JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska’s Board of Education has granted 23 of the state’s 54 school districts waivers from a requirement that at least 70 percent of district operating budgets go toward instruction.
The Education Department said that’s the lowest number since the requirement took effect in fiscal year 2001. Numbers in the past have ranged from 24 to 32.
Department spokesman Eric Fry said Tuesday that districts that get waivers generally have operating budgets of less than $3 million or have to devote at least 20 percent of those budgets to building costs. He said some of the districts also have declining enrollment, which translates into less state support.
He said the department works on budgeting with districts given waivers with a goal of improving the percentage devoted to instruction.
The districts approved for waivers, as released by the department, are: Aleutian Region, Aleutians East, Bering Strait, Bristol Bay, Chatham, Copper River, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Iditarod, Kake, Kuspuk, Lake and Peninsula, Nome, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Pelican, Pribilof, Saint Mary’s, Skagway, Southeast Island, Southwest Region, Tanana and Yukon Flats.
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