AK SB257

Replaces fixed dollar amounts for residential school room and board stipends with percentages of the base student allocation, allowing stipends to automatically adjust when the base allocation changes

Sets regional stipend caps as percentages of base student allocation: Southeast Region at 37%, Southcentral Region at 36%, Interior Region at 44%, Southwest Region at 45%, and Northern Remote Region at 53%

Previous fixed monthly stipend caps ranged from $1,200 (Southcentral) to $1,776 (Northern Remote)

Districts may also claim reimbursement for one round-trip on the least expensive transportation between a student's home community and residential school

Takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to July 1, 2025