Starting a Private School in Alaska
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Alaska State Regulations
General Regulations
- Alaska has no accreditation, licensing, approval, or registration requirements, but does permit optional accreditation processes.
- The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Alaska
- The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has assembled a page of state forms including those required for private schools
- Students are only considered homeschooled if all members of the school are immediate family members.
- There are no specific insurance requirements for schools in Alaska.
State Funding Sources & Support
Alaska does not provide funding for private education.
Curriculum Requirements
Private education satisfies the Alaska compulsory school attendance law if the academic education provided is comparable to that offered by the public schools in the area.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Teacher certification is required, but exemptions can be made for religious schools.
Food Services / Lunch
In Alaska, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Child Nutrition Programs division of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Length of School Year
School years must include at least 180 days of instruction.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Private schools must instruct pupils by means of drills to safely exit school buildings in an emergency. Drills must be conducted once each month during the school term, weather permitting. The state also has the authority to ensure healthful and safe learning conditions no more stringent than in a public school.
Transportation
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development provides transportation for nonpublic school students who travel comparable distances and the same routes as public school students.
Testing
A religious or private school shall administer a nationally standardized test to all students enrolled in grades four, six, and eight at least once each year.
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Alaska State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Northwest Association of Independent Schools: The Northwest Association of Independent Schools is a nonprofit membership association that provides accreditation, professional development and support services to over 110 schools.
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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