AK HB49

Establishes a statewide voluntary "Parents as Teachers" program administered by the Department of Education and Early Development for children under five years of age.

Program must be evidence-based and involve parents, consistent with research and best practices for early childhood education.

Incorporates guidelines to enhance school readiness, increase parental understanding of child development, reduce child abuse and neglect, identify health problems through screenings, improve child health indicators including immunization rates, and increase parental involvement.

School districts must provide rooms in schools at no charge to support the program to the extent space is available.

Department shall develop local partnerships to implement the program and provide a report to the legislature by January 15, 2014, comparing performance of participants and nonparticipants; program terminates July 1, 2014.