February 27, 2009

 ...a bi-weekly update on U.S. Department of Education activities relevant to the Intergovernmental and Corporate community and other stakeholders
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ARRA SIGNED
 
On February 17, in Denver, President Obama signed into law the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  "What I am signing is a balanced plan with a mix of tax cuts and investments," he said.  "It is a plan that's been put together without earmarks or the usual pork barrel spending.  And, it is a plan that will be implemented with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability."  Specifically, he continued, "We're making the largest investment in education in our nation's history" (see more below).  "It's an investment that will create jobs building 21st Century classrooms and libraries and labs for millions of children across America.  It will provide funds to train a new generation of math and science teachers, while giving aid to states and school districts to stop teachers from being laid off and education programs from being cut."  More generally, he concluded, "Our American story is not -- and has never been -- about things coming easy.  It is about rising to the moment when the moment is hard, converting crisis into opportunity, and seeing to it that we emerge from whatever trials we face stronger than we were before."  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/17/signed-sealed-delivered-ARRA/.
 
Back in Washington, D.C., Secretary Duncan echoed many of the President's remarks, calling the ARRA a "historic opportunity to create jobs and advance education reform."  Then, two days later (February 19), he visited Explore Charter School in Brooklyn, New York.  "States are hurting, and schools across America are facing catastrophic cuts," he noted.  "We need to invest this money quickly, thoughtfully, and transparently to protect kids, create jobs, and drive reforms."  Anticipating as many as 14,000 teacher layoffs next school year, New York City officials said the ARRA, with cooperation from the state, could avert "most" of those cuts.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/02/02182009.html AND http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/02/02192009.html.
 
The ARRA contains more than $100 billion in direct education funding for the next two fiscal years and $39 billion in bonding authority and tax credits, including:
 

• $13 billion for Title I, Part A grants to states ($10 billion) and school improvement grants ($3 billion);
  
• $12.2 billion for special education grants to states ($11.3 billion), preschool grants ($400 million), and grants for infants and families ($500 million);
  
• $650 million for education technology grants;
  
• $300 million for teacher quality, with $200 million for the Teacher Incentive Fund and $100 million for Teacher Quality Partnership Grants;
  
• $70 million for the education of homeless children and youth;
  
• $17.1 billion (both discretionary and mandatory funding) to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $500, to $5,350 in 2009;
  
• $200 million for the Work-Study Program;
  
• $60 million to help the Department administer surging student financial aid programs while navigating the evolving student loan environment;
  
• $680 million for state vocational rehabilitation grants to states and independent living grants;
  
• $250 million for statewide data systems;
  
• $100 million for Impact Aid school construction;
  
• $2.1 billion for Head Start ($1 billion) and Early Head Start ($1.1 billion) and $2 billion for child care development grants, through the Department of Health and Human Services;
  
• $53.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, of which the Secretary will reserve
  
• $4.35 billion for state incentive grants (awarding states that most aggressively pursue higher standards, quality assessments, robust data systems, and teacher quality initiatives) and $650 million for an innovation fund (awarding school districts and consortia of districts and non-profits with strong records of improving student achievement).  Of the remaining funds, at least 81.8% ($39.75 billion) is committed to support K-12 and higher education (distributed through existing formulas), and up to 18.2% ($8.85 billion) is slated for public safety and other government services (which may involve education, such as K-12 and higher education facility renovation and modernization);
  
• $25.2 billion in bonding authority for states and districts to issue bonds over the next 10 years for K-12 facility renovation and modernization, to be retired through a combination of local, state, and federal funds (see also http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/modernization/); and
  
• $13.8 billion to boost the tuition tax credit from $1,800 to $2,500 (for families earning up to $180,000).
   
  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/.  (Note: Currently, the web site offers a press release, a general fact sheet, and links to budget information, including preliminary state-by-state allocations for many formula-based ARRA programs and district-by-district allocations for the Title I program.  It also offers a "video statement" by Secretary Arne Duncan.  Additional information on the ARRA will be posted on the site as it becomes available.)
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  ARRA OUTREACH
   
  Over the last week, to kick-start ARRA implementation, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary Duncan hosted mayors, governors, and Chief State School Officers for frank discussions on the act.  First, on February 20, they hosted 85 mayors in the East Room of the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/20/on-the-front-lines/).  "You're on the front line in our communities," the President asserted.  "You know what happens when folks get laid off…  And, as your services stretch, your classrooms get crowded, and your streets grow less safe, your budgets shrink.  You cannot deficit spend, so you face impossible choices….  And that's why the recovery plan we put into action this week is so important."  Then, on February 23, they hosted most of the nation's governors (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/23/help-is-on-the-way/).  "You are innovators, and much of the work that you've done has already made a lasting impact and change in people's lives," the President stated.  "You shouldn't be succeeding despite Washington.  You should be succeeding with a hand from Washington, and that's what we intend to give you in this administration.  In return, we'll expect a lot from you as the hard work of making the recovery plan's promise a reality begins."  Finally, on February 25, Vice President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, and Secretary Duncan hosted the nation's Chief State School Officers, pledging collaboration and partnership in pursuing both recovery and reform.
   
  Note: The next "Education News Parents Can Use" broadcast, elaborating on the ARRA, is scheduled for March 17 (8:00 p.m. ET).  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/edtv/.
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  RECOVERY.GOV
   
  The Recovery.gov web site (http://www.recovery.gov/) is now live.  The mission of this site is three-fold: education (explain the ARRA), transparency (show how, when, and where ARRA money is spent), and accountability (supply data that will allow citizens to evaluate the act's progress -- and submit feedback).  There are already projections -- based on ARRA language -- of the effect on jobs state-by-state (see also http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/white-house-releases-state-by-state-numbers-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act-to-save-or-create-35-million-jobs/).  Also online is a memorandum by Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, detailing to agencies what is expected of them and offering advice for how to meet high standards.  Again, further information will be posted on the site as it becomes available.