School funds on way

Local districts need to figure out ways to spend the money without incurring costs.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Local school districts will be getting more than $10 million as the first installment in Title 1 stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Estimates show the districts will receive more than $21 million in total Title 1 funding under the bill’s two-year time frame, but about half of that money will be arriving within the next 30 to 45 days, said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

The first round of school funding will help avert hundreds of thousands of estimated teacher layoffs in schools and school districts while driving crucial education improvements, reforms and results for students.

“These funds will be distributed as quickly as possible to save and create jobs and improve education, and will be invested as transparently as possible so we can measure the impact in the classroom,” Duncan said.

“Strict reporting requirements will ensure that Americans know exactly how their money is being spent and how their schools are being improved,” he said.

Half the Title I stimulus funds, amounting to $5 billion, and half the funds for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, $6 billion, are being distributed now. Title I targets economically disadvantaged children.

ARRA funds must be used to improve student achievement. To receive the first round of state stabilization funds, states must commit to meet ARRA requirements, including making progress on four key education reforms, sharing required baseline data and meeting record-keeping and transparency requirements.

To receive the second round of funding, they must provide evidence and plans for progress on these assurances.

All four education reforms previously were authorized under bipartisan education legislation, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the America Competes Act of 2007.

The four reforms are raising standards through college- and career-ready standards and high-quality assessments that are valid and reliable for all students; increasing transparency by establishing better data systems tracking student progress over time; improving teacher effectiveness and ensuring an equitable supply and distribution of qualified teachers; and supporting effective intervention strategies for lowest-performing schools.

Duncan also said that states should work hard to avoid “funding cliffs” by investing ARRA funds in ways that minimize ongoing costs after the funding expires.

“These are one-time funds, and state and school officials need to find the best way to stretch every dollar and spend the money in ways that protect and support children without carrying continuing costs,” he said.