Restore Department of Education funding for See Stories

Senator Lisa Murkowski

See Stories received notice that our multi-year grant from the federal Department of Education is being discontinued at the end of this federal fiscal year (September 30).

The reason cited for not continuing the grant is upsetting. The Department of Education says this work has been found to "violate the letter or purpose of Federal civil rights law; conflict with the Department’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education; undermine the well-being of the students these programs are intended to help; or constitute an inappropriate use of federal funds. The grant is therefore inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, the best interest of the Federal Government and will not be continued."

This grant made up 2/3 of our organization's budget and funded several programs, without it we won't be able to continue to offer professional development courses to educators or reach as many students through culturally responsive digital storytelling, uplifting local stories, and creating a representative curriculum for Alaska Studies.

Sponsored by
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See Stories
Anchorage, AK

To: Senator Lisa Murkowski
From: [Your Name]

Please urge the Department of Education to renew funding to See Stories to complete the third year of their 3-year grant "“Anchored Histories Teacher Professional Development” project."

The project is making a real difference for teachers and students in Alaska. After just one year, there were huge increases in learning reported by teacher participants:
- students’ “knowledge of how to access primary sources,” (32% to 92%)
- students “ability to demonstrate their critical thinking in the school setting using community histories” (61% to 83%)
- teachers' knowledge of “how to access Alaskan archival materials” (32% to 92%)
- teachers' skills to teach digital storytelling (46% to 100%)

Though the Department of Education stated that the project is in "conflict with the Department’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education," this is false, and is part of a politicized targeted effort to dismantle the nonprofit and education sectors. The project does not advance any political or ideological agenda. The project does not discriminate against, exclude, or prioritize any group.

See Stories is a nonpartisan organization whose work is advancing the best interests or Alaskan youth and educators across our state. See Stories has been recognized by both republican and democrat administrations for their work: in 2024 Republican Governor Dunleavy's administration awarded See Stories received the Governor’s Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Education Award in recognition of their work strengthening communities by contributing to a better understanding of the world, one another, and the human experience.

See Stories has submitted a request for reconsideration to the Hayley Sanon, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education.

We urge you to fight for Alaska, our communities, and our nonprofit sector: restore this grant!