AK HB55

Establishes maximum pupil-teacher ratios in Alaska public schools: 18 to 1 for grades kindergarten through three, 20 to 1 for grades four through six, and 25 to 1 for grades seven through 12.

Excludes art, library, music, computer science, vocational-technical, and physical education classes from the ratio requirements.

Does not apply during the final eight weeks of each school year or in fiscal years when the legislature has not appropriated sufficient funding.

Allows school districts to implement the ratios through altering school day/year length, adding classrooms, seeking additional funding, or implementing department-approved education program changes.

Requires districts to annually report pupil-teacher ratios to the department, calculated as the average daily ratio during October, with a transition period allowing higher ratios before July 1, 2010 if enrollment declined by two or more students compared to the previous year.