Alaska’s former attorney general, Jahna Lindemuth, has highlighted the unconstitutionality of the homeschool allotment program initiated in 2014. This program violated the state constitution by diverting public funds to private education. The misuse of these funds ranged from paying for private school tuition to personal purchases such as power tools and appliances. Lindemuth argues that this program has undermined the state’s ability to provide adequate funding for public education.
The Alaska Constitution mandates the establishment and adequate funding of public schools for the education of the state’s youth. However, the homeschool allotment program, sponsored by then-Senator Mike Dunleavy, enabled the use of public monies for private schools. This action breached the constitutional prohibition on such practices. Despite the unconstitutionality of the legislation, it included provisions that hindered the Department of Education from preventing the misuse of these funds. Consequently, waste and unconstitutional spending proliferated, leading to the eventual judicial intervention.
Lindemuth emphasizes that while some parents genuinely homeschooled their children and utilized the funds appropriately, the program’s design promoted widespread abuse. Private institutions assisted parents in accessing public funds, and unscrupulous parents exploited them for personal gain. The program has diverted over $120 million annually, including funds counted as “public education” dollars in the state budget. This diversion has drained hundreds of millions of dollars from brick-and-mortar public schools over the past decade.
Lindemuth believes that the state is now failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education for Alaskan students. She advocates for a restructuring of the education system to align with the vision of the state’s constitutional framers. This restructuring should include a substantial increase in the base student allocation to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of public education in Alaska.
