Dear Parent:                                                                                        09/19/2025

Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the parents of students attending Title I schools have the right to request the professional qualifications of their children’s teachers.  I can assure you that all teachers in the Anchorage School District meet strict state standards and are indeed qualified to teach, but you have the right also to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:
 

• Whether the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has issued an Alaska teacher’s certificate for the grade(s) and subject(s) he or she teaches.
• Whether the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has decided that your child’s teacher can teach without being certified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
• Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
• Whether any classroom aides or other paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

If you would like specific information about your child’s teacher or paraprofessional, please contact me. For general information about ESEA, please contact Darrell Berntsen, Principal of College Gate Elementary, for the school district at Berntsen_darrell@asdk12.org or call 907-742-1500.

I know you want the very best for your child.  All of the educators in the Anchorage School District join me in wanting to make sure every child succeeds in school.  We look forward to working with you to make sure all students get the quality education they deserve and all schools are successful.

 

Sincerely,

Darrell Berntsen
Principal

College Gate Elementary

 

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