to a career-focused academy model for local high schools — starting this fall with freshmen and expanding to higher grades in future years. It’s an adaptation of a plan that has shown promise elsewhere, and one the district hopes will help provide a more direct connection between students and their aspirations after graduation.
The academy model Anchorage is adopting is based on similar efforts underway in Lower 48 districts such as, where academies have been in place for 15 years.
The academy model is also an important recognition and gesture on the part of the Anchorage School District that there are many different paths to success for students, and the district should do what it can to accommodate that. Some of the academies will feed into traditional college paths and two- or four-year degrees — but some will focus on career and technical education, and will be no lesser for it.
All in all, the academy model is a worthwhile experiment for Anchorage schools — one that could provide a more direct connection between students and their post-graduation jobs, as well as keep them engaged in pursuing topics that interest them. But it will require a substantial commitment from the School Board and district administration so that it doesn’t wither on the vine. That would be helped by more state budget certainty, especially where education funding is concerned.