State also will receive $1.1 billion for Pell Grants to aid low-income students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that $1.4 billion in federal stimulus funding will be coming to cash-strapped Arizona school districts as part of the distribution of federal money to states called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"This stimulus funding could not come at a more critical time," said Giffords. "Schools across our state are facing the prospect of severe budget cuts that could significantly impair their ability to prepare the next generation of Arizonans for the challenges of the 21st century. These much-needed federal dollars will help avert teacher layoffs and the reduction or elimination of valuable programs that our children need."
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide $1.4 billion to Arizona, including funding for Title I programs that aids schools with high concentrations of students who live in poverty. There are approximately 35 school districts in Giffords' 8th Congressional District.
An additional $1.1 billion will be provided to Arizona for Pell Grants, the federal program aimed at opening up high education opportunities for low income students.
The federal legislation also makes more than $194 million available to Arizona to support and restore vital educational services to thousands of children with disabilities, for whom opportunities would have been eliminated as a result of recent state budget cuts.
"The economic crisis confronting our nation is severe," said Giffords. "We need targeted short-term measures to jumpstart our economy and strategic long-term measures that lay a solid foundation for future prosperity. Let there be no doubt that we are aiming toward both those goals by investing in our children."
Southern Arizona educators are reacting positively to incoming stimulus funding, calling it critical to the fulfillment of their mission.
"During a time when we are facing catastrophic budget reductions, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act education funding promises to assist us in supporting our disadvantaged and special education students over the next two years," said Superintendent Elizabeth Celania-Fagen of the Tucson Unified School District. "Without this funding, these children would not likely receive the support they need to be successful during this difficult economic time."
Those comments were echoed by Superintendent Nic Clement of the Flowing Wells Unified School District and Superintendent Vicki Balentine of Amphitheater Pubic Schools.
"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act targets funds to specific initiatives which have a direct correlation to student achievement, including lowering class size, full day kindergarten and expanding fine arts and fitness programs," Clement said. "Without Congresswoman Giffords' support of this legislation, our school district and community would be faced with eliminating the very programs which support our efforts to prepare our students."
Said Balentine, "The funds our state and specifically Amphitheater Public Schools will receive through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are critical to allow us to meet student needs and minimize negative impacts on students by saving jobs during this unprecedented economic downturn. We are very grateful to Congress for this important economic stimulus package for education."
Approximately $44 billion in stimulus finding will be available nationally to states for education in the next 30 to 45 days. By the end of March, governors will be able to apply for 67 percent for another $32.5 billion of State Fiscal Stabilization Funds. In the next 30 days, nearly $700 million more stimulus funds will be available nationally for programs such as vocational rehabilitation state grants, while another $17.3 billion will be available for Pell Grants and work-study funds.
A chart and link showing how the stimulus funding will be allocated is below.
Arizona
Title I Grants to Educational Agencies - $194,876,487
Educational Technology State Grants - $12,436,371
IDEA Part B Grants to States - $178,476,064
IDEA Part B Preschool Grants - $5,702,860
IDEA Part C Grants for Infants and Families - $9,987,957
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants - $13,086,333
Independent Living State Grants - $281,463
Services for older individuals who are blind - $722,405
Federal Work Study - $2,189,239
State Fiscal Stabilization - $1,016,955,172
Grand total - $1,434,714,351
Federal Pell Grants to Arizona
2008 Actual - $799,997,862
Stimulus Funding - $1,131,060,537
2009 Increase Funds - $331,062,676