Alaska education department posts guidance on school CPR law taking effect July 2027

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development shared guidance with school districts Wednesday on a state law that will require schools to offer hands-only CPR instruction, where practicable, before students graduate high school. The requirement starts July 1, 2027.

Under the law, the department adopts the hands-only CPR curriculum and chooses the grades where it is taught. Its informational document on House Bill 27 says the department will select the grade level and how often instruction happens by Dec. 15. It is asking districts for recommendations through a feedback survey.

The department will hold two informational meetings on the new law and resources schools can use, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.

House Bill 27 began as a measure on medical care for major emergencies. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson added the CPR requirement on the Senate floor in May. She said the curriculum does not require teachers to hold an instructor certificate and can be taught in short sessions once or twice a year. In April, the House Education Committee had pushed the start date to July 2027 to give rural districts time to seek a state grant.

The Senate passed the bill 20-0 on May 17, and the House agreed to the Senate version 27-13 on May 19. Rep. Bryce Edgmon said in floor debate that the department would "adopt already existing curriculum related to CPR, that this would be distributed to school districts free of charge." The bill became law without the governor's signature.