After a long-standing dispute with the U.S. Department of Education, Alaska school districts have now been awarded $17.5 million in COVID-era pandemic funding. The federal department had previously stated that Alaska underfunded four of its largest school districts – Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Kenai Peninsula Borough – by that amount.
The disagreement between federal and state officials revolved around how Alaska distributed the funding and whether it was spent fairly. The federal government alleged that the state failed to comply with guidelines and reduced spending in districts with high-need or high-poverty areas. As a result, the $17.5 million was withheld.
While some districts, like Kenai, did not budget for the federal COVID funding due to the dispute, others, like Anchorage, did not comment on the situation. The federal government designated Alaska as a “high risk” grantee and temporarily withheld the funding.
However, the federal department eventually released the funds after reviewing the state’s spending plan and considered the matter closed. Alaska Education Commissioner Deena Bishop defended the state’s school spending formula as equitable, despite the federal government’s claims of inequity.
While Governor Mike Dunleavy praised the resolution of the dispute, Senator Löki Tobin highlighted that the issue of equity in school funding was not fully resolved. The state is now in the process of applying for reimbursements from the federal Department of Education and expects to receive the full $17.5 million award.
Looking ahead, Alaska school districts are hopeful that education funding will be prioritized by elected officials in the upcoming legislative session to prevent future funding uncertainties.
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Photo credit alaskabeacon.com
