Anchorage, Alaska
Knowledgeable. Capable. Caring. Responsible. For the Anchorage school district, behind each of these words is an educational opportunity. The goal is for every student to demonstrate and internalize these terms: I am. I can. I care. I will.
These statements are also embedded in the district’s adopted social and emotional standards that guide districtwide implementation of SEL. As part of a six-year strategic plan, educators in the district adopted the standards to enhance each school’s ability to provide a caring environment for students. Divided into five pre-K-12 grade level groups with specific goals and benchmarks, the standards include language for both educators and children. This approach reflects the district’s effort to make SEL an integral part of the district’s educational priorities for both staff and students.
In addition to the SEL standards for all students, ASD has created a K-12 SEL Implementation and Sustainability Process (ISP) through which school site teams actively engage and learn to grow SEL practices strategically and systematically. ISP team members may earn university credit for this work.
Anchorage is also moving toward a managed instruction approach, which includes consistent content, grade-level expectations, performance standards and aligned curriculum across grade levels and schools. The district currently has four major priorities: Response to Instruction (RTI), Career and Technical Education (CTE), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Common Core State Standards. The district has been actively engaged in SEL efforts for more than 25 years.
Superintendent: Ed Graff is the superintendent for the Anchorage School District. He has been with the district for more than 20 years in a variety of roles, including elementary school classroom teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and chief academic officer. The Anchorage School Board unanimously approved Mr. Graff’s appointment as superintendent on March 11, 2013.
Learn more about the Anchorage School District at http://www.asdk12.org/.
District Stats
Joined Collaborating Districts Initiative: 2011
Total Student Enrollment: 48,960
- Largest Racial/Ethnic Student Groups: White (47 percent) and Asian/Pacific Islander (15 percent)
- Economically Disadvantaged Students: 35.6 percent
- Students with Limited English Proficiency: 11.7 percent
- Students with Disabilities (Individualized Education Programs): 7.2 percent
Total Number of Schools: 105
- Elementary: 59
- Middle: 11
- High: 8
- Charter Schools: 8
- Alternative Schools: 19
SEL District Lead: Leslie Vandergaw, Executive Director of Professional Development
CASEL Team: Chris Hiroshima & Linda Lantieri
