Alaska
Supporting Student Outcomes with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
Addressing State Priorities with NWCC
The Northwest Comprehensive Center (NWCC) collaborates with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) on projects that reflect the needs of students, educators, and communities across the state. Key priorities established by DEED include:
- Third-grade literacy
- Career, technical, and culturally relevant education
- Preparing, attracting, and retaining effective educators
Together, NWCC and DEED are addressing Alaska’s state priorities through the following projects:
Career Readiness
Across Alaska, many students in small and rural districts have limited opportunities for career exploration. NWCC and DEED are engaging Alaska’s career and technical educators to identify promising, locally relevant policies and practices for expanding these opportunities, particularly in rural communities. Using what we learn, we will create evidence-based tools and resources to help districts plan and implement career exploration activities more effectively and give DEED a structured way to coordinate and update guidance for the field.
Literacy
Alaska schools and districts have made progress in implementing multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) for literacy, but more work is needed to create sustainable, cohesive systems grounded the science of reading. Together, NWCC and DEED are refining existing processes, aligning MTSS with literacy requirements, and developing Alaska-specific tools that help district and school leaders apply coherent instructional practices.
Educator Workforce
Like many states, Alaska faces an educator shortage, especially in rural and remote areas. In 2021, a working group convened by the governor released the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Plan with research-based recommendations to address the root causes of the shortage and attract and retain teachers. NWCC is supporting DEED to implement this plan statewide by developing tools, sharing effective strategies, and helping districts design and carry out local plans to address educator shortages.