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May 12, 2009

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ASCD Special Report: Making the stimulus money
work for school improvement (Part I)

With nearly $100 billion in one-time federal funds for education flowing out to schools over the next few months, educators face a historic opportunity to improve teacher effectiveness for all students, prevent educator layoffs resulting from state and local budget cuts and make other one-time investments to help students learn.

"Research has proven that a thriving education system is integral to sustained, long-term economic recovery," says ASCD Executive Director Dr. Gene Carter. "Consistent, coordinated planning to ensure that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged is imperative to student achievement and is even more crucial in times of economic stress."

With this in mind, this two-part ASCD SmartBrief Special Report, "Making the stimulus money work for school improvement," aims to help educators better understand the stimulus package in education and how the federal dollars can be tapped to boost student achievement and further school improvement.

Below, you will find Part I of this report, which delves into the stimulus package's three largest sources of education funding: state stabilization funds, special-education funds and Title I funds. Part II, to be published Thursday, explores how educators can gain access to other stimulus funds, examines how the money can be used for school improvement, capacity-building professional development and other budget needs, and samples a variety of perspectives on how the stimulus funds may change U.S. schools.

This two-part ASCD SmartBrief Special Report is being sent to you as a companion to ASCD's newly published 16-page "Planning the Possible: How Schools Can Use Stimulus Dollars for Lasting Impact" report designed to help educators further understand and navigate the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. You've trusted ASCD in the past to provide you with important and timely resources and information on professional development and the education profession. ASCD also has put together a quick-reference resources guide.

The historic investment of $100 billion devoted to education programs in its federal stimulus recovery package is significant and valuable news to share with all the readers in our worldwide community. Please pass it along to help members of your community understand how the U.S. federal stimulus funds will affect schools and students.

If you don't receive ASCD SmartBrief on a daily basis and find our report useful, we urge you to sign up for our timely e-newsletter. ASCD SmartBrief delivers the stories making news in your profession directly to your inbox -- for FREE.

At a Glance

Nearly $80 billion of funds for schools to follow 5 avenues
About $48.6 billion, nearly half of the total economic-stimulus funds for schools, is being sent to states to reduce the effect of the recession on state education aid. Another $13 billion for Title I and $12.2 billion for special education will be sent directly to schools according to existing funding formulas. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has the authority to grant states and districts another $5 billion for innovative programs, and another $650 million will be dedicated to education technology. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 4.

States must release data to receive stimulus funds
To receive the second round of education stimulus funds, governors must promise to work toward improving teacher quality and other aspects of education, said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. States must back up that pledge by providing data on student and school achievement and graduation rates. The Wall Street Journal (4/15) , The New York Times (4/1)

Funds should help schools improve, not just restore cuts
Education stimulus funds are meant to help states and districts restore education funding and reduce teacher layoffs, but they are also meant to reform education. To ensure the one-time funds are used to meet all of these goals, the U.S. Education Department has advised schools to use their funds to better prepare all students for college and careers, improve systems to track student data, make teachers more effective and intervene to help struggling schools. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 3.

Some stimulus funds can be used through 2011
While most education stimulus funds will be sent to states by fall 2009, states and districts are not required to commit the funds until September 2011. At least 85% of Title I funds should be budgeted by Sept. 30, 2010. Special-education funds, which should be available to districts by May 31, should mostly be applied to this school year and the 2009-10 school year, although remaining funds can be used in 2010-11. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 10.

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State Stabilization Funds

Should stabilization funds save jobs or usher in reforms?
Legislators are considering whether Connecticut's $745 million in education stabilization funds should be used to restore general school funding at the state level or whether some should be used to create innovative programs that could make the state eligible for some of the $5 billion in federal "Race to the Top" grants. Gov. M. Jodi Rell wants to use the stabilization funds to keep teachers in classrooms, but says districts should be encouraged to use Title I and special-education stimulus funds for such reforms, according to one of her advisers. The Hartford Courant (Conn.) (4/29)

Some governors toy with taking stabilization funds for schools
Governors in several states have considered redirecting state stabilization funds for purposes other than education, but would face the wrath of U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who threatened to "come down like a ton of bricks" on governors who attempt to divert education stimulus funds. Governors in Hawaii and Idaho have announced alternate proposals for the funds and South Carolina's has refused to request the funds unless they can be used to shore up the state. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin initially said she would make a similar move, but has since decided to accept nearly all of the stimulus-related funds being offered to her state. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (4/29) , Google/The Associated Press (4/28) , The Boston Globe/The Associated Press (3/31)

Most state stabilization funds dedicated to education
At least 82% of the $48.6 billion being sent to states as stabilization funds is meant to restore K-12 and higher-education funding. The remainder can be used for school repairs or other public safety or government operations. The stabilization funds can be used to avoid teacher layoffs, to modernize or renovate buildings, for special or adult education, or for career-technical education. The funds cannot be used for district reserves, maintenance or district vehicles. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 6.

