Second, all schools must be safe and adequate. My proposal to the Legislature last year would have repaired every long-ignored major maintenance project in rural Alaska identified by the Department of Education. I will insist the Legislature finish the job they left undone. We also must bridge the digital divide, the technology inadequacies facing too many rural communities. Third, we know a high school education alone just doesn t cut it today.
Rural students deserve greater opportunities for vocational and technical training and college.
From Kotzebue to Seward, we must bolster current programs as we develop a rural vocational boarding school. For students going on to college, our Alaska Scholar s Program is helping our state s best and brightest remain in Alaska to earn their degrees. Nearly 150 rural Alaska students are going to the University of Alaska since we offered free tuition two years ago to the top 10 percent of every high school graduating class. Our fourth responsibility is education reform. We have high expectations for our children.