2025-04-22                     House Journal                      Page 0846
HB 204                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 204 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to education; relating to open enrollment in                                                              
     public schools; relating to charter schools; relating to                                                                   
     correspondence study programs; relating to the base student                                                                
     allocation; relating to the provision of special education and                                                             
     related services; relating to reading proficiency incentive grants;                                                        
     relating to wireless telecommunication devices in public schools;                                                          
     and providing for an effective date."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                                 
2. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                               
3. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                               
4. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development/Fund                                                                          
 Capitalization                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated April 17 follows:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill to expand open enrollment,                                                               
strengthen charter school processes, increase the base student                                                                  
allocation, and improve accountability.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Key provisions include:                                                                                                         
• Open Enrollment: Students may attend any public school in the state                                                           
  - inside or outside their home district - subject to capacity                                                                 
  limitations.                                                                                                                  
• Charter School Reforms: Streamlines the charter process by                                                                    
  allowing year-round applications to the State Board of Education &                                                            
  Early Development; shortens the timeline for appeals of denied                                                                
  applications; codifies essential contractual and procedural                                                                   
  safeguards; and permits charter schools to retain a portion of their                                                          
  year-end fund balance.                                                                                                        

2025-04-22                     House Journal                      Page 0847
• Base Student Allocation Increase: The per-student funding rate is                                                             
  increased to align with the state’s fiscal reality.                                                                           
• Reading Proficiency Incentive Grants: Schools earn incentive grants                                                           
  when their K-6 students meet - or make significant progress toward -                                                          
  grade-level reading benchmarks.                                                                                               
• Funding for Correspondence: Support for public correspondence                                                                 
  programs is increased to 100 percent of each district’s average daily                                                         
  membership.                                                                                                                   
• Wireless Device Policy: To address classroom distractions, districts                                                          
  must adopt clear, enforceable policies governing student use of                                                               
  smartphones and other personal devices.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
By combining open enrollment, charter reforms, targeted investments,                                                            
and accountability measures, this bill will drive measurable                                                                    
improvements in student outcomes. I respectfully request your prompt                                                            
and favorable consideration of this measure.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"