Senate panel advances full funding for pre-K students statewide

The Alaska Senate Education Committee voted Saturday to advance legislation that would count pre-kindergarten students as full-time enrollees in the state school funding formula, removing caps and sunset provisions on the program.

The committee adopted a substitute version of House Bill 261 that changes how pre-K students are counted in average daily membership calculations. The Alaska Reads Act, passed in 2022, established a voluntary pre-K program with sunset clauses set for 2034 and limits on foundation formula funding that capped annual funds at $3 million. The new version removes both limits.

Staff to Senator Loki Tobin explained the changes to committee members. Version O of the bill allows enrolled pre-kindergarten students to count as full-time students in average daily membership rather than one-half. The bill also removes statutes that set the repeal of the current prekindergarten funding system in 2034, protecting prekindergarten funding permanently.

Because average daily membership calculations determine a large share of state aid to Alaska school districts, reclassifying pre-K students from half-time to full-time status would increase formula funds for districts operating pre-K programs.

The Alaska Reads Act was signed into law in 2022 and began implementation in 2023 with voluntary pre-K grants tied to district participation. The bill now before the Senate would amend that law by removing the funding cap and sunset provisions and allowing full-time enrollment counts for pre-K students.

Representative Andy Story, who sponsored the bill, told the committee the measure would provide stability to communities, teaching staff and families. Story said the bill would allow teachers to receive their contracts earlier in the spring. "It is critical to increasing student achievement, and that is something that I have been so sad about these last many years," Story said. He added, "This is a bill that is based on a state — 26 other states are doing this and providing more stability and able to keep their beloved educators."

Story called the bill potentially transformational for the state.

Senator Gary Stevens moved to adopt the committee substitute, and the committee approved it without objection. The committee then voted to report the bill from committee with individual recommendations, attached fiscal notes, and authority for legislative legal to make technical and conforming changes.

The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate.