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.
ED Releases Flexible Spending Guidelines for Title I
The White House “Roadmap to Recovery” describes efforts to create and save 600,000 jobs in the next 100 days, including 135,000 jobs for teachers, principals, and support staff. See the blog entry, the education section, and the full report.
On July 10th, the Department of Education released draft guidance to states and school districts on how to apply for waivers that would give them more flexibility in spending economic-stimulus money tied to Title I, the federal program for schools with high numbers of students in poverty.
On July 10th, in a major step toward developing a state-of-the-art Recovery.gov website, a contract was awarded to Smartronix, Inc., a Maryland IT firm. The company will build the new website for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, an independent agency that manages Recovery.gov and monitors spending under the $787 billion Recovery program.
On July 14th, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that the state has awarded nearly $800,000 in grants to local school districts and charter and private schools to enhance food services programs, specifically to buy new equipment for cafeterias and lunchrooms.
On July 10th, the New Hampshire Department of Education posted the Request for IDEA Recovery Funds Instructions (PDF).
On July 13th, the New York State Education Department posted the ARRA Assurances for the Stabilization Funds (PDF).
On July 13th, The Rhode Island Department of Education, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, found that the town of North Providence is in compliance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Read the entire press release. On July 10th, the DOE posted the Communication to Superintendents on Use of Federal Stabilization Funds.
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
