Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-01-24 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-01-24 Senate Journal Page 0062 SB 66 SENATE BILL NO. 66 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state- tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Administration Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Education and Early Development Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Education & Early Development Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill establishing a pilot program for demonstration state-tribal education compact (STEC) schools. Senate Bill 34 (2022) directed the Department of Education and Early 2025-01-24 Senate Journal Page 0063 Development (DEED) to negotiate a demonstration state-tribal education compact with federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations and to submit a report to the legislature relating to the demonstration state-tribal education compact and state-tribal education compact schools. On January 31, 2024, DEED submitted its State Tribal Education Compact Schools Demonstration Legislative Report, based on its negotiations with five federally recognized tribes or tribal organizations that applied to participate: Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the Ketchikan Indian Community, the Knik Tribe, and the King Island Native Community in partnership with the Village of Solomon. This bill takes the next step in launching STEC schools in Alaska by setting up a five-year pilot program for the five participating tribes and tribal organizations to enter into education compacts with DEED for the establishment of tribally operated Alaska public schools. The bill designates mandatory subjects that must be addressed in each compact but allows DEED and the participating tribes and tribal organizations to negotiate the details of each mandatory provision based on their individual needs and circumstances. Demonstration STEC schools may be funded by the legislature as if they were schools in a regional education attendance area. Participating tribes and tribal organizations must report on student data and enrollment at their demonstration STEC schools to DEED on an annual basis and DEED will provide that information to the legislature in its annual progress reports. At the completion of the pilot program, DEED will provide a written report to the legislature summarizing the student data over the entire project period. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor