NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO INFORMAL COMPLAINT REVIEW PROCEDURES AND APPEALS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Board of Education and Early Development proposes to change regulations on complaint investigation and appeal procedures following allegations that a school district or the department violated certain state or federal laws.
The Board of Education and Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 4 of the Alaska Administrative Code, Chapters 6 and 40, dealing with complaint review, investigation procedures, and appeals, including the following:
1. 4 AAC 06.864 – Amends language to reference the correct citation regarding schools
designated for comprehensive support and improvement.
2. 4 AAC 06.888 – Amends 4 AAC 06.888 and adds new subsections that clarify the process
for a person to file an informal complaint against a school district or the department,
including:
- Subsection (a) is amended to correct a citation and add additional laws and regulations that are subject to the complaint process;
- Subsection (b) is amended to extend the deadline for the department to conduct an informal review of a complaint;
- Subsection (c) is amended to clarify procedural requirements;
- Subsection (d) is proposed to adopt standards for rejection of a complaint;
- Subsection (e) is proposed to clarify what procedures apply when a violation of state law is likely to have occurred; and
- Subsection (f) is proposed to adopt procedures for commissioner action in the event of a violation, including withholding funding.
3. 4 AAC 40.020(e) –amends the definition of an “appealable action of the department.”
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Executive Secretary to the Board, Kathijo Jolin, at P.O. Box 110500, 333 Willoughby Ave. 9th Floor, Juneau, Alaska 99811. Additionally, the Department of Education and Early Development will accept comments by electronic mail at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 13, 2025.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to the Executive Secretary to the Board, Kathijo Jolin, at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov and P.O. Box 110500, 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau, Alaska 99811. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Kathijo Jolin at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov not later than May 03, 2025, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Kathijo Jolin at eed.stateboard@alaska.gov and (907) 465-2800.
After the public comment period ends, the Board of Education and Early Development will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory authority: AS 14.03.123; AS 14.07.020; AS 14.07.030; AS 14.07.060; AS 14.07.070; AS 14.17.920; AS 14.50.080
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 14.07.030; AS 14.07.070
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Individuals can sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.