Stimulus money will be used to save teachers’ jobs
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that Arizona will receive $681 million in federal economic recovery funds to save teachers’ jobs and lay the foundation for a generation of education reform.
The funds represent the single largest boost in education funding in recent history, according to U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama earlier this year, Arizona has received $209 million in education stimulus funds. The funds represent a combination of funding for Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation Grants, Independent Living Grants and Impact Aid.
In order to receive the $681 million, Arizona provided assurances that it will collect, publish, analyze and act on information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps and interventions in turning around underperforming schools.
Arizona is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted and how funds are used. According to the department, the state will be eligible to apply for another $335.5 million this fall.
The goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are to stimulate the economy in the short term and invest in education and other essential public services to ensure the long-term economic health of our nation.
The $681 million announced today is being made available through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, a one-time appropriation of $53.6 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These funds will help stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential public services.