Gov. Sean Parnell's omnibus education bill drew bipartisan criticism during its first hearing before the Joint Senate and House Education Committee hearing held Monday.
Rep. Harriet Drummond, an Anchorage Democrat, and Rep. Peggy Wilson, a Wrangell Republican, both questioned the bill's section on charter schools.
Among the concerns is if school districts would be forced to fund a charter school if they chose not to open it, but the Alaska State Board of Education approved the school.
They also asked about funding under the bill. If a charter school were properly funded, would that mean less funding for a traditional school in the district?
Alaska's education commissioner, Mike Hanley, acknowledged both statements were essentially correct though he could not see a charter school forced on a district.