The Quality Schools Grant Program, administered by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, was established in 1998 with the goal of improving student achievement in Alaska's public schools. The program is part of the Quality Schools Initiative, which sets clear standards for school improvement across multiple categories, including academic, professional, and community engagement. The initiative emphasizes a structured approach to enhancing education through defined benchmarks that schools must meet.

The grant funding must be used to support efforts within one or more of the established categories: Student Standards, Professional Standards, Family-School-Business-Community Networks, and School Excellence Standards. Specific student standards include English Language Arts, Math, Science, Arts, Digital Literacy, Employability, History, Computer Science, Library/Information Literacy, Skills for a Healthy Life, Cultural Understanding, Geography, World Languages, Government and Citizenship, and Physical Education. Districts must ensure that their funded activities contribute directly to student academic achievement and improvement.

Each year, approximately $4 million is allocated to Alaska school districts through the Quality Schools Initiative. District entitlements are calculated by multiplying $16 by the district’s adjusted Average Daily Membership (ADM). This funding mechanism ensures that the grants are distributed equitably among districts based on student enrollment. The application deadline for the grant is May 1 of each year, and award amounts typically remain consistent from year to year unless there is a significant change in student enrollment.

The reporting requirements for the grant vary depending on the amount awarded. Districts receiving more than $10,000 must submit an End of the Year Report by July 30. However, those receiving $10,000 or less are not required to submit a formal report but must provide a brief email overview outlining the activities funded by the grant and their evaluation measures. These simplified reporting requirements aim to reduce administrative burdens for smaller districts while maintaining accountability.

Applications for the grant must be submitted to the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development by the annual deadline. The application process requires a description of the intended use of funds, how they align with the established grant goals, and how they will contribute to student success. Districts are encouraged to use the allocation chart provided by the department to estimate their funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year.

For more information, applicants can contact Education Specialist II, Kevin Dennis, at Kevin.Dennis@alaska.gov, or Education Administrator II, Brittnay Bailey, at Brittnay.Bailey@alaska.gov. General inquiries can also be directed to the department’s main phone line at (907) 465-2800 or via email at eed.contact@alaska.gov. The physical office locations include the Juneau office at 333 Willoughby Ave, 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99801, and the Anchorage office at 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 810, Anchorage, AK 99501.