How HB57 changes current law

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes maximum classroom sizes, modifies reporting requirements for school districts, and makes provisions for funding and the operation of charter schools in Alaska.

• AS 14.03

  Sec. 14.03.065. Maximum classroom size. Each school district shall establish and make available to the public a target average class size policy for each grade level. The target average class size for pre-kindergarten through grade six may not exceed 23 and the target average class size for grades seven through 12 may not exceed 30. The policy may exclude mixed grade classes and courses in art, library, music, computer science, vocational-technical, and physical education. The policy must include procedures to reduce class sizes when the school district determines a reduction is appropriate.

  New section added to establish target average class sizes for public school grades.

• AS 14.03.120(g)

  [THREE]

  Removal of the term specifying 'three' from reporting requirements, allowing for broader reporting based on the previous school year.

• AS 14.03.120

  (k) The department shall collaborate with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development under AS 44.31.020 to gather data on the progress of each high school graduating class in a district by collecting career, postsecondary education, and residency data on each student in the graduating class. The departments shall gather the data every five years for 20 years after the high school graduation date of the class.

  New subsection added to require collaboration for data gathering on high school graduates' progress.

• AS 14.03.250(a)

  A local school board shall prescribe an application procedure for the establishment of a charter school in that school district. The application procedure must include provisions for an academic policy committee consisting of parents of students attending the school, teachers, and school employees and a proposed form for a contract between a charter school and the local school board, setting out the contract elements required under AS 14.03.255(c).

  Addition of requirements for charter school application procedures and the inclusion of an academic policy committee.

• AS 14.03.253(b)

  [90] → [45]

  Reduces the time frame from 90 days to 45 days for the state board to issue a decision after receiving an appeal for charter school applications.

• AS 14.03.255(c)

  A charter school shall operate under a contract between the charter school and the local school board.

  Clarifies that charter schools must operate under a contract with local school boards.

• AS 14.03.255

  (e) A local school board may establish simplified procedures and standards for a renewal of a contract in good standing, as defined by the local school board, between the local school board and a charter school.

  Allows local school boards to create simplified processes for renewing charter school contracts.

• AS 14.03

  Sec. 14.03.256. Charter school termination. (a) A local school board may terminate a contract between the local school board and a charter school only if the charter school has failed to comply with a condition or material term of the contract or AS 14.03.250 - 14.03.290.

  New section added to define conditions under which a charter school contract may be terminated.

• AS 14.09.010(a)

  A school district that provides student transportation services for the transportation of students who reside a distance from established schools is eligible to receive funding for operating or subcontracting the operation of the transportation system for students to and from the schools within the student's transportation service area.

  Clarifies eligibility for funding for student transportation services provided by school districts.

• AS 14.17.420(a)

  (3) in addition to the special needs and intensive services funding available under (1) and (2) of this subsection, secondary school vocational and technical instruction funding is available to assist districts in providing vocational and technical instruction to students who are enrolled in a secondary school;

  Introduces vocational and technical instruction funding for secondary schools.