Alaska’s Department of Education claims victory in pandemic funding dispute, and will collect $17.5 million in federal reimbursements.
Until last month, the U.S. Department of Education said Alaska underfunded four of its largest school districts by $17.5 million. As a result of a recent agreement, the schools in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Kenai Peninsula Borough won’t directly receive any of that money.
Alaska Education Commissioner Deena Bishop led the state’s defense effort, including appealing the penalty, and applauded the move by the federal Department of Education. She said the state always followed the state law governing school funding. “So they picked these districts to say, ‘You need to give them more.’ And we’re saying, ‘No, you don’t have a right to say that. We spent your money, how you said, but only the state Legislature can say’” how to spend state money, she said.a “high risk” grantee.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District declined to comment on the issue. A spokesperson said the district administration is awaiting clarification from the state education department., citing a $16 million deficit for next year. A final vote on whether to close the schools is set for early February.
State Government American Rescue Plan Act COVID Relief Funding Juneau School District U.S. Department Of Education
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