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The library association is trying to convince the federal agencies in charge of doling out stimulus grants that libraries are the best way to extend high-speed service to the most people. The group released a survey Tuesday in which nearly 60 percent of libraries said their Internet connections couldn't meet bandwidth demands at peak hours. At the same time, 70 percent said they are the only source of free Internet access in their communities.

While the majority of schools have basic Internet access, it's often limited, slow and not capable of handling the technology applications our administrators and educators need to ensure our students are prepared for the 21st century workplace and life. As we continue to expand use of digital learning environments to deliver personal and adaptive experiences for our students, the need to ensure rich connectivity in and out of the classroom becomes paramount.

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.

The FCC wants to push broadband Internet access further into the rural reaches of the U.S., but to do that it'll have to define what level of data speed should be given the term "broadband." Top ISPs have provided their suggestions; most involve setting a fairly low bar for what may officially be called "broadband" speed.

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.

Access this archive of the April 27th ASCD webinar to learn how the $100 billion of stimulus funds devoted to education programs can be used for school improvement activities, including professional development.

For the first time in many years, regular Title IID funding under NCLB was not eliminated in the President's budget. It has been made clear that with the stimulus funding, there is a need to clearly demonstrate that federal Ed Tech funding is making a difference. Across the US, states are collaborating on focusing the stimulus funding on 21st Century technology rich classrooms and professional development. The end goal is to have students who have attained 21st Century Skills, teachers have access to 21st Century professional development and the effective instructional strategies for engaging students using educational technology. There is an expectation that we are more targeted programs with targeted professional development that changes the way that teachers teach and students learn.

More than $7 billion available to bring broadband access to underserved areas

This funding will be distributed via grants, loans and loan guarantees for broadband infrastructure. At least 75% of areas to be served with these funds must be in a rural area without sufficient access to high speed broadband. \n

Increasingly, districts achieving significant gains in student performance cite longitudinal data systems -- systems that gather and track student data over time -- as their key to success. For these districts, easy access to accurate, real-time, frequently gathered data enables them to inform collaborative planning, differentiate instruction and drive improvement.\n\nAt this webinar, you'll hear first-hand from district leaders and education technology innovators including Pam Moran, Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools, Kim Davis, Executive Director, Instructional Technology, Wichita Public Schools, and Luyen Chou, Chief Product Officer at Schoolnet, the data-driven education solution provider.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriates significant new funding for programs under Parts B and C of IDEA. Part B of the IDEA provides funds to state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to help them ensure that children with disabilities, including children aged three through five, have access to a free appropriate public education to meet each child's unique needs and prepare him or her for further education, employment, and independent living.

Part B of the IDEA provides funds to state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to help them ensure that children with disabilities, including children aged three through five, have access to a free appropriate public education to meet each child's unique needs and prepare him or her for further education, employment, and independent living. Part C of the IDEA provides funds to each state lead agency designated by the Governor to implement statewide systems of coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary interagency programs and make early intervention services available to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $4.7 billion to establish a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to unserved and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies. Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services; at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries; $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight. Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is a sweeping effort to bolster the nation's economy, create or save jobs, and address some of our most challenging issues. The Foundation Center has collected the best resources on how nonprofits may be able to access stimulus package funding. This map connects you to information about funding and other opportunities in each state.

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

While the Stabilization Fund will help relieve our immediate economic crisis, it is also intended to boost student achievement, so to access this money, we seek your commitment to the following four essential areas of reform: * Making improvements in teacher effectiveness and ensuring that all schools have highly qualified teachers; * Making progress toward college and career-ready standards and rigorous assessments that will improve both teaching and learning; * Improving achievement in low-performing schools, by providing intensive support and effective interventions in schools that need them the most; * Gathering information to improve student learning, teacher performance, and college and career-readiness through enhanced data systems that track progress.

The goal of this site is to provide information and access to events, information, and discussion areas relating to the educational portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), with the specific goal of helping to facilitate a dialog that will promote the best long-term uses of the funds.

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said the commonwealth has applied for $108 million in federal funds to expand high-speed Internet service to people, institutions and communities throughout Pennsylvania -- an investment that will boost the state's economic development and education systems for years to come.

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).