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.
Duncan Releases $2.7B Early to Help State Budgets
On July 8th, the U.S. Department of Education released draft guidance offering more details on the waivers that states and districts may seek from Title I requirements as they spend the $10 billion made available under ARRA for that program. The 46-page document deals with a variety of issues, from the law’s school choice and supplemental education services provisions to “maintenance of effort” and professional development requirements.
On July 1st, Secretary Duncan announced that more than $2.7 billion was made available early to help states as they face increasing budgetary pressures. This funding represents the last third of the government services fund, which was initially scheduled to be made available with the completion of Phase II applications as part of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under ARRA. View how much each state will receive early here (Excel).
On July 7th, the Maine DOE received formal confirmation that allowable costs for FY 2009 State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) may be incurred as of February 17, 2009. They were also informed that any contracts for facility work must conform to the Davis-Bacon Act. On the same day, DOE posted the criteria by which the Quarterly Disbursement and Reporting (FY 2010) of the SFSF will be determined. Read the criteria and other ARRA news in Maine.
On July 7th, the Vermont DOE announced that it will provide a “Fiscal Training” session for ARRA. The training will cover grant documents and reporting, and accounting and documentation requirements, in the morning and new features in the electronic collection for the annual statistical report during the afternoon session. This training will be held on Wednesday, July 15th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. via the LNV Videoconferencing system to simultaneously provide training to seven sites around the state. Read a general overview and agenda and the list of site locations.
For more information, visit these ARRA-related websites across the Northeast and Islands Region:
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
State Recovery Sites
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/state-local-tribal-and-territorial-resources
State Education Agency Recovery Sites
Education Week’s “Schools and the Stimulus”
http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/schools-stimulus/index.html
