SB 136 Summary

• Establishes state-tribal education compact schools as public schools operated through agreements between the state commissioner and federally recognized tribes in Alaska.

• State-tribal compact schools must comply with applicable education laws regarding school operations, teacher employment and retirement, student services, and special education, with limited exemptions at board discretion.

• Compact schools may not charge tuition, must enroll all eligible students by age/grade/capacity, and may prioritize enrollment of tribe members and siblings if capacity is insufficient.

• State funding for compact schools is calculated using the same formulas as school districts, including base student allocation, special needs factors, and vocational/technical instruction funding.

• School employees are state employees; schools may adopt employment preference policies for federally recognized tribe members, and compacts must address compliance, dispute resolution, recordkeeping, and termination procedures.