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SB 182                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 182 BY THE SENATE 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                                                              

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          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 information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Education & Early                                                                       
          Development                                                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Education & Early Development                                                                 
 Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Education & Early Development                                                                 
 Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Education & Early Development                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated April 17:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
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.                                                                      
         • 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.                                                                       

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     • 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