Public Testimony On House Bill 69

I am Alexander Rosales, a parent of two kiddos in the Anchorage School District... I'm here to oppose House Bill 69 and urge you to reconsider its passage for the sake of our kids' financial future. My stance is driven by the need for fiscal responsibility in the state and effective educational reform. We spend in the top 6 of the nation, yet our results are nearly last.

Our district spends an astonishing $21,000 per student, which is already 59% of our overall spending. However, the educational outcomes show a disconnect: in English Language Arts, 64.5% of our students are not proficient, and in Science, it's 61.34%. This discrepancy is alarming, suggesting that more funding isn't the answer; we need to focus on how we spend these funds.

Currently, only 30% of our budget goes directly to classroom instruction. We have schools in the area that are spending less than half of what the Anchorage School District does, but are producing at the highest levels in the country. Imagine optimizing this, ensuring every dollar impacts learning directly, perhaps by paying teachers more.

We need reforms targeting our educational challenges: enhancing teacher quality and stability, updating the curriculum, and providing robust student support. We must implement stricter accountability to ensure spending improves proficiency.

Passing HB 69 without addressing these inefficiencies would be shortsighted, especially with our $2 billion deficit. The credit card has been maxed out. Let's prioritize reform over spending, to work smarter for our children's future.

In conclusion, I urge you to vote against House Bill 69. Supporting this bill could lead to destroying our state financially, leaving our kids as slaves to the debt. Current inflation is due to OUR overspending that will starve our kids and economy. Let's focus on making our investments effective, emphasizing quality, accountability, and results. Thank you for your time and consideration.