Regulations - Quality Schools

4 AAC 33.300 / Sec. 14.17.480 - Purpose

4 AAC 33.300 - 4 AAC 33.330 are adopted for the purpose of establishing a grant process to implement the quality school funding grant program established by AS 14.17.480.

Sec. 14.17.480. Quality school funding.

1. As a component of public school funding, a district is eligible to receive a quality school funding grant not to exceed the district's adjusted ADM multiplied by $16. The department shall by regulation establish a grant process to implement this section.
2. For purposes of the reduction required under AS 14.17.400(b), funding authorized under (a) of this section is treated the same as the state share of public school funding under AS 14.17.410.

4 AAC 33.310 - Applications

1. A district application for a quality school funding grant authorized under AS14.17.480 must be made on forms prescribed by and available from the department. Applications must be received by the department no later than May 1 for a grant for the following school year. An application must set out the district's annual program plan and budget designed to improve student Achievement through
   1. implementation of student standards and assessments;
   2. professional standards;
   3. family, school, business, and community networks; and
   4. school excellence standards.
2. The department will review each application to ensure that the district's quality school plan includes a practical methodology providing for each of the plan elements required under (a)(1) - (4) of this section. The application must provide a written explanation of how the proposed project will contribute to the improvement of student achievement;
3. measurable goals and objectives for the project; and
4. how the proposed project's effects on student achievement will be demonstrated, measured, and evaluated.
5. The commissioner will approve or deny an application based upon a determination of whether the district's plan meets the requirements of (a) and (b) of this section. The department will return an application that has been denied to the district by certified mail along with a written explanation of the reasons for the denial. The district may submit a revised application for reconsideration by the commissioner, to be received by the department no later than 30 days from the date that the district received the initial notice of denial. A district may appeal the denial of its application in accordance with 4 AAC 40.
6. Notwithstanding (a) - (c) of this section, a district may apply for a quality school funding grant under AS 14.17.480 of $10,000 or less using the simplified procedures set out in this subsection. The application may be made by electronic communication or by using the form prescribed by and available from the department under (a) of this section. The application must be sent to the commissioner and set out the district's statement for the district's use of the quality school funding grant. The application must be received by the commissioner no later than May 1 for a grant for the following school year. The commissioner will approve the application under this subsection unless the commissioner finds that the application will not further quality in the public school. If an application is denied under this subsection, the district may submit a revised application or an appeal of the denial using the procedures set out in (c) of this section.

4 AAC 33.320 - Grant Awards

1. Following approval of application, the department will calculate the amount of the district's grant entitlement by multiplying by $16 the district's adjusted ADM, as approved by the department for the school year to which the grant applies. The department will make a single lump sum grant payment to each district by January 15 of the applicable school year.
2. If a total annual appropriation for the quality school grant program is insufficient to meet the total entitlement of all districts as calculated under (a) of this section, the department will reduce pro rata each district's grant entitlement.

4 AAC 33.330 - Reporting Requirements

A district that receives a quality school funding grant of more than $10,000 shall submit an annual program evaluation report in the format prescribed by the department. The report must be received by the department no later than thirty days after the close of the school year for which the grant was awarded. A district that fails to timely submit the report is not eligible to receive a quality school funding grant for the following school year.