Alaska School Gets Federal Funds After Filing Corrective Plan

In October 2005, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) withdrew $450,000 of Congressionally earmarked funds from Alaska Christian College after a federal investigation found that the school had been spending the money on religious instruction. (See prior posting.) Today's Anchorage Daily News reports that the College has now gotten back a $100,000 federal grant after filing a plan with DOE promising to separate some academic and religious functions. The school also has promised to spend the federal money only for secular purposes such as tutoring the school's Alaska Native students, and teaching them writing and mathematics. Becket Fund director of litigation Derek Gaubatz, attorney for the College, says that corrective plans such as the one filed by the College are becoming common.