Alaska
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining Our Outstanding Teachers Awards | Workforce | Bonuses and Supplemental Pay | Bonuses of $3,000 per educator |
In 2022, the State of Alaska Child Care Program Office (CCPO) offered $3,000 payments to eligible early childhood teachers. To be eligible, educators were required to have a current/active membership in the Alaska SEED Registry; be employed in a licensed program; and be at any Career Ladder level (1-12). These awards represented an increase from the $500 per-person awards available in 2021. All SEED ROOTS awards were available on a first-come, first-served basis through an online application process. This program was funded by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Learn More: Alaska SEED ROOTs AwardSources: Thread. (2022). Alaska SEED ROOTs Award. Department of Health. (2023). Alaska COVID-19 Relief Timeline. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Examples of State and Local Early Childhood Workforce Strategies. |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
733,583 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
35.1% Source U.S. Census, 2022
Urban %
64.9% Source U.S. Census, 2022
Number of children age 0-4
48,111 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
33% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$94,000.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
4.3% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
7% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
N/A Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
30% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | S | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | S | S | S | S | S |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
Alaska Pre-Elementary Program Source: NIEER, 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-year-olds) Source: NIEER, 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (1%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (19%)
- Other/none (80%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER, 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (5%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (21%)
- Other/none (74%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including nearly 8,000 children in Alaska.