00                              HOUSE BILL NO. 67                                                                          
01 "An Act making a special appropriation from the general fund for K-12 public schools                                    
02 to support student recovery from academic losses as a result of COVID-19; and                                           
03 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDING AND INTENT. The legislature finds that public                                     
06 schools in the state need financial support to help K-12 students recover from academic losses                          
07 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including impairment of academic progress toward                                       
08 reading and math grade-level proficiency standards, widening achievement gaps, loss of high                             
09 school credit, and an increase in social and emotional needs. It is the intent of the legislature                       
10 that school districts report to the Department of Education and Early Development not later                             
11 than January 15, 2022, on use of funds appropriated under sec. 2 of this Act and that the                               
12 Department of Education and Early Development compile and submit a report containing the                                
13 information to the chief clerk of the house of representatives and senate secretary not later                           
14 than January 31, 2022, and notify the legislature that the report is available.                                         
01    * Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT. The sum of                                                
02 $20,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education and Early                              
03 Development to be distributed as grants to school districts to support student recovery from                            
04 academic losses as a result of COVID-19 according to the average daily membership for each                              
05 district adjusted under AS 14.17.410(b)(1)(A) - (D) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.                           
06    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 2021.