Superintendents tell Alaska education committee CLSD grant works but implementation is inconsistent

Juneau — Two Alaska school superintendents told the House Education Committee on Jan. 26 that the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant is improving literacy work but that implementation problems are limiting its reach.

Michael Robbins, superintendent of the Bristol Bay Borough School District, and Robin Taylor, superintendent of the Petersburg School District, both praised CLSD’s birth‑to‑grade‑12 approach and its emphasis on sustained professional development and Multi‑Tiered System of Support (MTSS), saying the program helps align early learning through high school and supports teacher retention through ongoing coaching.

"This funding will have significant impact on our students' reading levels," Robbins said, describing CLSD as a vehicle for district‑level planning that can move districts away from one‑time trainings to sustained instructional improvement.

Why it matters: Alaska’s school districts are geographically and demographically diverse, and both superintendents said CLSD’s flexibility is essential. But they told lawmakers that a series of administrative and design choices have created gaps…