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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB57

HB57: School Class Sizes, Charter Rules, and Funding Reports

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law sets maximum average class size targets for public schools, requires new reports on student progress in early grades, updates rules for charter school contracts and appeals, directs officials to track high school graduates' outcomes over time, and establishes a task force to study education funding.

What it does

  • Sets target average class sizes of no more than 23 students for pre-kindergarten through grade six and no more than 30 students for grades seven through twelve.
  • Allows school districts to exclude mixed-grade classes and specific subjects like art, music, computer science, vocational-technical courses, library time, and physical education from class size targets.
  • Requires schools to report annually on classroom sizes in kindergarten through grade twelve.
  • Requires annual reports on how many students in grades kindergarten through three improved or fell behind on expected skills using a statewide screening tool.
  • Updates rules for charter school applications, including requiring an academic policy committee and setting deadlines for submission.
  • Changes the timeline for state board decisions on charter school application appeals to within 45 days of receiving the appeal.
  • Lists specific requirements that must be included in charter school contracts, such as educational goals, funding details, teacher names, contract length limits, and termination clauses.
  • Allows local school boards to create simplified procedures for renewing charter school contracts that are in good standing.
  • Sets rules for ending a charter school contract if the school fails to meet terms or misrepresents facts, including giving the school notice and an opportunity to fix problems before termination.
  • Directs education officials to work with labor agencies to collect data on high school graduates' careers, college attendance, and residency every five years for 20 years after graduation.
  • Establishes a Task Force on Education Funding.

Who it affects

  • Public school districts
  • Charter schools and their applicants
  • The Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  • Students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve

Limits and unknowns

  • The law allows school districts to exclude certain classes like art, music, and physical education from class size limits.
  • School boards decide whether a charter school gets an opportunity to fix problems before its contract is ended.
  • The provided text does not include specific details on how tax revenue from digitized businesses will be used or the full rules for student transportation funding.

Plain language

Terms to know

Target average class size
A goal set by a school district for the maximum number of students allowed in an average classroom.
Charter school contract
An agreement between a charter school and a local school board that lists rules, funding, goals, and other requirements.
Statewide screening tool
A test used to check if students in early grades have the skills needed for their grade level.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official summary

SCHOOLS: COMM. DEVICES/CLASS SIZE/FUNDING An Act relating to maximum classroom sizes in public schools; relating to education reports; relating to charter schools; relating to student transportation funding; relating to secondary school vocational and technical instruction funding; relating to the base student allocation; relating to reading proficiency incentive grants; relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; relating to the use of tax revenue from highly digitized businesses; relating to the duties of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; establishing the Task Force on Education Funding; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) FN7: (S.FIN/LEG)1432
  2. (H) FN6: (S.FIN/LWF)1432
  3. (H) FN5: (S.FIN/EED)1432
  4. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 531432
  5. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/30/251432
  6. (S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/30/251455
  7. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER1397
  8. (H) ASSIGNED CHAPTER 5 SLA 251397
  9. (S) MEMBERS: TOBIN (CO-CHAIR), KIEHL, CRONK1420
  10. (H) MEMBERS: HIMSHOOT (CO-CHAIR), STORY, RUFFRIDGE1396
  11. (H) TO LEGAL SERVICES1357
  12. (H) GOVERNOR VETO OVERRIDDEN Y46 N141334
  13. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 5/19/251319
  14. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)1002
  15. (H) 9:15 A.M. 5/1/25 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR1002
  16. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, MINA973
  17. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE951
  18. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y31 N8 E1951
  19. (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 5951
  20. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP950

Changes

Amendments

27 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 675

AM 2

AM NO 2 ADOPTED Y19 N18 E3 684

AM 3

AM NO 3 FAILED Y9 N28 E3 686

AM 19

This amendment would require department approval before counting early education students in funding totals and set specific dollar limits for school construction projects based on how many students live in each town.

AM 20

This amendment adds new rules requiring school districts to submit detailed maintenance plans and insurance proof before receiving state funds, while also limiting how many construction or repair projects a district can get money for at one time.

AM 21

This amendment creates a new type of school called a 'demonstration state-tribal education compact' that allows the state to partner with specific tribes to run schools under special rules.

AM 22

This amendment adds a new rule to give extra money to public schools where at least 70% of students score proficient or higher on state tests.

AM 23

This amendment would add new duties to the state education department, including managing a fund to improve school performance and setting specific rules for when the department can step in to help schools with low student scores.

AM 24

This amendment requires school districts to spend a specific portion of their vocational and technical instruction funding on those programs, starting with 25% for two years before reaching full spending by 2030.

AM 25

AM NO 25 MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR 1027

AM 26

This amendment adds new rules for funding vocational training and reading programs using tax money from digital businesses, but these changes only happen if a separate bill taxing those businesses is passed.

AM 27

This amendment creates new funding rules for vocational training and reading programs that will only start if a separate tax law on digital businesses is passed.

AM 4

This amendment would require a task force to suggest ways to start free breakfast and lunch programs for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

AM 5

This amendment would allow members of regional and local school boards to work as substitute teachers in schools, even though current laws usually forbid them from doing so.

AM 6

AM NO 6 NOT OFFERED 980

AM 7

This amendment would require a task force to study and suggest a complete plan for teaching math in kindergarten through eighth grade.

AM 8

This amendment changes the schedule for certain education reports from happening every five years to happening only once in a three-year period.

AM 9

This amendment requires school districts to spend at least 70% of any new state funding from increased base student allocations on teachers and classroom instruction.

AM 10

This amendment adds a rule requiring school districts to spend at least 75% of any new state funding for increased student allocations on teachers and classroom instruction.

AM 11

This amendment would give regional school boards more power to manage their own money, hire staff without following state rules, and handle insurance for employees.

AM 12

This amendment adds a new rule requiring school districts to pay teachers small cash awards when their students improve in learning outcomes.

AM 13

This amendment creates a new program that gives every public school teacher in Alaska $750 each year to buy supplies for student learning.

AM 14

This amendment requires local school boards to give a written decision on charter school applications within 60 days, or the application is automatically considered denied.

AM 15

This amendment requires school districts to conduct exit interviews with teachers and administrators who leave their jobs and include the results of those interviews in annual public reports.

AM 16

This amendment would stop schools from banning students with excused absences from joining school activities.

AM 17

This amendment requires school districts to spend all money they receive for intensive student services on those specific programs.

AM 18

AM NO 18 NOT OFFERED 996