District Administration - April 2009 - (Page 23)

ity to receive Medicaid funding for their administrative and transportation costs for special education students, Kusler says. She believes that the extension of the moratorium from April 1 to June 30 is significant, because she expects the Obama administration will reverse the policy and allow districts to resume Medicaid claims on such costs. • Social Security recipients will get a $250 check under the plan, Kusler says. However, in about 16 states, public employees don’t pay into Social Security, meaning that those retirees won’t get the $250 check. The stimulus plan will allow those public retirees to get a $250 federal tax credit in 2009 instead, she says. • In addition to permitting stabilization funds to be used for school modernization, repair and renovation, the stimulus bill provides nearly $25 billion to two bond programs that will reduce districts’ borrowing costs, some of which can be used for new construction, according to the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF). Stabilizing the States States must use the nearly $40 billion in stabilization funds earmarked for education to restore education funding in fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011. Funding must be restored to the level states saw in the fiscal years 2008 or 2009, whichever is greater, DOE says. $53.6 billion for state stabilization $3 Healthy Doses $12.2 billion for special education billion to help schools needing improvement under NCLB million in educational technology grants to states under the Enhancing Education Through Technology program Education Commission of the States. And districts sharing a portion of the nearly $40 billion must earmark the funds by Sept. 30, 2011. In addition to the nearly $40 billion for K12 and higher ed, the stabilization fund includes $8.2 billion for “high priority” needs, which could include education but also could encompass public safety or other government services—meaning that education will have to compete with other priorities, such as law enforcement, for those dollars. Also included in the stabilization fund is $5 billion for two new, competitive grant programs. Of that, up to $650 millection systems, strengthening academic standards, enhancing assessments for students with disabilities and English learners, supporting the lowest-performing schools, and other criteria, according to DOE information. Some Will Benefit, Some Won’t To qualify for receiving that nearly $40 billion in stabilization funds earmarked for education, states must show they have maintained their education budgets at least at the level they had in 2005-2006. This could pose a problem for hard-hit states such as Florida, which has cut education in the last couple of years, says Jim Warford, executive director of the Florida Association of School Administrators. States like Florida will have to request that the DOE waive the 2005-2006 requirement. Facing a possible 15 percent state budget cut next fiscal year, Florida districts desperately need the money, Warford says. But he cautions that even with the stimulus, Florida districts are still facing cuts. “The size of the budget hole in Florida is such that even if we got all the money and we had no strings attached, it will not solve our problems,” he says. For example, the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools, which serves the Tampa area, is looking at a possible $196 million cut in state funding next fiscal year, says spokeswoman Linda Cobbe. The April 2009 23 $650 “This is the federal government putting its money where its mouth is and giving us the opportunity to make a difference.” —Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, American Association of School Administrators Those restoration funds must be run through the states’ primary elementary and secondary education funding formulas. If states have any money left over of the $40 billion after restoring funding levels, they must allocate the remaining money according to Title I formulas, though those funds don’t come with Title I restrictions, according to Michael Griffith, senior school finance analyst for the www.DistrictAdministration.com lion is for the “Invest in What Works and Innovation” fund, which will provide competitive awards for districts and nonprofit organizations that have made significant gains in closing achievement gaps. The remaining portion, or $4.35 billion, is for new “Race to the Top” grants for states. That money will be given to states that can show progress in increasing teacher effectiveness, improving data col- http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - April 2009

District Administration - April 2009
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Assessment
Conversations
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Education’s Shot in the Arm
Lessons Learned from Columbine’s 10th Anniversary
An Interview with Columbine’s Superintendent, Cynthia Stevenson
Keeping Track of Technology
Classroom Technology Integration
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Professional Opinion
Research Center
New Products
Product Focus
Online Edge

District Administration - April 2009