Special Features and Updates
Top Ten Stories
Special Report: Title I and ARRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriated $10 billion in additional funds for Title I, Part A. This represents a 70-percent hike over the regular appropriation for the program in fiscal year 2009.
Roundtable: Experts Discuss ARRA Reporting Challenges
It took a little more than a month for Congress to draw up the stimulus legislation that guides schools as they spend an unprecedented $100 billion in education funds over the course of two years. The marching orders were almost breathtakingly ambitious: To spend the money quickly, but wisely; to save jobs and programs, but also implement meaningful school reform; and to do all of this while steering away from activities that can't be sustained after the money dries up — the ominously named "funding cliff." It's no surprise, then, that many administrators have jokingly characterized the process as "building the plane while it's flying."
Special Report: Winning Energy Grants for Schools
This special report explores two key programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that could be tapped for school-based energy-efficiency projects: the $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) — authorized in 2007 but not funded until now — and the $3.1 billion State Energy Program (SEP), a longstanding initiative that was dramatically increased by the stimulus law.
Debate About Criteria Unfolds As the ‘Race’ to Reform Begins
In terms of ambition, the $4 billion Race to the Top competition lives up to the "moon shot" metaphor attached to it by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Its proposed requirements and selection criteria contain any number of provisions that, if adopted, could radically alter the K-12 landscape. Much of the attention has focused on the guidelines' linkage between student achievement and teacher evaluations, but the draft also asks for evidence that states have made education funding a priority, raised achievement and closed gaps, ensured the equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals, and turned around struggling schools.
ED Adds Data-Collection Strings For States to Receive Second Stabilization Fund Grants
Washington, July 30 — States that want to receive their share of the remaining $12.1 billion in “stabilization” funds will have to meet augmented data collection and reporting requirements that go beyond the basic law, according to tentative guidelines released July 24 by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
UPDATED: OMB's New ARRA Guidance Clarifies Reporting Requirements
Grant recipients now have more details about how to comply with reporting requirements under Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act now that the Office of Management and Budget released enhanced reporting guidance. The guidance includes new information about reporting on vendors, clarifies when reports are due to FederalReporting.gov, and provides more information on how to report "jobs created and retained."
$220 Million Available for Health, Other Industry Workforce Training and Placement
Washington, July 23 — Education and training organizations will be key partners in a new $220 million grant program to train unemployed individuals for jobs in health care and other high-growth or emerging industries.
Higher Education Agencies Among Those in Line for $750M in DOL Funding
Washington, June 10 — Agencies that provide education and training services, including community colleges and other institutions of higher education, should watch for new funding announcements as soon as this month to support projects related to green jobs and other high-growth industries, such as health care.
ED Releases Draft Stimulus Waiver Guidance, Granting Flexibility on Choice, SES Set-Asides
WASHINGTON, July 8 — The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released long-awaited draft guidance that gives states and school districts the ability to request waivers on a host of statutorily required Title I set-asides due to the influx of billions of dollars in stimulus funds.