Proven reading software meets stimulus funding criteria
Lexia Reading aligns with stimulus funding requirements, including Title I and IDEA. Learn More
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Special Education/IDEA Funds

Duncan: Use special-education funds to train all teachers
The $6.1 billion in extra special-education funds included in the federal economic-stimulus package is perplexing some educators, who are hesitant to introduce special-education initiatives while laying off teachers in other areas. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan recommended the one-time funds be used in part to better train classroom teachers to work with students with special needs. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (3/18)

Flexibility included in special-education stimulus funds
More than $11 billion of special-education stimulus funds are intended to reduce districts' expenses in educating children with disabilities by providing funds for better teacher training and assistive technology. Another $400 million is dedicated to programs for preschoolers with special needs and $500 million for infants and toddlers with special needs. Up to half of the funds may be used to free up local funds for other one-time expenses. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 6.

Can teacher training reduce the need for restraints?
Some disability advocates want to use economic-stimulus funds for special education to better train teachers to stop problems from developing to the point where controversial restraint or seclusion techniques are needed. "We want to promote the use of positive behavioral-intervention supports schoolwide," said Ron Hager, a National Disability Rights Network lawyer. "The more that you can mindfully create an environment where things don't escalate, the less that [restraint and seclusion] will occur." Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (4/22)

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Title I Funds

Most Title I funds intended for training, expanded schedules
Nearly all of the $10 billion in Title I, Part A, stimulus funds are intended to be used to improve low-income schools through job-embedded professional development, expanded preschool programs or longer school days or years. Another $3 billion in Title I funds are dedicated to helping schools struggling to meet NCLB accountability provisions to hire more effective teachers and add more time for staff collaboration. ASCD's "Planning the Possible" report, page 5.

District may extend funds through Title I designations
A Florida district is considering increasing its Title I designations by 18 schools, including some elementary, middle and high schools. The move would make 41 of the district's 85 schools Title I. The district's Title I coordinator hopes the move will save educators' jobs at the middle- and high-school level. Florida Today (Melbourne) (4/28)

ASCD Resources

ASCD: ARRA resources and more
As part of ASCD's "Planning the Possible: How Can Schools Use Stimulus Dollars for Lasting Impact," ASCD has put together a complete American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Resources guide. Listed below are several resources covered in the guide.
Public Policy:
- ASCD Public Policy Stimulus Resources -- These resources illustrate the state allocations under the ARRA and help you understand the law's education components.
- Recovery.gov Web site -- Government site set up to educate as well as show how, when and where the stimulus money is spent.
- StateRecovery.org -- A service of The Council of State Governments.
- ARRA: Department of Education -- U.S. Department of Education site showing how to implement the AARA, plus other resources.
- 2009 LEAP Legislative Institute: Connecting the Classroom to the Capitol, Sept. 13 to 15 -- A new president and Congress means new opportunities to make your voice heard. ASCD's annual advocacy event.
Professional Development:
- ASCD Professional Development Resources -- Education experts provide advice and resources to advance teachers' professional development.
- PD In Focus -- Provides searchable, streaming video content of research-based teaching practices and draws from the best of ASCD's professional-development library.
- On-Site Capacity Building -- Information on how schools, districts, states or regional organizations can implement best practices in instruction and leadership that will support school-improvement efforts.
Whole Child:
- Educating the Whole Child: An ASCD Action Tool -- Tool to help you lead and implement a school- or districtwide initiative for the Whole Child.
- Special Edition Podcast: Understanding the Education Stimulus Package -- This special edition of the Whole Child Podcast will outline the stimulus plan for education and describe how the funds can be used for school-improvement activities, including capacity-building professional development.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Recovery Money -- States will distribute the funds to community groups that help Americans through tough economic times.
Healthy School Communities:
- ASCD Healthy School Communities Resources -- Provides information, products and resources related to school health promotion and online community networking.
- Child Care and Development Fund State and Territory Allocations -- A list of funding by state and territory created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
- Immunization Funding -- A list of immunization funding by state and territory created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

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