at a meeting this week to again raise student tuition, according to a written statement from the University.

Local schools more populous than expected

With more students enrolling in Anchorage public schools than expected this year, administrators are asking why and wondering if the high cost of fuel is driving rural migration.

Palmer school project millions over budget

Nineteen months ago the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's pick for the site of its newest school -- nestled in a developing subdivision called The Ranch -- seemed a perfect marriage of location and price.

Blog: Mat-Su View

Dining hall eliminates food trays

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has eliminated trays from the dining hall in a move that could cut down on wasted food.

Local kids swap outdoors for classrooms

About 47,000 students surrendered to the end of summer and poured into Anchorage public schools Wednesday for the start of the new school year.

Test scores for public school students in Anchorage remain about the same as in 2007

The number of Anchorage public school kids passing proficiency tests stayed relatively static this past academic year -- pretty much the same as the previous year, according to scores released Friday.

Three more Service students plead guilty to reduced charges

Three more of the Service High School vandals pleaded guilty to reduced charges of criminal mischief in exchange for probation and community service at a hearing Friday.

Two Service students deal with prosecutors

Two of the Service High School students accused of vandalizing their school this spring pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced count of criminal mischief in a deal with prosecutors that spared them a trial on a felony charge.

Mat-Su teachers vote to accept 2-year contract

PALMER -- The teachers' union "unofficially" ratified a two-year agreement with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, according to the union president.

Last day of school

The 2008 school year is coming to an end, and with it comes that memorable last day of fun and reflection.

School pranksters punished

Students who plotted to seal off Service High with glue and cement as a senior prank will be banned from their graduation ceremony and must do complete community service.