HB 329 Summary

• Establishes an education scholarship program administered by the Department of Education and Early Development providing $5,930 per school year for eligible students.

• Eligible students include those with disabilities, attending low-performing public schools (performance index below 70), children of active-duty or deceased military members, current or former wards, subjects of pending guardianship proceedings, siblings of scholarship recipients, and children of blind, deaf, or hard-of-hearing parents.

• Scholarship funds may be used for tuition at private schools or University of Alaska, tutoring costs, extracurricular activities, textbooks, curriculum materials, and student transportation.

• Parents or guardians must apply, enter a voluntary program agreement, and certify in writing that funds will be used only for eligible expenses; must return unexpended funds to the department by June 30 of the school year following the award.

• Department may audit scholarship awards and expenses and adopt regulations establishing procedures for recouping improper awards or expenses.