Washington, March 14 (NationPress) A US senator has proposed new legislation aimed at reducing visa expenses for public schools in Alaska that depend significantly on international educators. The senator cautioned that the recent $100,000 fee for H-1B visas could exacerbate existing staffing shortages in these schools.

Senator Lisa Murkowski stated that her proposed bill would relieve K-12 public schools from this exorbitant visa fee, enabling educational districts to continue bringing in qualified teachers from abroad to maintain classroom staffing levels.

“After the proclamation was issued last year, I immediately alerted the administration regarding the critical role of the H-1B visa program for Alaska's educational institutions,” Murkowski emphasized.

“Alaska’s public schools have been grappling with a staffing crisis for several years, and teachers on H-1B visas have played a crucial role in alleviating that shortage, providing our students with quality education and care,” she added.

This legislative proposal arises as many districts across Alaska face challenges in recruiting local teachers, particularly in isolated and rural areas where schools have traditionally relied on international hires.

Education officials report that hundreds of teachers in Alaska are currently working under visas, with more than half of the state’s school districts depending on them to fill teaching positions.

“International teachers are vital for keeping classrooms operational across Alaska,” stated Dr. Lisa Parady, Executive Director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators. She cautioned that the steep visa cost has made it “financially unfeasible for numerous districts to continue hiring the educators their students require.”

School administrators highlight that the issue is particularly pressing in rural districts, where local applicants are often in short supply.

“The new $100,000 H-1B visa fee has rendered it impossible for districts like ours to recruit the teachers we urgently need,” remarked Dr. Cyndy Mika, Superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District.

“About 20% of our teachers are on visas, and nearly 75% of our village educators are international hires,” she continued. “These teachers are not replacing American educators; we simply lack local applicants for these roles.”

Without international educators, she warned that districts would face significant challenges in maintaining classroom operations.

“Without access to international teachers, districts such as Kodiak will struggle to fill classrooms and ensure consistent learning experiences for students,” Mika added.

Other educational leaders echoed these sentiments, expressing concerns that the new visa costs could hinder districts' abilities to sustain current staffing levels.

“Many districts throughout Alaska have encountered budget deficits, making it unrealistic to pay a $100,000 H-1B visa fee for each incoming international educator,” stated Tammy Dodd, Superintendent of the Bering Strait School District.

She highlighted that her district employs numerous international teachers, who represent a significant portion of the teaching workforce.

In certain rural districts, international educators are not merely supplementary; they are essential to the functioning of the educational system.

“At the Kuspuk School District, international teachers are vital to maintaining school operations,” said Superintendent Madeline Aguillard.

This legislation responds to a presidential proclamation issued in September 2025, mandating H-1B visa applicants to pay a $100,000 fee on top of existing application costs.

While the H-1B visa program is primarily utilized by US tech firms for skilled labor recruitment, several school districts have also employed it to hire qualified teachers when local recruitment efforts fall short.