Education in Alaska | MyRepTracker

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 8: Relating to strengthening international relations with Taiwan.

This is a non-binding resolution (SJR 8), not a legislative bill. It expresses Alaska's support for strengthening ties with Taiwan through four specific actions: (1) resuming an Alaska Trade Office in Taiwan to boost trade, (2) expanding educational exchanges, (3) advocating for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO, and (4) endorsing closer U.S.-Taiwan economic partnerships, including potential trade agreements. The resolution reaffirms Alaska's existing sister-state relationship with Taiwan and its economic ties, noting Taiwan as Alaska's eighth-largest export market in 2023. It has no legal effect but serves as a symbolic statement of support.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Alaska · House Jun 20, 2026

HB 28: An Act relating to education; relating to reimbursement of school district energy costs; relating to correspondence study program materials; relating to substitute teaching; relating to the qualifications of school board members; relating to school consolidation; relating to the required local contribution made by a city or borough school district for public school funding; relating to reemploying retired members of the teachers' retirement system at regional resource centers; establishing a teachers' student loan repayment pilot program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 28 establishes a pilot program to help certain Alaska teachers and state employees repay student loans. It targets full-time public school teachers and state workers who completed degrees outside Alaska (with 12+ months Alaska residency before studying) or at the University of Alaska (with 12+ months outside Alaska before employment), provided they have qualifying student loans. Participants may receive annual grants of up to $8,000 (for loans ≥$24,000) or one-third of their loan balance (for smaller loans), capped at 125 grants yearly with a $1 million total annual limit. The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education will administer the program, require annual reports on its impact on recruitment/retention, and evaluate it through 2027 before the program expires January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding Student Financial Aid

in committee · Alaska · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 9: An Act relating to education; relating to funding for charter schools; and relating to services for children with disabilities.

HB 9 requires Alaska school districts to allocate additional funding (from grants or other sources beyond state aid) to charter schools in proportion to the charter school's annual budget relative to the state aid the district receives. It also mandates that school districts establish written procedures allowing children with disabilities to access medically necessary services at school, provided they have a medical diagnosis and a prescription from a qualified health care provider. The bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and students with disabilities in Alaska. These changes apply to contracts entered into or renewed after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics School Choice

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 66: An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date.

SB 66 authorizes Alaska’s Department of Education to create formal agreements (called "demonstration state-tribal education compacts") with federally recognized Alaska tribes. These compacts would establish tribal-operated schools that operate under the agreements instead of standard state school laws, while still following specific education requirements like attendance rules and safety standards. Key provisions include a 5-year compact term, mandatory participation in state retirement systems, and a limited waiver of tribal sovereign immunity for services under the agreement. The bill directly affects Alaska tribes that participated in 2022 negotiations and their students in designated compact schools. It takes effect by June 30, 2028, with a legislative review required after seven years.

Topics ✓ Education

Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 14, 2025

SB 101: An Act relating to health and personal safety education.

This bill requires Alaska public schools to annually report detailed performance data to the state department, including specific metrics about student achievement, attendance, and school programs. It directly affects all public schools and their administrators, mandating they submit standardized reports covering accreditation, test results, graduation rates, and student enrollment changes. A key provision adds new requirements for schools to report on their health and personal safety education program, including participation numbers, teaching frequency, and grade levels taught. The bill amends existing school accountability laws (AS 14.03.120 and AS 14.16.050) to integrate these reporting standards, without creating new curriculum or funding.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 112: An Act making a special appropriation to the Department of Education and Early Development for public education that appropriates the same base student allocation equivalent funding appropriated for fiscal year 2025; and providing for an effective date.

HB 112 allocates $6,640 per student in base funding for Alaska public schools for the 2026 fiscal year, matching the amount previously set for 2025. It directs the Department of Education to distribute these funds to school districts based on each district's average daily student enrollment. The bill ensures consistent per-student funding levels for public education without changing the existing school finance formula. This special appropriation takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all Alaska public school districts receiving state aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 28, 2025

HB 122: An Act relating to education; relating to local contributions of a city or borough school district; relating to school funding; and providing for an effective date.

HB 122 modifies Alaska's school funding system to clarify how local school districts fund charter schools. It requires local boards to provide charter schools with annual budgets based on student enrollment, minus administrative costs capped at 4% (excluding facility costs like rent or utilities). The bill specifies that budgets must include state aid, federal impact aid, and local contributions, but not facility expenses. This directly affects charter schools and local school districts in Alaska by standardizing funding calculations under the state's education finance framework.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SB 127: An Act relating to the education of visually impaired students in public schools.

SB 127 requires Alaska public schools to include braille instruction in the individualized education plans of visually impaired students, unless other services are specifically determined to be more appropriate for the student's needs - though braille instruction must still be available regardless. It also establishes a state program to provide specialized educational services, materials, and teachers for visually impaired children aged 3 to 22, and mandates in-person braille training for current teachers. The bill defines "braille" as Standard English Braille, Grade 2, to standardize implementation. This law directly affects visually impaired students, school districts, and educators in Alaska's public schools.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Special Education

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 165: An Act relating to maximum classroom sizes in public schools; relating to the duties of school districts; and providing for an effective date.

HB 165 sets specific classroom size limits for Alaska public schools: 23 students for kindergarten through third grade, 26 for fourth through eighth grade, and 30 for ninth through twelfth grade. It exempts school districts with an average daily membership of 35,000 or less. The bill requires schools to notify parents twice yearly (November 30 and February 1) about classroom size limits, district-wide averages per grade, and their child's specific classroom size. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 168: An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date.

HB 168 requires Alaska public high schools to implement a standardized civics education curriculum covering 14 specific topics, including U.S. founding documents, government branches, Alaska's constitution, and comparative global government systems. To earn a diploma, students must complete a semester-long civics course, pass a 100-question assessment based on the U.S. citizenship test, and either complete a civics project or provide evidence of prior passing scores. The bill mandates schools to document passing scores on student transcripts and allows limited exemptions for transfer students or those with disabilities. This directly affects all Alaska high school students seeking graduation, with requirements taking effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum Testing & Assessment

All education bills