Alaska School Climate Policy

“Standards For Alaska’s Schools,” addresses school climate: A climate of high expectations exists not only for students, but also for all staff, and high expectations are communicated to everyone in the community that the school serves, with incentives, recognition, and rewards in place to promote excellence, fair discipline practices and policies are established, communicated, and consistently enforced;  The school environment is supportive and physically safe; All staff is involved in ongoing and continuous staff development that focuses on school improvement goals and student performance standards. The school goals and staff behavior promote equity and respect for diversity among students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members of different socioeconomic statuses and cultural backgrounds, partnerships, and collaboration are established between the school and parents, families, businesses, and other community members.

https://education.alaska.gov/standards/other-standards

Who does this protect? Staff, Students, Community, Parents and Minorities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

There are anti-bullying laws and policies in Alaska, however, this does not cover cyberbullying or conduct that occurs off school property. 

• Alaska Statute § 14.33.250–

Defines bullying and what actions or behaviors are considered to be bullying. 

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.250

• Alaska Statute § 14.33.200–

Explains that schools must adopt a policy that prohibits the harassment, intimidation, or bullying of any student and this policy will be shared with parents/guardians, students, volunteers, and school employees.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.200

• Alaska Statute § 14.33.210–

School districts must report to the department of education all incidents of expulsion or suspension that were due to bullying, harassment, or intimidation.  

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.210

• Alaska Statutes 14.33.220

Encourages employees, students, or volunteers who witnessed bullying or have reliable information about bullying to report it to the appropriate official. In addition, an employee, student, or volunteer cannot engage in retaliation or false accusation against a victim of bullying, a witness, or an individual with reliable information. 

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.220

• Alaska Statute § 14.33.210–

School districts must report to the department of education all incidents of expulsion or suspension that were due to bullying, harassment, or intimidation.  

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.210

• Alaska Statutes 14.33.220

Encourages employees, students, or volunteers who witnessed bullying or have reliable information about bullying to report it to the appropriate official. In addition, an employee, student, or volunteer cannot engage in retaliation or false accusation against a victim of bullying, a witness, or an individual with reliable information. 

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.220

Who does this protect? Students that are on campus

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Alaska Statutes 11.61.210

Misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree. 

• • A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree if the person knowingly possesses a deadly or defensive weapon on school grounds, is on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#11.61.210

Alaska Statutes 14.03.160

• Suspension or expulsion of students for possessing weapons.
  • Students who possess a firearm or a weapon will be suspended for at least 30 days or expelled depending on the weapon and situation
  • http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.03.160

Alaska Statutes 14.33.100

• Required school crisis response planning.
  • Each district shall develop a model school crisis response plan for use by each school in the district. Each school in a district shall develop a school-specific crisis response plan. Each school shall form a crisis response team consisting of the principal, one certified and one classified member of the school staff, and one parent whose child attends the school.
  • http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.100

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Policies on dating violence

4 Alaska Administrative Code 12.397–

To get a certificate or renew it, the applicant must demonstrate that they have training in alcohol and drug-related disabilities, sexual abuse, and sexual assault awareness and prevention, dating violence awareness and prevention, and youth suicide awareness and prevention.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.12.397

Alaska Statutes 14.30.356 –

There need to be programs dedicated to teen dating violence, abuse awareness, and prevention for grades 7 through 12. The program will include training for employees and students and provide parents with notice of this program.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.30.356

Alaska Statute § 14.33.200-

Harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy covers professional development on bullying prevention.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.200

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

4 Alaska Administrative Code 06.864–

Schools that do not show improvement must develop and implement an intervention that will lead to improvement and provide support for the student’s success.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.06.864

4 Alaska Administrative Code 06.872 –

When intervening in a school district the department might require the district to implement evidence-based interventions in the school, for improvement and provide support to students’ needs.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.06.872

Alaska Statutes 14.33.127

Department will approve crisis intervention programs for schools and the training will involve evidence-based techniques that were effective in the prevention of restraint and seclusion of students, positive behavior supports, conflict prevention, understanding of antecedents, de-escalation, and conflict management.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.127

Who does this protect?

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved?

Alaska Administrative Code 4 AAC 06.864.

