[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6309146,"mediaKeyId","2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a","parentId",2413592,"title","Lawmakers press DEED on rising intensive special-education counts and multiplier impacts","audioSeconds",176,"startMs",5753000,"endMs",5929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a&start=5753&end=5929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a/thumbnail_5753000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309146/Alaska/Lawmakers-press-DEED-on-rising-intensive-special-education-counts-and-multiplier-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309146-69615577f5c42a752d8f613507362d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083272&Signature=llwzeoPkELmM~EmT2UzJQxVPf1GpwjKNG8~4U5VkJF5ATExtcOmB8vQRMUsCtcspmWkz~znFHJUb3TZ-h8ZpdRTq6WbogiunBRu77jPpTWoT1ZHAPfmRo3DjvLSxD69nBG6kxsflxZ0iYkQ7bdlfYIYJuLQznlp32fTlDiX1dltXq68o9sQzzHQxF59PzCDMjlcntU0tIgnvxqz6y1unnK9LUMGZ4dFD6FcZhz61q7LUxd5SJNNTHP6YpHCCjP3y8isIL9QsE2YlNCZ3aLgxFX~g9cL8xlgzbKlB28MK68XwxHsaX4pJH3d8k932VzsFyuvWZcXCw939wW9SByqGSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","Lawmakers at the House Finance Committee asked the Department of Education and Early Development about rising counts of students receiving intensive special-education services and the effect of the special-education multiplier on district budgets.

Representative Bynum and others noted that changes to the multiplier over the past 15–20 years have shifted how much state funding flows to districts for intensive special-education costs. Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison acknowledged a statewide upward trend in intensive special-education counts and said the department will provide historical trend data and consider regulatory clarifications to improve understanding of how funds are used after initial allocations.

Morrison described intensive special education as services for students with low-incidence or complex medical and cognitive needs, sometimes identified near birth, which can require added staff, supervision, transportation accommodations, medication administration and other supports. She told the committee that districts report and budget for those students’ needs and that the department is examining whether reporting and auditing practices should be strengthened so the state can better track how intensive special-education funds are spent over time.

Why it matters: committee members said that in some districts the share of budget devoted to intensive special education has grown substantially and asked whether diagnostic, identification and reporting changes — or real increases in need — explain the trend. Lawmakers requested a trend history of intensive special-education counts and an analysis of how the multiplier growth has changed district-level resource distributions.

Ending: DEED acknowledged the increase and committed to provide a historical trend of intensive special-education counts, district-level shares of special-education spending and recommendations on whether regulation or reporting changes are needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/26/2025 01:30 PM House FINANCE","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members raised concerns about a marked increase in students qualifying for intensive special-education (low-incidence) services and the budgetary effects of the special-education multiplier; DEED confirmed a statewide upward trend and pledged to provide historical data and consider reporting/regulatory changes.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309151,"Committee examines correspondence enrollment declines and foundation-formula impacts on district funding",999,4053000,5052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a&start=4053&end=5052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a/thumbnail_4053000.jpg","/articles/6309151/Alaska/Committee-examines-correspondence-enrollment-declines-and-foundation-formula-impacts-on-district-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309151-85147dd9baaeda81056f48598cbef862/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083272&Signature=BHaasR-iUDVTM~NHkSi8fUl5cP2ia3NNrOeD8ZMDm-WvX5VXBzUJMV9qtqPnVY8sjsnNdv5gY8ICQrYCr4p7i7xzFRsb2SCO1aodiQ5ieLBC65TgJguua8jRFdvRG1VcYR1DEAShtr--ymiiwW23Etozi~7zwHcFW6ooBnu2n3GptvyfuwdAuIz917GFdqUSKk1CryGcwQMsxiDshC~PPWzlufQ-xEcLqEbKgNbclHg6jRD9MNwfttxYG-un~FXQiMZXdm9x1Y37cha0KTMBDkxJGQ6HW1Q7w2VBlkT~jb10J8mGhsldiKoGE5j5qeDfQcj~ICXV7jkwaNpZ9q-d1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department officials told the House Finance Committee the state projects a decrease in average daily membership (ADM) for FY26 and outlined how correspondence and brick-and-mortar trends factor into funding calculations.

Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison explained the department’s projections: the department reported a total projected ADM decrease of 2,053 students, of which 1,270 is a projected decrease in brick-and-mortar ADM and 783 is a projected decrease in correspondence ADM. Morrison summarized proportional changes by saying, for the current comparison, the brick-and-mortar decrease represented 61.9% of the loss while correspondence accounted for 38.1%.

Why it matters: committee members expressed concern about funding volatility tied to correspondence programs. Representative Stack and others noted that districts that saw student movement to correspondence during the pandemic may later lose funding when hold-harmless periods expire and the formula rebalances. The department explained that the formula includes provisions — multipliers, hold-harmless protections for closures and a 5% drop threshold that triggers protections — and that recent legislative changes tried to recognize services districts provide to correspondence students.

