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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB82

Alaska School Rules on Attendance, Phones, Reading Grants, and Funding

Last scannedSep 14, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules for school attendance choices, sets policies limiting student phone use in schools, provides grants to districts based on reading success rates, establishes a process for charter school applications, lists specific transportation funding amounts per district starting July 1, 2025, and allows lump-sum payments for teacher retention.

What it does

  • Allows parents to apply for their child to attend a public school outside their home district if space is available.
  • Requires school districts to publish yearly data on student enrollment numbers, capacity limits, vacancies by grade, application counts, and reasons for denying applications.
  • Prohibits students from using personal mobile devices in schools unless there is an emergency, health need, teacher permission for learning, or a requirement under their individualized education plan.
  • Provides $450 grants to school districts for each student in kindergarten through sixth grade who meets specific reading skill goals on state assessments.
  • Sets specific dollar amounts per student that the state will pay to different school districts for transportation services starting July 1, 2025.
  • Creates a process for applying directly to the State Board of Education and Early Development to open new charter schools.

Who it affects

  • Students in Alaska public schools from kindergarten through sixth grade
  • School districts across all regions of Alaska
  • Teachers eligible for retention or recruitment incentive payments
  • The State Board of Education and Early Development

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify an effective date.
  • Funding for reading grants and transportation depends on whether the legislature approves enough money (appropriation).
  • School districts can only accept students from outside their area if they have open seats after following enrollment preference policies.

Plain language

Terms to know

Mobile communication device
A cellular telephone, smartphone, personal data assistant, wireless tablet, computer, or similar device used for voice or visual communication.
Charter school
A public school established by application to the state board that operates under specific rules in AS 14.03.255 through 14.03.290.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

EDUCATION:SCHOOLS; GRANTS; FUNDING; DEBT An Act relating to education; relating to public school attendance; relating to mobile communication devices in schools; relating to reading proficiency incentive grants; relating to authorization of charter schools; relating to transportation of students; relating to school bond debt reimbursement; relating to funding and reporting by Alaska technical and vocational education programs; authorizing lump sum payments for certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) Minutes (SEDC)Min
  2. (S) Heard & HeldText
  3. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  4. (S) Minutes (SEDC)Min
  5. (S) Heard & HeldText
  6. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  7. (S) Minutes (SEDC)Min
  8. (S) Heard & HeldText
  9. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  10. (S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --Text
  11. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  12. (S) REFERRED TO EDUCATION143
  13. (S) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER144
  14. (S) FN9: (EED/FUND CAP)144
  15. (S) FN8: ZERO(EED/DEBT SERVICE)144
  16. (S) FN7: (EED)144
  17. (S) FN6: (EED)144
  18. (S) FN5: (EED)144
  19. (S) FN4: (EED)144
  20. (S) FN3: (EED)144