Stapp bill would tie new school funding incentive to military-connected students

By SUZANNE DOWNING

A bill introduced this session by Fairbanks Republican Will Stapp would reshape how Alaska schools serve military-connected students and how some districts are funded by creating a new “Purple Star” designation embedded directly into state law.

House Bill 256 combines student accommodation requirements, a new statewide recognition program for schools that support military families, and a significant funding multiplier tied to participation in that program.

The most consequential change in HB 256 amends Alaska’s public school funding formula to add a new Purple Star funding factor of 1.75.

Under the bill, a school district would qualify for the multiplier if 75% or more of its schools receive Purple Star designation, a recognition awarded to schools that meet specific criteria for supporting military-connected students and families.

If adopted, the multiplier would be applied alongside existing factors for special needs education and vocational instruction when calculating a district’s “basic need” under state law.

Districts with a high concentration of military families — including Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Kodiak — would be the most likely to qualify.

HB 256 creates a new article in statute establishing Purple Star schools in Alaska.

To qualify, a school must demonstrate active support for military-connected students by:

• Designating a trained military point of contact on staff

• Publishing enrollment, transfer, and support resources for military families

• Coordinating with military installations and community services

• Submitting a school board resolution supporting military-connected students

Both public and private schools would be eligible. Schools without currently enrolled military students could still qualify by demonstrating ongoing efforts to recognize military service and support military families.

A Purple Star designation would be valid for three years and renewable.

The bill also adds a new section to state law requiring school districts to provide immediate educational accommodations to children of active-duty service members transferring into Alaska schools.

If a student arrives with an existing individualized education program or Section 504 plan, the district must:

• Provide comparable accommodations starting on the first day of attendance

• Transfer records promptly

• Either adopt the existing plan or complete a new one within 30 days

The measure is aimed at addressing delays that military families often experience during permanent change-of-station moves.

HB 256 significantly expands the responsibilities of the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

New duties would include:

• Annual public forums held in military communities

• Annual reports to the governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education

• Tracking student transfers in and out of Alaska districts

• Training school personnel on military-related education issues

The Department of Education would be required to provide staff and administrative support to the council.

For districts that allow open enrollment or school choice, the bill requires that military-connected students:

• Not be disadvantaged due to transfer timing or location

• Be allowed to remain at a chosen school through its highest grade level

This provision is intended to provide continuity for students whose families move mid-year.

HB 256 repeals an existing section of law governing military-connected education and replaces it with a broader, more detailed statutory framework.

If enacted, the bill would formally link educational policy for military families with school funding incentives — a shift that could have long-term budget implications depending on how many districts qualify for the Purple Star designation.

The bill has ben pre-filed for the session that begins on Tuesday in Juneau.