Education (Student Health)

SB 151 requires Alaska public schools serving grades K-8 to adopt policies allowing students with live head lice to stay in class until the end of the school day but return only after a school nurse confirms no lice. Schools must provide parents with treatment information when lice is detected. The state would reimburse districts 20% of costs for school nurses if they screen at least 95% of students annually (while protecting privacy), submit required reports, and meet other specified conditions. This bill directly affects K-8 students, families, and school districts in Alaska.

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.

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.

HB 105 requires Alaska public schools (K-12) to include mental health education in health curricula and mandates that schools provide parents with at least two weeks' notice before offering mental health instruction to their children. It directs the state Board of Education to develop age-appropriate mental health education guidelines in collaboration with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health experts. The bill also expands existing health education requirements to explicitly include mental health, alongside topics like personal safety and substance abuse prevention. School districts must adopt policies allowing parents to withdraw children from mental health instruction or assessments, similar to existing provisions for other sensitive topics.