ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA SCHOOL BOARDS

CORE SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAMS ADVOCACY - A REGISTERED LOBBYIST IS ON STAFF TO PROVIDE FEDERAL AND STATE ADVOCACY IN ADVANCING LEGISLATION THAT PROMOTES LOCAL CONTROL AND ENHANCES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THE LOBBYIST MANAGES AND TRAINS BOARD MEMBERS AS A GRASS ROOTS ADVOCACY ASSET. CDL - CONSORTIUM FOR DIGITAL LEARNING (CDL) OFFERS A FULL MENU OF SERVICES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL RESOURCES AND OTHER SERVICES WHICH SUPPORT THE NEEDED CRITICAL FACTORS OF DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHICH HELP ASSURE STUDENT SUCCESS. POLICY DEVELOPMENT - AASB PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH QUESTIONS AND SAMPLE POLICIES, AS WELL AS EXPERT CONSULTATION WHEN REVIEWING OR REVISING SCHOOL DISTRICT MANUALS. AASB ALSO OFFERS POLICY ONLINE SERVICES TO CONVERT POLICY MANUALS TO AN ONLINE REFERENCE TOOL COMPLETE WITH LINKS TO LEGAL REFERENCES. SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SERVICES - AASB PROVIDES EXPERT FACILITATION OF THE ENTIRE SEARCH PROCESS, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RECRUITING CANDIDATES, AND CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS. STRATEGIC PLANNING - AASB FACILITATES WORKSHOPS TO HELP BOARDS ESTABLISH A VISION FOR THE DISTRICT AND DEVELOP SPECIFIC ACTION PLANS THAT BENEFIT STUDENT LEARNING IN MEASURABLE WAYS. SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CONNECTEDNESS SURVEY (SCCS) - SCCS IS A USEFUL TOOL FOR SCHOOLS LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR OVERALL CLIMATE AND CONNECTEDNESS, IMPROVE THEIR APPROACH TO INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND HELP KIDS SUCCEED BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. BOARD DEVELOPMENT - AASB PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, BOARD/SUPERINTENDENT RELATIONS, SCHOOL BOARD SELF-EVALUATION AND GOAL SETTING. AASB OFFERS MANY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: BOARDMANSHIP ACADEMIES ARE HELD THREE TIMES A YEAR IN THE SPRING, FALL AND WINTER; LEADERSHIP/LEGISLATIVE FLY-INS ARE HELD TWICE EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HELP BOARD PRESIDENTS AND OFFICERS DEVELOP SKILLS (THIS TOP QUALITY PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO HONE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LEADERS, EQUIP THEM WITH THE BASICS OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND HELP THEM CONNECT WITH THEIR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION); AND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS HELD EACH NOVEMBER (THIS GATHERING OF EDUCATION LEADERS BRINGS TOGETHER MOST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN THE STATE). CONFERENCE PROGRAMS FEATURE RENOWNED SPEAKERS, EDUCATION CLINICS AND A RESOLUTION SESSION THAT GIVES AASB ITS DIRECTION.

SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROMISE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA THE SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROMISE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD (STEPS AK) FOOTPRINT IS COMPRISED OF 7 NONCONTIGUOUS CITIES AND VILLAGES WITHIN THE 600-MILE-LONG EASTERN ALASKA PANHANDLE. THE STEPS AK FOOTPRINT IS HOME TO OVER 50,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 11,000 CHILDREN. ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS FROM THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA TRIBES ARE THE PRIMARY TARGET POPULATION FOR STEPS AK SOLUTIONS. STEPS AK SERVES 4,551 STUDENTS IN 18 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND 6 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF STUDENTS IN THE FOOTPRINT ARE FROM THE JUNEAU AND SITKA SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE STEPS AK COALITION OF PARTNERS IS EXTENSIVE. ACROSS THE PIPELINE, SOLUTIONS SEEK TO ADDRESS INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA AS A MEANS OF CORRECTING DISPARITY IN EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY OUTCOMES.