Education (Teachers) in Alaska

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 287: An Act establishing the Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force.

This bill establishes a Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force within the Alaska State Legislature to oversee the preservation and instruction of Alaska Native languages. The task force will consist of six members, with three appointed by the House speaker and three by the Senate president. Within 90 days of the law taking effect, the group must hold public meetings to gather input from communities and experts while reviewing academic activities at the University of Alaska system. Their review will specifically examine teacher training programs, research archives, and staffing levels to support the documentation and instruction of these languages.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 313: An Act relating to professional employee organizations in public schools; and providing for an effective date.

HB 313 requires Alaska public school districts to provide equal access to school facilities and communication systems for all professional employee organizations (PEOs), such as teacher unions, upon request. It prohibits school districts from using a PEO's name on school calendars for special days or holidays, and bans granting exclusive access to facilities or communication systems to any single PEO. The bill defines "professional employee organization" as groups focused on improving instruction and professional standards for educators. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, applying to all public school districts in Alaska.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers

passed both · Alaska · House Jun 17, 2026

HJR 39: Urging the federal government to waive the new H-1B Visa fees for teachers in the state.

HJR 39 is a resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature urging the federal government to waive a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee for international educators hired by Alaska schools. It directly affects Alaska school districts - particularly rural and remote ones facing teacher shortages in subjects like math, science, and special education - who currently employ nearly 500 international educators. The resolution cites that the fee increase threatens to force schools to pay millions or lose needed teachers, impacting over 5,000 students currently without adequate staffing. This is a non-binding request to federal officials (including the President, Education Secretary, and Homeland Security Secretary), not a law that would change visa fees itself.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 237: An Act relating to mathematics education; relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; and relating to the duties of school districts.

HB 237 requires all Alaska public schools to provide 60 minutes daily (or 300 weekly) of mathematics instruction for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It mandates school districts to use evidence-based instructional materials and assessments to monitor student progress, identify those needing intervention, and automatically enroll eligible students in advanced math courses. The Department of Education must provide districts with approved materials and assessments, while districts must implement teacher training programs focused on data-driven instruction and intervention strategies. This bill directly affects K-8 students, school districts, and math teachers across Alaska by establishing specific requirements for curriculum, assessment, and educator support.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

signed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 146: An Act relating to the regional educational attendance area and small municipal school district fund; and relating to Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

SB 146 creates a dedicated fund to support education infrastructure in Alaska. It provides grant funding for regional and small municipal school districts, funds construction/maintenance at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and covers major maintenance for state-owned teacher housing located within those school districts. The fund, capped at $70 million in unspent balances, directly affects regional school districts, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and teachers working in those areas by addressing facility and housing needs. This bill focuses on concrete funding mechanisms for school infrastructure and teacher housing, without altering educational standards or policies.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 12, 2025

SJR 21: Supporting and encouraging the continued recruitment and retention of international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas in the state.

SJR 21 is a joint resolution (not a bill) expressing legislative support for recruiting and retaining international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas in Alaska schools. It acknowledges these educators' critical role in addressing teacher shortages - particularly in rural districts and subjects like math, science, and special education - while noting challenges like visa unpredictability and limited job mobility. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the contributions of international educators and urges continued support for their retention. It follows examples from districts like Kuspuk and Kodiak, which have successfully used these visa programs to maintain staffing.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 197: An Act relating to mathematics education; relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; and relating to the duties of school districts.

SB 197 requires all Alaska public schools to provide 60 minutes daily (or 300 weekly) of mathematics instruction for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It mandates school districts to use state-approved, evidence-based math materials and assessments, including a screening test within 30 days of each school term, to track student progress and identify those needing intervention. The bill also requires the Department of Education to create a teacher credential for K-8 math educators demonstrating competency in evidence-based teaching practices. These provisions directly affect school districts, educators, and K-8 students across Alaska by standardizing math instruction, assessment, and teacher qualifications.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

in committee · Alaska · House May 1, 2026

HB 231: An Act relating to education; relating to education reports; relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to teacher exit interviews conducted by school districts; relating to the teachers' retirement system; relating to the public employee retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

HB 231 requires the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to submit an annual report by February 15 each year, detailing school performance, curriculum alignment, resource allocation, and teacher retention data - including aggregated information from school district teacher exit interviews. It also mandates that school districts include exit interview data in their annual public reports, alongside goals, improvement plans, and metrics for measuring educational progress. The bill focuses on transparency and data-driven decision-making by requiring specific, standardized reporting on teacher turnover, administrative staffing ratios, and intervention efforts for low-performing schools. These provisions directly affect school districts, the Department of Education, and educators by establishing new reporting requirements without changing funding or program structures.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

in committee · Alaska · House Aug 2, 2025

HB 1002: An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date.

HB 1002 creates a framework for Alaska to establish demonstration education compacts between the state and federally recognized tribes. It authorizes the Education Commissioner to enter into these compacts, requiring standardized terms including five-year durations, defined roles, funding rules, and mandatory participation in state teacher retirement systems (AS 14.25 or AS 39.35). Schools operating under these compacts would be exempt from most state school laws but must follow specific requirements like attendance rules, safety standards, and annual audits. The bill applies directly to participating tribes and their schools, with compacts needing to be finalized by June 2028.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 28, 2025

HB 98: An Act relating to a maximum pupil-teacher ratio in public schools; relating to the duties of school districts and governing bodies of school districts; and providing for an effective date.

HB 98 sets maximum class sizes in Alaska public schools: no more than 24 students per teacher in kindergarten through third grade, 26 for fourth through eighth grade, and 28 for ninth through twelfth grade. School districts must annually report and publicly post their average class sizes by grade level on their websites by February 1 each year. Exceptions allow districts to exceed these limits if they lack sufficient funding, if compliance would hinder education, or if the district serves 40,000 or fewer students on average. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with a transition period until 2028 permitting higher ratios in classrooms with declining enrollment.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Teachers

All education bills