ED Accelerates Second Half of Title I, IDEA and Voc-Rehab Stimulus Funding

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 — $11.37 billion in stimulus funds — comprising the second and final allocation of supplemental appropriations for Title I, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funding — will be released a month early, on or around Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today.

The timing for the funds’ release, which had been scheduled for September 30, was moved up “to help states and districts expedite stimulus spending,” said ED Secretary Arne Duncan.

The move comes on the heels of a similar decision to accelerate the release of $2.7 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds earlier this month.

On April 1, ED awarded 50 percent of each state's stimulus funds for Title I, IDEA and voc-rehab. Today’s announcement affects the remaining 50 percent, or $11.37 billion.

"The President and I directed the Cabinet to find ways to pick up the pace of Recovery Act implementation, and I applaud this critical step forward by the Department of Education," said Vice President Joseph Biden.

—Andrew Brownstein