AK SJR21

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 staffed 60% of teaching positions with visa-holding educators since 2021, with more than half of schools staffed entirely by international teachers; Kodiak Island Borough filled 22 positions through H-1B sponsorship since 2022

North Slope Borough School District addressed a shortage of 50 teachers by hiring international educators from 2022-2024; Bering Strait School District filed approximately 148 H-1B labor condition applications between FY2022-FY2024

Legislature encourages state and federal policymakers to support international educators through visa extensions, increased job mobility, and greater employment security

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