Lawmakers asked the department to provide more granular demographic breakdowns of students newly enrolled in the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) program, and to explain district-level impacts from correspondence shifts. The department agreed to supply additional data about the 900-plus newly reported APS recipients and to provide further analysis showing where enrollment shifts are concentrated by district.

Ending: DEED will provide district-level breakdowns of the ADM changes, demographic data for newly eligible APS recipients and analyses of how correspondence trends interact with hold-harmless and school-size multipliers within the foundation formula.","DEED presented projections showing declines in both brick-and-mortar and correspondence average daily membership for FY26; lawmakers raised concerns about hold-harmless provisions, school-size multipliers and how correspondence growth and subsequent declines affect district finances.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309156,"DEED says certification turnaround reduced to about four weeks after staffing changes; committee seeks staffing detail",419,4467000,4886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a&start=4467&end=4886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a/thumbnail_4467000.jpg","/articles/6309156/Alaska/DEED-says-certification-turnaround-reduced-to-about-four-weeks-after-staffing-changes-committee-seeks-staffing-detail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309156-6926c21547276b436aa2eccf06de938f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083272&Signature=Sq8Z3IDYeqFxnku9BcMWT4OcB-lC-F~BA37ykYnWFJ89n3s4Uo~xgRjpnLuQeEN71ie27MMykkDs~y7Xhdoi49RdDndt3L1ZsCj4f1~C-gvv3OxinWFdzKDx-NX9QQKl4rETzG7MIziApeufpfnVdNsRRdhBi920dbDsrskvcXaxEr~XXNR-o-hgAn-6pBMMs6Rr25Ji-YPPFXP~z3HF~ALUKjGGNlYMN5djtfnnUyfDXgEZibzkOyQ4HvpG2EeAEUpa5aeE~gO5cf6MUAuew5OxfZixHDuk1e4Ealirje56Qef99Q75pYYchsae3FEwdU2rCEhJ-YkbqQ7ukUD7PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department officials told the House Finance Committee that teacher-certification turnaround times have improved after process changes and temporary staff reallocations.

Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison described recent operational steps: the department stopped accepting paper applications, redirected staff to the certification queue and modernized online services so employers can track applicants. Morrison said processing times that reached “upwards of 4 months” in the past have improved to about four weeks and the department’s target is a 30-day turnaround.

Why it matters: multiple lawmakers raised concerns that lags in certification affect hiring and pay cycles for teachers and substitute staff. Representative Hannon and others sought specific numbers on current staffing for certification and whether the department expects recurring workload increases tied to nontraditional certifications and international hires.

The department said it had increased staff dedicated to certification and reported a current staffing level working certification in the range of several positions (Morrison said the unit had been directed to seven staff earlier; she later described a figure of four active staff on the queue after adjustments). Officials offered to provide precise headcounts and job descriptions for the committee’s follow-up.

Ending: the department committed to supplying exact counts of employees handling certification, job descriptions for newly added positions and any projected backlog metrics the committee requested.","Department officials told the House Finance Committee that certification processing time has fallen from a several-month backlog to roughly four weeks following staff reassignments and an online-only application shift; lawmakers asked for employee counts and job descriptions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309161,"DEED: fewer broadband grant applicants and Starlink adoption reduced FY26 broadband ask",202,2026000,2228000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a&start=2026&end=2228","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a/thumbnail_2026000.jpg","/articles/6309161/Alaska/DEED-fewer-broadband-grant-applicants-and-Starlink-adoption-reduced-FY26-broadband-ask","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309161-795973b9fcd5c27530c7cca6d4fbd804/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083272&Signature=Z1tEBGHAs~skdGGUfeIzRlFDiHmykaSZ1QOcFPjvh23ufPn95q2T2PQaXLreOtWWvfbcyleibucfB9JmPPUzqZQnmC5E1UqYkCprhvXt~MKhOZaygRSWNYzGpJ9FzXJahY7TR-k9sEsG5bw8MfM9Ojet1QptrgoVjBzXoAmgV4nPQtZOSI-2fnKk8M9oWR3fzZjPYwDzZvvPfsSAXHIv1fQcNhPt7pF~DKWh5Id~P-0U67~7lk8uI13gB1npSTWSFnfFIYxm~0NH16g6m8~bNA6EhNpVLTEDqQWRgmnshkxxsWkwtsqnUJ1DUYCVQ~0y7VfNiFD4QUgHmOJ1MW~Dnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the House Finance Committee presentation on Feb. 26, Department of Education and Early Development officials said projected FY26 spending for broadband assistance grants is lower because some districts have changed technologies or exceeded program thresholds.

Heather Heineken, director of finance and support services for the department, told the committee she did not have a full year-to-year comparison available immediately and offered to provide the data later. Commissioner Dina Bishop and staff explained the practical reasons: some districts have shifted to commercial satellite services and other technologies and therefore do not qualify under the program’s eligibility limits.

Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison described the eligibility rule that limits state broadband assistance to connections up to 100 megabits per second: districts that have moved to faster or alternative services may be ineligible for those particular grants. Morrison cited an example the department has tracked: “Lower Yukon moved, straight to, Starlink, and they have burstable services. And so they are not utilizing the FCC money nor our local money because they have moved to a different technology.”

Why it matters: lawmakers said the change could reflect broadband progress in some areas but leave truly remote districts still underserved. Representative Hannon asked the department to enumerate how many districts remain unable to get service above 100 Mbps and to identify which are most in need of state assistance.

The department agreed to provide a count of districts that still require assistance and additional detail about the FY26 grant request and prior-year appropriations.

Ending: committee members asked for a district breakdown and historical appropriations comparison to determine whether the lower FY26 grant figure reflects fewer applicants or completed connectivity projects.","Department officials told House Finance that some districts no longer apply for the state broadband assistance grant because they have alternative service (for example, Starlink) or exceed program speed thresholds; lawmakers asked for a district-level count of remaining broadband needs.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309166,"House Finance hears Alaska Department of Education FY26 budget overview; foundation program projected at $1.13 billion",6637,512000,7149000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a&start=512&end=7149","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413592-f6f618c425389c743ec84c2019ed906a/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6309166/Alaska/House-Finance-hears-Alaska-Department-of-Education-FY26-budget-overview-foundation-program-projected-at-113-billion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309166-b38f844350f223c162aaae249d68a096/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083272&Signature=ZTGtAGC30jTBcpvItgY0b4hFWlzLpCGP3~wUN7Iujm6Vno-60zrIkHT0WuHSVS1xN7a-~anbDTG3JU7b8QXk1F~3TBnM0YSikjnBJzCEOjMs226nII3n~JpXQ69DzlNjpjdD3haYW1EmEG7sAouxToE85PddfeeLr8zeToQTerhhLLvHRlKXx8sKlVjqzgdDljGRUDIvFXomXr6y-vF6YbiShkKrPMmyxakRVm1PeHpqCQuWp2UYLa8yJB~y63lco9sqzp0dNLEZNjORN7i7d2GpaKnC02BVA1tlNJTO8AjeWMjP9H2H70IjRu3xiREWVYQRiDIOmh-F~7PlOjOR4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Finance Committee on Feb. 26 heard a presentation from the Department of Education and Early Development on the governor’s FY26 budget, with Commissioner Dina Bishop and administrative services staff outlining major spending lines and program responsibilities.

The presentation, the department said, covers the governor’s FY26 proposal. “This is the FY 26 governor's budget,” Commissioner Dina Bishop told the committee. Acting Administrative Services Director Monique Silberly gave the department-level total: “the departmental budget as a whole at 1,600,000,000.0.”

Why it matters: the department’s operating and pass-through funds underlie public education across Alaska’s 53 districts; most K–12 instruction occurs at the district level, and lawmakers pressed department officials about how requested authority and program dollars translate into services in rural and urban districts.

Key budget figures presented include a projected foundation program of $1,130,000,000 for FY26, a pupil transportation allocation of $67,800,000, and a student-based allocation figure cited as $5,960. Silberly and Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison described which divisions hold programmatic funding and which dollars move directly to districts (for example, child nutrition and some grants). The department said the pie-chart breakdown shows that a large share of department-related dollars ultimately flows out to districts to support schools.

Committee members pressed the department on several recurring issues: why “other funds” authority rose between FY24 actuals and the FY25 management plan, whether the department is on track to use authorized authority, and where departmental operating cuts might be made if the legislature required reductions. Silberly repeatedly offered to supply detailed follow-up memos on authority usage, personnel classifications and program-level spending.

Lawmakers asked for additional data the department agreed to provide later: the staffing counts in Juneau versus prior years, a breakdown of FY25 to FY26 authority by fund source, and inflation-adjusted trend graphics for state aid over time. Commissioner Bishop and Deputy Commissioner Morrison said they would send requested memos and clarified that statutory counts and district-submitted projections drive some line items (for example, pupil counts used in the foundation calculation are based on district projections and the October count will determine final BSA totals).

The committee closed with scheduling notes: the department’s presentation ran about 90 minutes, and the next House Finance meeting will consider governor’s amendments and retirement system legislation.

Ending: committee members asked for a series of follow-up documents — staffing lists, justification for authority increases and inflation-adjusted trend analyses — and the department committed to delivering those items to the committee.

","The House Finance Committee received an FY26 overview from the Department of Education and Early Development showing a $1.6 billion departmental budget, with the foundation program projected at $1.13 billion and continued questions from lawmakers about authority, program staffing and how funds flow to districts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers press DEED on rising intensive special-education counts and multiplier impacts

Committee examines correspondence enrollment declines and foundation-formula impacts on district funding

DEED says certification turnaround reduced to about four weeks after staffing changes; committee seeks staffing detail

DEED: fewer broadband grant applicants and Starlink adoption reduced FY26 broadband ask

House Finance hears Alaska Department of Education FY26 budget overview; foundation program projected at $1.13 billion