Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB1002
Demonstration State-Tribal Education Compacts
Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM
In one sentence
This bill allows the commissioner of education and early development to sign five-year agreements with specific tribes to run schools that are exempt from most standard school district rules but must follow laws on safety, attendance, student rights, and funding.
What it does
- Authorizes the commissioner of education and early development to enter into demonstration compacts with participating tribes.
- Requires each compact to include terms for a five-year duration, roles and responsibilities, legal compliance, auditing, dispute resolution, insurance, and mandatory teacher retirement participation.
- Exempts these schools from most state laws that apply to regular school districts while keeping specific rules on safety, attendance, student rights, funding, and anti-discrimination in place.
- Allows the state board of education to waive standard certification requirements for teachers with specialized knowledge relevant to a tribe.
- Sets a deadline requiring any new compacts to take effect by June 30, 2028.
Who it affects
- Federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations that participated in negotiations under SLA 2022 chapter 43.
- The commissioner of education and early development who signs the compacts.
- Teachers employed by demonstration state-tribal education compact schools.
- Students attending these specific demonstration schools.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not specify the exact amount of money available for funding these compacts.
- It is unclear if any specific tribes have already agreed to sign a compact under this new law.
- The legislature must reevaluate the program in seven years, but no decision on continuing it has been made yet.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Demonstration State-Tribal Education Compact
- A five-year agreement between the state and a tribe to operate a school with special rules.
- Participating Tribe
- Federally recognized tribes that took part in specific negotiations under SLA 2022 chapter 43.
- Sectarian Practices
- Religious activities or teachings, which these schools are not allowed to include in their programs.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
STATE-TRIBAL EDUCATION COMPACTS An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date.
Official activity
Bill history
- (H) REFERRED TO EDUCATION1411
- (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER1411
- (H) FN3: (EED/FUND CAP)1411
- (H) FN2: ZERO(EED)1411
- (H) FN1: ZERO(EED)1411
- (H) EDC, FIN1411
- (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS1411