SB 84 Summary

• Establishes high school vocational and technical instruction as a component of public school funding with a 1.01 funding factor applied to grades 9-12, excluding administrative expenses and general literacy/math/job readiness instruction costs.

• Allows the Department of Education to approve up to three district-operated statewide residential educational programs that began after January 1, 2005 for cost reimbursement under department regulations.

• Creates a pilot project in the Iditarod Area School District to develop culturally relevant and theme-based curriculum materials for kindergarten through 12th grade, with up to $1,500,000 in appropriations authorized; pilot terminates June 30, 2014.

• Establishes per-pupil monthly room and board stipends for statewide residential educational programs for fiscal years 2012-2013, ranging from $800 (Southcentral) to $1,184 (Northern Remote regions) for up to 10 months.

• Expands education tax credits for corporate, oil and gas producer, mining, fisheries, and property taxes to include contributions for Alaska Native cultural or heritage programs and coastal ecosystem learning centers; repeals these expanded provisions January 1, 2021.