Alaska school districts are scrambling to prepare for the new programs and policies outlined under the Alaska Reads Act that are set to go into effect next school year.

The act has little funding attached to it and its implementation comes after three years of education interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have left some questioning if districts will be able to meet all that it requires in the short time they have to prepare.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the act in June 2022 in an effort to promote early literacy by aiming to have elementary students demonstrate reading profici...