Every Thursday, REL-NEI highlights state-based resources, press releases, and news around the Northeast and Islands Region related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For a listing of REL Issues & Answers Reports categorized under ARRA topics and domains, click here.
Applications Ready for State Stabilization Funds
The Department of Education has announced that the first batch of state stabilization funds is available to governors through a simple application process.
On April 15th, at the Andrew Jackson Language Academy in Chicago, Secretary Arne Duncan spoke about how the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will help students and schools in Illinois. Duncan stressed that the stimulus should be used to “avoid catastrophic cuts in teaching positions and learning programs” and to “invest in innovative programs that work.”
In Maine, education officials met with the Office of Child Care Staff at DHHS to jointly plan a meeting for Superintendents in early May on ARRA funding streams for the development of public preschool programs. A press release stated that, “there are over 23 school districts that have indicated interest in developing a program or programs by next fall.” Additionally, IDEA and Title 1 fiscal “runs” for the allocations to the school administrative units have been completed. The Department is currently working on the Stabilization Fund application. Read about the rest of the activities going on in Maine here.
On April 17th, Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire signed into law bill SB 39 which allows towns and schools districts to quickly utilize federal stimulus funds. The new law gives local government bodies the ability to call special meetings for the purpose of appropriating stimulus money. Previously, towns and school districts had to petition the superior courts to permission to call a special meeting.
On April 15th, Connecticut posted its Proposed Stimulus Projects as of April 15th here (PDF).
For ARRA news check out the Knowledge Alliance members’ ARRA efforts.
For more information, visit these Recovery.gov websites across the Northeast & Islands Region:
Connecticut
http://www.recovery.ct.gov/recovery/site/default.asp
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2703&Q=322296
Maine
http://www.maine.gov/recovery/
http://www.maine.gov/education/recovery/index.html
Massachusetts
www.mass.gov/recovery
http://www.doe.mass.edu/arra/
New Hampshire
http://www.nh.gov/recovery/
http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/recovery/index.htm
New York
http://uspeny.nysed.gov/arra/
Rhode Island
http://www.recovery.ri.gov/
http://www.ride.ri.gov/Finance/Funding/ARRA/
Vermont
http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/dept/recovery_act.html
Puerto Rico
http://www.buengobiernopr.com/arra/index.html
U.S. Virgin Islands
http://www.governordejongh.com/recovery/index.html
US Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
Knowledge Alliance
http://www.knowledgeall.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=34
Council of State Governments: StateRecovery.org
http://www.staterecovery.org/education
