Education

in committee · Alaska · House May 7, 2025

HB 212: An Act relating to the local contribution made by a city or borough school district; and providing for an effective date.

HB 212 clarifies how Alaska school districts calculate their required local funding contribution. It requires school boards to define specific terms like "student transportation," "nutrition services," and "early education programs" for funding calculations. The bill explicitly states that these defined services (including meals, transportation, early education, career training, and after-school programs) do not count toward the district's local contribution. This change directly affects city and borough school districts by altering how they report and meet their state-mandated funding obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExcludes educational services (meals, transportation, early education) from local contribution calculations, ensuring these programs remain funded without burdening school districts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation

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vetoed · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HB 174: An Act relating to the regional educational attendance area and small municipal school district fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe High School; and relating to teacher housing.

HB 174 creates a dedicated fund to support rural school districts and Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaska. It provides funding for school construction and major maintenance projects at these locations, as well as for maintenance of state-owned teacher housing located within rural school districts. The bill specifies that the fund must not hold more than $70 million in unspent balances and prioritizes school construction projects. This directly affects regional educational attendance areas, small municipal school districts, and teachers working in those communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund for school construction/maintenance, prioritizing educational budget allocations per bill's focus on appropriations and capital projects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates dedicated fund for rural school construction/maintenance and teacher housing, directly advancing K-12 infrastructure and educator support through targeted appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates funds for maintenance of state-owned teacher housing in rural school districts, directly supporting housing maintenance for educators within educational infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Alaska · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 12: An Act relating to free breakfast and lunch in public schools.

HB 12 requires Alaska public school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to any student who requests these meals, with no cost to the student. The state department of education must fund this through state appropriations and maximize federal funding available for school meals. This policy directly affects all Alaska public school students who request breakfast or lunch, ensuring meal access regardless of family income. The bill does not change eligibility criteria but mandates that districts offer these meals at no cost to students who ask for them.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free school meals for all students, ensuring nutritional access and expanding educational support through state-funded meal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 5: Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reinstate the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 and make the funding mechanism in the Act permanent.

HJR 5 is a resolution passed by the Alaska Legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to reinstate and permanently fund the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. This act provided critical funding to rural communities near national forests (like those in Southeast Alaska) that historically relied on payments from federal timber revenue to support schools, roads, public safety, and infrastructure. The resolution specifically requests retroactive funding for fiscal year 2025 after the program expired in January 2025 and asks Congress to make the funding mechanism permanent. It does not create new law but formally advocates for federal action to prevent budget shortfalls in affected rural areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSeeks permanent federal funding for schools, infrastructure, and public safety programs, directly supporting budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks to restore funding for schools in rural districts via Secure Rural Schools Act, directly supporting school funding infrastructure historically tied to timber revenue payments.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly funds rural infrastructure including roads (a transportation component) to support schools and public safety as part of the Secure Rural Schools Act.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Alaska · House May 15, 2025

HB 90: An Act establishing a financial literacy education program for public schools; and providing for an effective date.

HB 90 requires Alaska public schools to implement a financial literacy program for students in grades 9-12, covering 15 specific topics including budgeting, debt management, taxes, insurance, and the financial implications of Alaska Native corporation membership. School districts must provide a program equivalent to half a credit hour that meets these topics, and students must complete it to earn a high school diploma (with exceptions for students transferring after grade 10). The law applies to students graduating on or after January 1, 2027, with implementation beginning July 1, 2026. It mandates that the Department of Education provide a list of approved open educational resources for schools to use.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum for grades 9-12 as a graduation requirement, strengthening educational programs and expanding student financial education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 25: Supporting and encouraging the continued recruitment and retention of international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas in the state.

This is a symbolic joint resolution (HJR 25), not a law, expressing Alaska's support for recruiting and retaining international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas. It highlights how rural school districts (like Kuspuk, Kodiak, and North Slope) rely on these visas to address critical teacher shortages in math, science, and special education. The resolution acknowledges challenges these educators face - such as visa duration uncertainty and limited job mobility - but does not create new legal requirements or funding. It formally encourages continued use of J-1 and H-1B programs to maintain educational quality in underserved communities. (Note: As a resolution, it has no legal force and serves only to affirm legislative support.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly supports addressing teacher shortages by encouraging international educator recruitment on J-1/H-1B visas, directly strengthening teacher retention in rural schools facing critical shortages.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExplicitly supports recruiting international educators on J-1/H-1B visas, aligning with immigrant integration and workforce retention policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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in committee · Alaska · House May 9, 2025

HB 190: An Act relating to the insurance tax education credit; relating to the income tax education credit; relating to the oil or gas producer education credit; relating to the property tax education credit; relating to the mining business education credit; relating to the fisheries business education credit; relating to the fisheries resource landing tax education credit; renaming the day care assistance program the child care assistance program; relating to the child care assistance program and the child care grant program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 190 expands tax credit opportunities for businesses by adding multiple new education-related credits to Alaska's tax code. It allows businesses to claim credits against state taxes for contributions to educational programs, including Alaska Native cultural initiatives, vocational training, coastal ecosystem learning centers, and nonprofit child care facilities serving employees' children. The bill also renames the "day care assistance program" to "child care assistance program" and connects it to related grant programs. These changes directly affect businesses making qualifying contributions to education or child care services in Alaska, providing financial incentives for such support. The policy creates concrete tax credit mechanisms without altering existing program structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands business tax credits (e.g., education, child care) reducing state tax revenue, aligning with tax relief indicators for fiscal policy advancement.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands business tax credits for educational programs including vocational training, Alaska Native cultural initiatives, and child care, incentivizing private funding for education access and support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Career & Technical Education Early Childhood

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passed · Alaska · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 20: An Act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation education in public schools; and relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development.

SB 20 requires Alaska public schools to include hands-only CPR education in health classes for students in grades determined by the Department of Education. The bill mandates that the Department adopt age-appropriate curricula based on national emergency care guidelines, including hands-on practice and instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which may use video demonstrations if in-person training isn't feasible. Schools must offer this instruction, and it can be taught by certified CPR instructors, EMTs, or teachers with a current teaching certificate. The law takes effect on August 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR curriculum in K-12 health classes, enhancing student health education programs per bill's requirements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates CPR/AED training in schools to improve public health outcomes, directly advancing preventive healthcare initiatives under medical care subjects.85% confidence

Track

signed · Alaska · House Jul 3, 2026

HB 39: An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

HB 39 requires Alaska public school districts to provide parents of deaf or hard of hearing students with unbiased information about hearing technology, communication methods (like sign language or spoken language), and support services. It mandates that districts allow parents to choose the communication method for their child and deliver services using that method through trained professionals. The bill also requires the state to support programs for deaf students, including residential options, and sets procedures for school districts operating these programs while maintaining special education responsibilities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates unbiased info, parent choice in communication methods, and state-supported services for deaf students, directly expanding educational access and support within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

vetoed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 41: An Act relating to mental health education.

SB 41 requires Alaska public schools (K-12) to include mental health education in health curricula, mandating that school districts notify parents at least two weeks before any mental health instruction begins. It directs the state Board of Education to develop guidelines for age-appropriate mental health education in collaboration with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health groups. The bill also expands existing health education requirements to explicitly include mental health topics and creates a state school health specialist position to coordinate curriculum development and teacher training. This directly affects all public school students, parents (who gain notification rights), and school districts tasked with implementing the new requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health education in K-12 curricula, expanding student support programs through required guidelines and parental notification per bill language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health education in K-12 curricula, directing state guidelines with health departments to integrate mental health services into school health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health Teachers

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