The U.S. Department of Education announced that three school districts had funding shortfalls when Alaska distributed coronavirus relief funds for the 2021-2022 school year.
The American Rescue Plan Act gave billions of dollars in emergency aid to schools during the pandemic. But to receive these funds, states had to ensure that the funds supported the communities that needed them most. Regulations accompanying the funding prevented states from unfairly reducing their own funding to high-need districts.
But federal education officials said in a December letter to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop that state funding is more than $5 million in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, more than $2.5 million in the Juneau School District, and more than $2.5 million in the North He said there was a shortfall of more than $190,000. Slope School District for the 2021-2022 school year.
“One way Alaska can resolve the compliance issues identified in fiscal year 2022 is by making additional payments,” Adam Schott, deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs, said in the letter.
Schott wrote that DEED has 30 days to submit a plan stating whether, when and how it will make additional payments to school districts.in october letter U.S. Department of State Director of Grant Recipient Relations Laura Jimenez wrote to Bishop that the additional payments are exempt from the disparity test. This would allow Alaska to count some federal aid as state funds..
“If DEED does not respond in a timely manner, the Department may take appropriate enforcement action,” Schott wrote.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that it had not received a formal response from DEED.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland said he hasn't heard anything from DEED about the letter. He said the $5 million in additional funding will make a big difference in his district. facing a $13 million deficit For the next financial year.
“This would be a huge deal for our district, which is under financial pressure,” he said.
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser, whose district facing a $9.7 million deficit He says he hasn't heard anything from DEED about next year either. He said district leaders shouldn't bet on getting that money back quickly.
“We would like to be very careful at this point in adding this amount to the school district revenue column mentioned here. We will first hear from the state and confirm the response with the U.S. Department of Education. Because we need to,” he said. . “My sense is that the state will probably contest this, but we'll just have to wait and see.”
Bishop Bishop did not respond to requests for an interview.
KDLL's Riley Committee contributed to the report.
