Education (Curriculum)

SB 41 requires Alaska public schools (K-12) to include mental health education in health curricula, mandating that school districts notify parents at least two weeks before any mental health instruction begins. It directs the state Board of Education to develop guidelines for age-appropriate mental health education in collaboration with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health groups. The bill also expands existing health education requirements to explicitly include mental health topics and creates a state school health specialist position to coordinate curriculum development and teacher training. This directly affects all public school students, parents (who gain notification rights), and school districts tasked with implementing the new requirements.

SB 22 requires Alaska public school districts to establish a financial literacy education program for students in grades 9-12, covering 15 specific topics like budgeting, debt management, taxes, insurance, and retirement planning. The program must be approved by the state education department and completed for high school graduation, with limited exceptions for students transferring after grade 10. It mandates that districts use state-curated open educational resources and ensures the curriculum includes practical financial skills relevant to students' lives. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to students graduating on or after January 1, 2027.

SB 23 requires Alaska public high schools to implement a standardized civics curriculum covering U.S. and Alaska government, founding documents, citizenship rights, and global governance systems. Students must complete a semester-long civics course and pass two assessments: a 100-question test based on the U.S. citizenship exam and a civics project-based assessment to earn a high school diploma. The bill directly affects all Alaska public high school students, with exemptions for transfers after 10th grade, students with prior history credits, or those with disability waivers. Schools must document passing scores on transcripts and may allow retakes for the assessment.