This bill seeks to improve educational support for public school students from military families in Alaska by introducing new funding mechanisms and accommodation requirements. It establishes a "purple star funding factor" for school districts with a significant number of purple star schools, which are recognized for their commitment to supporting military-connected students. The bill amends existing laws to include provisions for calculating public school funding that incorporates this new factor, alongside current special needs and vocational education funding. Additionally, it mandates that school districts provide necessary accommodations for children of active duty military members, ensuring they receive comparable educational support when transferring to new districts.

Moreover, the bill creates a state council on educational opportunity for military children, responsible for promoting awareness of educational provisions, training district coordinators, and facilitating school transitions. The council will hold annual public forums for feedback and report on its activities. It also establishes a recognition process for schools that support military-connected students, designating them as "purple star schools," overseen by the Department of Education. A dedicated position within the Department will coordinate this process and ensure that children of active duty military members are not disadvantaged in admissions. The bill repeals a previous section of law and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
HB0256A, AM HB 256, introduced 01/16/2026: 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.34.100, 14.17.440, 14.17.400, 14.16.010, 14.03.080, 14.30.191, 14.34.030, U.S.C, 14.34.010