Chapter 2: Alaska

In 1959, Alaska became the 49^th state of the United States. At the time of statehood, there were municipal and territorial schools serving the urban population, while rural schools were either operated by the territory or the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Article VII, Section I of the Alaska Constitution states, “The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public education institutions.” This signaled the state’s intent to unify the dual systems into one statewide school system.¹ The cost of taking over BIA schools with state-funded schools was prohibitive, and the state did not achieve the goal until three decades later.