Every Thursday, REL-NEI highlights state-based resources, press releases, and news around the Northeast and Islands Region related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For a listing of REL Issues & Answers Reports categorized under ARRA topics and domains, click here.
ED Accelerates Release of $11B in Stimulus Funds
On August 3rd, Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will accelerate stimulus spending by making $11.37 billion in Title I, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funding, as part of ARRA, available to states one month early to help save jobs and drive reform.
On April 1st, ED had awarded 50 percent of each state’s Title I ARRA funds, 50 percent of each state’s IDEA ARRA funds, and 50 percent of each state’s VR ARRA funds. The remaining 50 percent, or $11.37 billion, was to be made available on September 30th. The August 3rd announcement will move up that timeline and ensure that these funds are made available to all states on or around September 1st.
The early release of these funds comes on the heels of the Department’s publication last week of the proposed requirements for approximately $12.6 billion in Phase 2 State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and $4 billion in Race to the Top competitive grants. In addition, the Department earlier last week invited applications for $250 million in statewide longitudinal data systems competitive grants and released $650 million in Educational Technology funds.
On July 29th, Maine posted its Weekly Reports covering the period from July 10th to July 23rd. See the Maine Department of Education’s report on ARRA activities for that period, as well as a document examining the state’s education expenditures for that same two-week period.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick recently filed legislation to more than triple the number of available charter-school seats in the lowest-scoring 10 percent of school districts; turn around underperforming schools more quickly and effectively; and promote innovative in-district schools for all Massachusetts students and families. The Governor’s education reform package will strengthen the Commonwealth’s effort to compete with other states for $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top funds being made available through ARRA.
On July 29th, Rhode Island posted a document summarizing the waiver provisions for Title 1, Part A of ARRA funding.
For more information, visit these ARRA-related websites across the Northeast and Islands Region:
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
State Recovery Sites
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/state-local-tribal-and-territorial-resources
State Education Agency Recovery Sites
Education Week’s “Schools and the Stimulus”
http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/schools-stimulus/index.html
