Alaska districts face June 30 deadline to secure federal education funds

Alaska school districts must have their federal grant applications in substantially approvable form by June 30, 2026, or risk delayed funding that typically begins July 1, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announced in its May 20 ESEA newsletter.

The deadline applies to the fiscal year 2027 ESEA Consolidated application, which covers millions of dollars in federal Title program funding statewide. According to federal regulation, for a grant award to be effective by July 1, the application must be in substantially approvable form by June 30. On July 1, DEED Program Managers will verify that required components have been completed in each application.

Districts have faced funding uncertainty in recent months. In July 2025, the Trump administration released more than $46 million in federal education funds that had been frozen since June 30, disrupting district budgets tied to the new school year. The Legislature has also given districts more flexibility with reserves. In 2021, lawmakers passed HB 76, which temporarily waived the 10 percent limit on school districts' unreserved operating fund balances through June 30, 2025, helping districts manage unstable revenues.

Districts do not need to submit their applications to DEED for final approval to meet the substantially approvable standard. The substantially approvable form must include completed Private School Allocations, Budget, and signed Assurances for all impacted Title programs. For Title I, Part A, districts must also complete Building Eligibility, Set Asides, and Public School Allocations pages.

Title I, Part A funds support Alaska school districts in serving students from low-income families by providing supplemental instruction, staffing, and interventions. The funds are distributed based on formulas administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Title III, Part A federal funds help Alaska districts provide English language acquisition services and supports to English learner students. These funds are included in DEED's ESEA Consolidated Application process.

Under federal grants administration guidance, a state educational agency may allow local educational agencies to obligate federal funds as of the date the state receives the application in substantially approvable form. The standard requires key program and budget elements to be complete.

DEED also reminded districts about other upcoming deadlines. The Second Semester Course History Report is due June 30. DEED hosted a webinar regarding the report on May 13. The slide deck and recording are available on the department's website.

The Mass Withdrawal Report is due June 15. DEED hosted a webinar on that report May 6, with materials also available online.