The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) invites proposals for establishing a Teacher Retention and Recruitment (TRR) Backbone Organization. This central coordinating body will implement the recommendations and strategies developed by the Governor's working group to enhance teacher retention and recruitment across the state. The TRR Backbone Organization will connect educational stakeholders throughout Alaska, fostering communication, collaboration, and strategic alignment. It aims to stabilize the educational workforce and elevate the quality of teaching by creating alignment across the system that supports local control to attract and retain high-quality educators. Proposals should demonstrate a deep understanding of Alaska's unique challenges in education and present a clear, actionable plan for both the establishment and full implementation of the Backbone Organization.

In the spring of 2020, the Governor of Alaska convened a working group to tackle the state’s significant teacher retention and recruitment challenges. With annual teacher turnover rates ranging from 21% to 24%, and reaching up to 30% in remote rural areas, educational continuity is disrupted, and student outcomes suffer, highlighting the urgent need for strategic intervention. The working group produced the Teacher Retention and Recruitment (TRR) Action Plan and Playbook, which offers practical, professional, and policy recommendations to address Alaska's persistent retention and recruitment issues. The TRR Playbook provides implementation strategies and recommendations for all stakeholder groups. DEED seeks to establish a backbone organization to serve as the central entity for facilitating the implementation of these strategies and recommendations.


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