This bill amends various sections of Alaska's education funding laws, focusing on the allocation of funds for school construction projects and the calculation of Average Daily Membership (ADM). It specifies that a student in an early education program will not be counted in a district's ADM unless the program is approved by the department, changing the reference from AS 14.17.500 to AS 14.17.600. The bill also outlines maximum funding amounts for school construction projects based on public school enrollment figures from fiscal years 2000 and 2005, replacing the now-deleted AS 14.17.500 with "former AS 14.17.500." Additionally, it introduces provisions for the operation of state boarding schools, ensuring they follow the same regulations as school districts, and modifies the public school funding program to clarify state aid calculations.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new criteria for determining a district's student count, allowing the greater of the previous three-year average ADM or the ADM from the previous fiscal year to be used. It requires districts to provide evidence of school capacity before reopening consolidated schools and outlines reporting requirements for student counts, including special education students receiving intensive services. The bill also repeals certain existing provisions related to ADM calculations and establishes a transition period for fiscal years ending June 30, 2027, 2028, and 2029, enabling districts to use previous data if current student count data is unavailable. These changes aim to streamline the funding process and ensure adequate support for districts based on accurate enrollment figures.

Statutes affected:
HB0261A, AM HB 261, introduced 01/16/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.07.020, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800