SB277
Alaska Education Funding and Rules Update
In one sentence
This bill changes how money is shared with charter schools, updates funding amounts for student transportation, adjusts rules for online learning programs, sets a new base amount per student, and clarifies teacher certification requirements.
What it does
- Increases the maximum administrative cost school districts can keep from charter school budgets to eight percent of total funds generated by students.
- Allows students who leave an online correspondence study program to keep textbooks and equipment provided during their enrollment.
- Updates the per-student funding amounts for student transportation services in every school district starting July 1, 2026.
- Sets a new base student allocation amount of $6,786.54 instead of the previous lower figure.
- Requires that cooperative agreements between districts offering online study programs specify an administrative fee capped at eight percent.
- Changes how students in statewide correspondence programs are counted for funding purposes based on where they live.
Who it affects
- Charter schools and the local school boards that fund them
- Students enrolled in or leaving correspondence study (online) programs
- School districts responsible for student transportation services
Limits and unknowns
- Funding amounts listed are subject to appropriation by the legislature.
- The official text provided ends before listing all requirements for out-of-state teacher certification, such as criminal background check details.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Correspondence Study Program
- An educational program where students learn through materials sent by mail or online rather than attending a physical classroom.
- Base Student Allocation
- The specific dollar amount of state funding assigned for each student enrolled in public school, set at $6,786.54 by this bill.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
EDUCATION: CORRESPOND STUDENTS/BSA/TCHERS An Act relating to education; relating to charter school budgets; relating to correspondence study program materials, funding, and student counts; relating to student transportation funding; relating to cooperative arrangements for correspondence study program services entered into by school districts; relating to the base student allocation; relating to eligibility for teacher certification; relating to reemploying retired members of the teachers' retirement system at regional resource centers; relating to reading proficiency incentive grants; requiring the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to procure an education funding study; and providing for an effective date.
Official activity
Bill history
- (S) Heard & HeldText
- (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
- (S) Heard & HeldText
- (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
- (S) REFERRED TO EDUCATION1930
- (S) EDC, FIN1930
- (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS1930