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Department reports nearly all COVID-relief funds spent; 43 federal-grant positions and potential federal freeze monitored
Summary
The Department of Education reported to the subcommittee that Alaska received about $579.8 million in COVID-relief education funds and expended approximately $578.3 million, forfeiting $1.5 million; staff also said 43 department positions are federally funded and the department is monitoring federal action that could affect grant-funded staff.
Department officials told the House Finance Education Subcommittee on Feb. 7 that Alaska received $579.8 million in COVID-19 relief funds for education and reported expending $578.3 million, leaving $1.5 million forfeited (about 0.27% of funds received).
Deputy Commissioner Karen Morrison and staff said the forfeitures were driven by timing and set-aside requirements some grantees could not meet; some districts also forfeited funds. Department staff said they could provide further breakdowns by program and district on follow-up.
The department also reported that 43 department positions (about 14.2% of department employees) are funded by federal grants. Committee members asked whether a recent executive order freezing grant expenditures (noted in public discussion) would affect those positions; department leadership said the administration is monitoring the situation and coordinating with national partners, but no concrete plan was available at the hearing. Staff said they will update the committee if federal policy changes.
Committee members asked for district-level COVID-relief spending records; witnesses said quarterly reimbursement documentation and grant applications exist and the department would provide detailed records on request. Lawmakers asked for explanations of why the forfeited $1.5 million was not spent and sought program-level detail for public accounting.
The department emphasized its ongoing federal reporting requirements (ESSA, IDEA, USDA) and its grant oversight work, including audits, quarterly reimbursements and monitoring of district compliance with program requirements.
