Rural Matters

Both candidates for governor acknowledged a need to increase education funding last fall. But Sarah Palin (R) won the race with an additional emphasis on parental rights and empowerment. Her opponent, Tony Knowles, supported mentoring programs for new teachers, smaller class sizes, early education including pre-K, and the establishment of an education Trust Fund with excess revenue from the oil and gas. Palin may push choice options, though in rural Alaska where communities and schools are very far apart, it will likely have little impact.