Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Governor Doyle, Superintendent Evers Announce ARRA Funds Available for Wisconsin Schools

Governor Doyle, Superintendent Evers Announce ARRA Funds Available for Wisconsin Schools

$183 Million in Funds Released Early For Two Recovery Act Programs

MADISON — Governor Jim Doyle and State Superintendent Tony Evers announced today that Wisconsin schools now have access to all of the funding provided through two elements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds support educational services and parent outreach in schools with high poverty rates, special education, and early interventions to keep students on track in academics and behavior.

“The education we provide now will be a foundation of our state for decades to come,” Governor Doyle said. “Schools across the state and the nation have had to stretch very tight budgets and this immediate investment will benefit students and teachers in classrooms this fall.”

“There is no shortage of need for these services,” Superintendent Evers said. “The funds will support student achievement, through early interventions, trainings for parents and teachers, and many other strategies. This is money that will make a difference.”

Earlier this year, Governor Doyle and the Department of Public Instruction announced $366 million in ARRA funds for Wisconsin school districts, flowing through two existing federal programs: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The state was given immediate access to half of that funding, or $183 million. The remaining $183 million was slated for release by the U.S. Department of Education on September 30, but has been made available early to maximize the impact of ARRA.

Wisconsin’s total ARRA allocation through IDEA, Part B, is $218 million. Title I allotments in the state total $148 million. School districts have until Sept. 30, 2011, to spend the funds.

The ARRA also provides competitive grants for teacher incentive funding, teacher quality enhancement, state-wide longitudinal data system development, school lunch equipment purchases, innovative approaches to education, and enhancing education through technology grants.

Local funding allocations for IDEA, Part B, and Title I, Part A, are viewable at: http://dpi.wi.gov/recovery/xls/titleone-idea.xls

More information about the impact of the ARRA on Wisconsin schools and libraries can be found at: http://dpi.wi.gov/recovery

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