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On April 1, 2009, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that $44 billion for states and schools is now available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. On Friday, April 3, 2009, the Secretary convened a briefing for over 150 education association/organization leaders to discuss the implementation of ARRA. The archived webcast was recorded on April 3, 2009.

ARRA provides $12.2 billion in funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) under Part B and Part C. Part B consists of $11.3 billion allocated for Section 611 (ages 3-21) and $400 million for Section 619 (ages 3-5 only).1 $500 million is provided for Part C (infants and toddlers). In addition to IDEA funding, it's possible that other ARRA line items, including but not limited to Title I and Head Start funding, might also be dedicated to special education and educational reforms. State Fiscal Stabilization Funds can also be used by states for these purposes, but there is no requirement that they do so.

ARRA provides $12.2 billion in funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) under Part B and Part C. Part B consists of $11.3 billion allocated for Section 611 (ages 3-21) and $400 million for Section 619 (ages 3-5 only).1 $500 million is provided for Part C (infants and toddlers). In addition to IDEA funding, it's possible that other ARRA line items, including but not limited to Title I and Head Start funding, might also be dedicated to special education and educational reforms. State Fiscal \nStabilization Funds can also be used by states for these purposes, but there is no requirement that they do so/

Texas Impact brings you footage of US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan highlighting the ambitious goals of the ARRA education funds. Video comes from the ARRA Implementation Briefing on Friday, April 3, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides significant new funding for programs under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Specifically, the ARRA provides $10 billion in additional Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Title I, Part A funds to local education agencies (LEAs) for schools that have high concentrations of students from families that live in poverty in order to help improve teaching and learning for students most at risk of failing to meet state academic achievement standards.

The speed at which American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) information is flowing is exciting. But it's also a daunting task to keep current with this fast flow of facts, dates, and funding amounts. With more than $100 billion in education funding over the next two fiscal years-and ultimately student achievement at stake-it's everyone's responsibility to do their due diligence.\nWhether you're a direct or indirect contributor to the planning, implementing, expanding, or sustaining of education programs at your school or district, a new document released by the U.S. Department of Education on March 24, 2009 entitled, "Saving and Creating Jobs and Reforming Education" will be of assistance.

Suggestions for use of special education ARRA funds are:\n\n1. Teacher salaries and salaries for other trained educators. Possible use could also be trained para professionals that will help a child benefit from an inclusive placement.\n\n2. Scientifically research based curriculums in the areas of reading and math, which are required by No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Many school districts are continuing to use outdated curriculums that are not proven to help children learn reading and math. Once a school district purchases the curriculum and trains their teachers the benefits will continue for years to come.\n\n3. Obtain state of the art assistive technology devices and also provide training in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities.\n\n4. Provide intensive district wide professional training for regular and special education teachers, that focuses on research based curriculums and strategies in the areas of reading, math, writing, and science.\n\n5. Provide intensive district wide professional development in the area of positive behavioral supports and plans to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. Many children with disabilities are continuing to be suspended and expelled for behavior that is part of their disability; though this is not allowed under IDEA. School wide use of positive behavioral supports and plans will benefit all children not just those with disabilities.\n\n6. Hire transition coordinators to work with employers in the community to develop job placements and training for youths with disabilities. This will ensure that children graduating will have a job and a future!\n\n

There are great diagrams on this site, explaining all of the pots of ARRA funding for education, when they will be distributed, and the criteria for their distribution.\n\nMuch has been made about the influx of investment in education by the new Federal Administration. It is surely likely to be impactful, but in order to take advantage of it, it's necessary to understand the bits and pieces, the nuances in detail, the specifics of the who, what and when that will be a part of the process.\n

Curriculum Associates has put together an excellent summary of the four principles that guide distribution and use of ARRA funds.

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that MCNC has applied to receive $28.1 million in broadband recovery funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support fiber acquisition for the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) in North Carolina.

The digital divide is large and shows no signs of decreasing. It compounds the racial disparities found in education and household earnings and impacts heavily on standard of living. The broadband initiatives contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) could help to bridge that gap by making the internet more accessible to all Americans.

Robert Linquanti, Director for English Learner Evaluation and Accountability Support in WestEd's Comprehensive School Assistance Program, moderated a webinar panel on May 26th comprising select members of the English Language Learner (ELL) Working Group. This Working Group recently issued recommendations for using ARRA funds wisely to meet the needs of our nation's English learners.

Schools are advised not to build it into budgets just yet. School superintendents across California looked to the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund portion of ARRA to backfill cuts to state programs in education and social services. As California's economy continues to sour, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to whether the stimulus dollars will ever make it out of Sacramento-so much so that a group of congressional representatives from California wrote a letter on March 17, 2009, to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urging him to pass the federal dollars on to local schools to save teaching jobs, as Congress intende

An Alternative Accessible Version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) PreK-12 Education "Saving and Creating Jobs and Reforming Education" Powerpoint Presentation given by Andrea Ball at the May 2009 State Board of Education Meeting. Outlines all of the stimulus funding programs.

May 4 09: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released California Department of Education (CDE) calculations of the amount of Title I funds that local educational agencies (LEAs) in California will receive, as well as the amount of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B funds that Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) will receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Twenty three questions and answers on how ARRA impacts Special Education and Early Intervention. \n

Use these six resources to help your school, district, and community collaborate to wisely invest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and stimulate teaching and learning.

The U.S. Department of Education released a new PowerPoint overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on March 24. While much of the information we have already covered, there are some new points that are of importance to the charter community.

14-page document that describes authorized uses of IDEA PartB funding from ARRA.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides approximately $100 billion for education, creating a historic opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of jobs, support states and school districts, and advance reforms and improvements that will create long-lasting results for our students and our nation including early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education