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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2024
Federal Department of Education Demands Alaska Use Funding Formula that Harms Rural Schools
JUNEAU, AK -- The U.S. Department of Education (ED) yesterday sent a letter to the State of Alaska asserting that the State has not met what is known as the “maintenance of equity” requirement under the American Rescue Plan Act for the additional school funding sent out during COVID-19. The Alaska Department of Education disputes that claim in the strongest possible terms.
“This is an incredibly surprising conclusion considering we funded our schools as we always have according to the equitable distribution formula as established in Alaska Statutes and also distributed any COVID funds based on the Title 1 Part A formula per federal guidance,” said Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Dr. Deena Bishop, “Alaska has been applauded by several outside entities for the equity of our school funding formulas, including Rutgers University. To now come back and suggest that we need to give additional funding to some of our largest school districts, which takes the equitable distribution and upends it at the expense of our smaller, rural school districts, makes no rational sense. In short, the way ED is demanding Alaska distribute funds to comply with maintenance of equity requirements is inequitable for Alaska’s rural schools.”
The State of Alaska provided a letter last Friday explaining how the State has already complied with this requirement. The letter adds that ED has moved the goal posts, which has made it difficult for states to have a clear understanding of how ED was interpreting the maintenance of equity requirement.
Alaska distributed federal COVID relief funds for school districts according to Title 1 Part A funding formula and funded state schools using the statutory formula it has always used. Since Alaska’s school funding formula has already been found to comply with the federal disparity test and to provide equitable distribution, the State asserts that it has already met the requirement and no additional funds are needed to be distributed.
“It is unfortunate that the federal government has failed to let the process play out and take time to understand the information Alaska has provided. Instead, they went straight to creating unreasonable expectations for these four school districts. Even ED’s own numbers changed from the letter they sent in December and today—vastly reducing amounts allegedly owed to certain districts. This illustrates that this issue is not yet decided, and that ED still needs to understand how Alaska’s school funding works,” said Finance and Support Services Division Director Karen Morrison. “We will meet the 10-day deadline requested to respond and ask for reconsideration. We hope the department will take the time to truly understand Alaska’s unique situation and well-vetted school funding formula which ensures equity in funding on a per pupil basis."
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The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development provides information, resources, and leadership to support over 130,000 students in 505 public schools across the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to ensure an “Excellent Education for Every Student Every Day.”
Media Contact: eed.pio@alaska.gov
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