KEDC Tidbits

Economic Stimulus Information

The stimulus bill would give Title I $13 billion—almost as much as it received in fiscal 2008. The rule is designed to ensure that districts aren't using federal dollars to offset state and local cuts.

-David Hoff –Ed Week

Three things to note about NCLB

1.) The package would give $13 billion for districts in the Title I program. That's almost the same as the $13.9 billion the program received for all of fiscal 2008. Under NCLB, the program was authorized to receive $25 billion in fiscal 2007—the last year the law provided an authorization level for its programs.

2.) The stimulus bill also would set aside $300 million for teacher-quality initiatives. Of that, $200 million would be for "for competitive grants to school districts and states to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools," the House summary says. The other $100 million would be for competitive grants "for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce," the summary says.

3.) It would appropriate $250 million to help states improve the quality of their education data systems.

Key Points

Title I Help for Disadvantaged Kids: $13 billion for grants to help disadvantaged kids in nearly every school district and more than half of all public schools reach high academic standards.

Statewide Data Systems: $250 million for competitive grants to states to design and develop data systems that analyze individual student data to find ways to improve student achievement, providing teachers and administrators with effective tools.

Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $66 million for formula grants to states to provide services to homeless children including meals and transportation when high unemployment and home foreclosures have created an influx of homeless kids.

There will also be a $79 billion fund to help prevent cut backs to key services. Of that, $39 billion can go to local school districts, public colleges and universities. Another $25 billion can go to other state priorities, such as public safety, but could also be given to schools.

Improving Teacher Quality: $300 million, including $200 million for competitive grants to school districts and states to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools and $100 million for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce.

SOURCE: EdWeek

Federal Funding Information

Highly Qualified Teachers:

While this source of funding is wrapped mostly around content area expertise and child development knowledge, there is a requirement that Proposes that Highly Qualified teachers can communicate effectively. This will include communications through technology, and that requires an effective use of applications software.  This provision goes beyond traditional professional development dollars and is tied to the funding as indicated in each state summary. 

Title I - 

Title I is the largest, recurring fund of Federal money into education.  It is typically used for instruction to what is referred to as “at risk students”, and products purchased with those monies must be used for those students.  While this is, strictly speaking, a limiting factor,, there is an exception which we refer to as the 15% rule.  15% of the Title I allocation may be used for the good of the entire student population provided that Title I student benefit and that the reporting of time on task, etc, can also be demonstrated.  15% of this fund is a lot of money, as you will see in the state reports.

While most of Title I is used for instructional material, and largely around literacy and numeracy skills, there is a single provision that speaks specifically to a role that Atomic Learning can play in addressing the need.

Title I Part B Subpart 4

Improving Literacy through school libraries- Authorizes the use of funds for acquiring school library media resources, acquire and use technology that can help to develop the information retrieval and critical thinking skills of students, facilitate (Internet links) and other resource-sharing networks; provide professional development for school library media specials and activities that foster increased collaboration between school library media specialists, teachers and administrators…

Title II D Part A –

This is the only federal funding earmarked for technology integration into teaching.  Originally was allocated at $1Billion, it has been chipped away to roughly $300 million in current funding.  This is the pot the ‘educational technology” companies have relied on for supplemental product.

Title III English language acquisition

Much of English Language acquisition is focused on communications skills and what is usually considered “reading and writing English.  But, in states having a large Spanish-speaking population there is an emphasis in ensuring that those native speakers of Spanish are not left behind in the content areas while they are acquiring language.  A case can also be made for providing language support since many of the units are available in both languages. 

Title IV part B Community Learning Centers (21^st Century Skills)

Title VI  Rural Education Initiatives -

This fund is small, but is designed to provide access to instruction for schools that may have populations of students that are small.  Distance education products fit this niche nicely.  (This fund is also used to fund AP instruction)

Vocational Technology (Perkins Money)

Vocational Education used to be shop but now includes much of the computer technology work preparation as well as other jobs in business.  It is the alternative to the pre-collegiate track, and is closely protected.  Even farming and automotive technology jobs now require some level of computer literacy and capability.  The caveat in this fund is that it also funds the educators – so reps must tread carefully so as not to appear to substitute technology for teachers. 

                -Academic Business Advisors