ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A state-sponsored raffle in Alaska has generated nearly $1 million for public schools in its first year, officials said.
The raffle will contribute $732,300 of the $976,400 raised to students in grades K-12, Alaska Public Media reported Wednesday.
Fairbanks Republican Sen. Click Bishop did not know how many people participated, but said he was pleasantly surprised by the results of the raffle created through legislation he introduced last year.
The funds will be distributed in three different ways; 50 percent going to the state education department budget, 25 percent to an education endowment fund, and the remainder divided among four raffle winners, officials said.
The first-place through fourth-place winners will receive $19,528, $9,764, $4,882, and $2,441, respectively, officials said.
Bishop hopes the funds can be used by school districts for programs such as pre-K and other early learning programs.
“We all know that the most formative years for young people is in their first three and four years,” Bishop said.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, has proposed budget cuts of more than $300 million to public education in the state, Alaska Public Media reported.
Bishop says he is hopeful the education raffle will grow in popularity.
“If I was the governor, I’d have a TV camera there when we pull the winners and have that publicized,” Bishop said. “And when that word gets out and you pull abh winner, I think it’ll catch fire.”
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