The Senate voted unanimously this week to add lessons covering the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the public school curriculum.
The measure, Senate Bill 6, has been a long-standing goal of Anchorage Democratic Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, and Wednesday’s vote marks the second time the measure has cleared the Senate. The measure also directs schools to use instructional materials that reflect the cultural and economic diversity of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Last legislative session’s version of the bill also passed the Senate unanimously before dying in the Republican-controlled House Rules Committee, the final stage before a House vote.
During the debate on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Gray-Jackson reflected on the long history that various Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups have in Alaska, which she noted is often underrepresented in the classroom.
“AAPI individuals have contributed tirelessly to the fabric of our society, and yet far too often their stories are left untold. With Senate Bill 6, we can change that,” she said. “We will ensure every student in Alaska has the opportunity to learn about Filipino cannery workers, Japanese-American internees, Native Hawaiian leaders, Chinese railroad builders, and Pacific Islander pioneers — people who helped build this country and strengthen it every day.”
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up about 8.5% of Alaska’s population, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, with Filipinos alone making up 4.4% of the state’s total population.
The legislation, which comes as the state faces a budget crunch that has significantly curtailed hopes of delivering additional public school funding, is scaled back from its original starting point. The latest version eliminates a provision that would have required the state Department of Education and Early Development to review and approve school curricula, which would have cost the state approximately $65,000.
Still, Gray-Jackson said it marks a meaningful commitment to Alaska’s AAPI communities that their history and contributions to the state will be reflected in the classroom.
“Senate Bill 6 is more than legislation; it is a promise. It’s a promise that we will no longer allow stories, sacrifices and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to be hidden in the margins of our history books … They have helped shape Alaska and this nation in profound and lasting ways, from the canneries in Southeast Alaska to the classrooms, hospitals, small businesses and public service office across our state, AAPI individuals have contributed tirelessly to the fabric of our society,” she said. “This bill is not just about textbooks, it’s about representation, it is about equity, and it is about justice.”
The bill now heads to the House. With less than one week left in the legislative session, it’s unlikely to clear the House before legislators are slated to adjourn next week; however, it still positions it well to pass before the end of the Legislative Session next year.
Matt Acuña Buxton is a long-time political reporter who has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and The Midnight Sun political blog. He also authors the daily politics newsletter, The Alaska Memo, and can frequently be found live-tweeting public meetings on Bluesky.
