AK HJR25

Alaska Legislature expresses support for recruiting and retaining international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas to address persistent teacher shortages, particularly in rural and remote communities and in math, science, and special education

Kuspuk School District has relied on visa-holding educators for 60% of teaching staff on average from 2021-2025, with more than half of schools staffed entirely by international teachers; Kodiak Island Borough filled 22 positions through H-1B sponsorship since 2022

Bering Strait School District filed approximately 148 H-1B labor condition applications between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2024; North Slope Borough School District addressed a shortage of 50 teachers by hiring international educators from 2022-2024

Legislature encourages state and federal policymakers to support international educators by advocating for visa extensions, increased job mobility, and pathways to greater immigration security

Copies of the resolution to be sent to U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nicholas Begich