Subcommittee seeks clearer outputs from virtual learning consortium; senators emphasize role in Alaska Reads Act implementation

The subcommittee questioned DEED staff about a virtual learning consortium intended to expand access to online courses and create a statewide course-sharing system. Jake Almeda said the consortium is researching vendors, building a course database, and developing high-quality virtual instruction training aligned to national standards.

Senator Tobin noted the consortium statute also included early-reading and literacy coordinator roles intended to support homeschool families and districts that cannot hire reading specialists; she asked the department to ensure those coordination functions tied to the Alaska Reads Act remain funded, particularly where federal grants support positions. DEED staff confirmed a federal grant had provided an early-learning/literacy coordinator and said those functions are integrated into the consortium work and related federal-funded initiatives.

Kathy Moffett, director involved with the department reading programs, said the department will post school applications and synthesize individual-school reading improvement plans on its website and agreed to provide clearer status summaries (number applied, number accepted) after senators asked for concise responses. Moffett said the schools listed in the committee materials that applied were the schools accepted for the program year under discussion.