HB 145 Summary

• Establishes a parental choice scholarship program administered by the Department of Education and Early Development to provide public funding for students to attend private schools in grades kindergarten through 12.

• Scholarship amount equals the lesser of the private school's tuition or the state aid amount the student's home school district would receive; 30 percent goes to the home district and up to 70 percent goes to the participating private school.

• Participating private schools must submit notice of intent, demonstrate financial accountability, and be either a private correspondence program or operate in compliance with existing Alaska private school regulations; the department cannot regulate participating schools beyond program requirements.

• For the first three years, the program does not apply to public schools with fewer than 50 students average daily membership to protect smaller districts from enrollment losses.

• The program takes effect only upon voter approval of a constitutional amendment before July 1, 2013, that removes the prohibition on paying public funds directly to private educational institutions.