• Schools designated for comprehensive support and improvement will work with the stakeholders (principals, school staff, secondary students, teachers, parents, community members, and tribal representatives) to develop and implement a comprehensive support and improvement plan for the school.

https://casetext.com/regulation/alaska-administrative-code/title-4-education-and-early-development/chapter-06-government-of-schools/article-5-school-and-district-accountability/section-4-aac-06864-school-designated-for-comprehensive-support-and-improvement

Alaska Statutes  14.03.100 Use of school facilities.

• The governing body of a school district may allow the use of school facilities for any legal gatherings or assemblies. The governing body shall adopt bylaws that will ensure reasonable and impartial use of the facilities. 

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.03.100

Who does this protect? Students, Community, Parents

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

There is currently no policy surrounding Respect and Diversity in Alaska. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Policies on dating violence

• 4 Alaska Administrative Code 12.397–

To get a certificate or renew it, the applicant must demonstrate that they have training in alcohol and drug-related disabilities, sexual abuse, and sexual assault awareness and prevention, dating violence awareness and prevention, and youth suicide awareness and prevention.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.12.397

• Alaska Statutes 14.30.356 –

There need to be programs dedicated to teen dating violence, abuse awareness, and prevention for grades 7 through 12. The program will include training for employees and students and provide parents with notice of this program.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.30.356

Alaska Statute § 14.33.200-

Harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy cover professional development on bullying prevention.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.200

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Policies on dating violence

4 Alaska Administrative Code 12.397–

To get a certificate or renew it the applicant must demonstrate that they have training in alcohol and drug-related disabilities, sexual abuse, and sexual assault awareness and prevention, dating violence awareness and prevention, and youth suicide awareness and prevention.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.12.397

Alaska Statutes 14.30.356 –

There need to be programs dedicated to teen dating violence, abuse awareness, and prevention for grades 7 through 12. The program will include training for employees and students and provide parents with notice of this program.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.30.356

4 Alaska Administrative Code 06.864–

Schools designated for comprehensive support and improvement must develop and implement an intervention that will lead to improvement and provide support for the student’s success.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.06.864

 Alaska Statutes 14.33.127

Department will approve crisis intervention programs for schools and the training will involve evidence-based techniques that were effective in the prevention of restraint and seclusion of students, positive behavior supports, conflict prevention, understanding of antecedents, de-escalation, and conflict management.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.127

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Alaska Administrative Code 4 AAC 06.864.

• Schools designated for comprehensive support and improvement will work with the stakeholders (principals, school staff, secondary students, teachers, parents, community members, and tribal representatives) to develop and implement a comprehensive support and improvement plan for the school.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#4.06.864

Alaska Statutes 14.33.110

The disciplinary and safety program that was created also includes the parents in the development process.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.110

Alaska Statutes 14.33.120.

School disciplinary and safety program. The school disciplinary and safety program created or developed by the governing body will be shared with the parents/guardians, students, and the public.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.120

Alaska Statutes 14.03.016–

A local school board shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and school administrators, adopt policies to promote the involvement of parents in the school district’s education program.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.03.016

Who does this protect? Students, Parents, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Alaska Statute § 14.33.210–

School districts must report to the department of education all incidents of expulsion or suspension that were due to bullying, harassment, or intimidation.  

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.210

Alaska Statute § 14.33.200–

Explains that schools must adopt a policy that prohibits the harassment, intimidation, or bullying of any student and this policy will be shared with parents/guardians, students, volunteers, and school employees.

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.200

Alaska Statutes 14.33.220

Encourages employees, students, or volunteers who witnessed bullying or have reliable information about bullying to report it to the appropriate official. In addition, an employee, student, or volunteer cannot engage in retaliation or false accusation against a victim of bullying, a witness, or an individual with reliable information. 

http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.33.220

Alaska Statutes 11.61.210

Misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree. 

• • A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree if the person knowingly possesses a deadly or defensive
    • weapon on school grounds is on a school bus or a school-sponsored event  

    http://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#11.61.210

Who does this protect? Students and Staff in school

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of Alaska. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

The Alaska Digital Literacy Standards update the 2006 Alaska Technology Standards, aligning them with contemporary technology opportunities available to districts and students in Alaska. They focus on leveraging technology for learning, expression, digital citizenship, and communication. The standards are based on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) student standards (2016 edition)

• Digital Citizenship is one of the concept areas enumerated in The Alaska Digital Literacy Standards

https://education.alaska.gov/akstandards/digitallit/alaska%20digital%20literacy%20standards.pdf

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Alaska. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relations in Alaska. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center