04/17/2009 GAAS:178:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
California is the First State in Nation to Receive Education Recovery Act Dollars
Governor Schwarzenegger and the U.S. Department of Education
today announce that California is the first state in the nation to be approved
for a share of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund dollars within the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The action means California school districts and
universities are immediately eligible for $3.1 billion in Recovery Act funding meant
to prevent the need for laying off teachers, professors, and other school
employees, and to protect education funding and reform efforts in this
difficult economic time.
"We must do everything we can to help protect our schools
from the effects of our economy - that's why these Recovery Act dollars are so
important," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "I have always said our kids should
have the first run at our treasury, and that's true of the Recovery Act dollars
too.
"I'm proud that through our swift action California is the
first state to be awarded these funds, we're the first to pass these dollars
immediately to local school districts, and we're the first to protect teachers'
jobs with Recovery Act dollars. I'll continue to fight for every available
dollar to Recovery Act funding and am committed to sending those dollars
quickly out into our schools, into our communities, and into our economy."
The funds now flow through the California Department of
Education (CDE) and are available immediately to be administered by
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. School districts will
apply for their funds through an application process managed by CDE.
With his Recovery Task Force, Governor Schwarzenegger last
week signed the application for the funding, opening the door for approximately
$4.9 billion to flow into California and quickly to schools where it will
preserve education programs and protect jobs, as well as an additional $1.1
billion to protect other state programs. Now, less than two weeks after the
federal government made the funding guidelines available, school districts can
tap into the first installment of that funding: $3.1 billion, of which
approximately $2.6 billion is estimated to go toward K-12 schools and $537
million toward the California State University and University of California
systems.
"These important funds come with significant
flexibility that will allow our schools and universities to meet their most
critical needs while continuing to improve student performance," said Secretary
of Education Glen Thomas. "The quick action of the Recovery Task Force means
our educators can now begin taking action to protect jobs and programs."
