WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of California’s Democratic Congressional Delegation today urged Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state education officials to release emergency funding provided to school districts under President Obama’s economic recovery plan as soon as the state receives it. Without these funds, the lawmakers warned in a letter, thousands of teachers throughout California could lose their jobs in coming weeks.
“Thousands of California teachers will be laid off in coming weeks without the infusion of ARRA funds. We implore you to provide for the immediate needs of the state’s already cash-strapped schools by taking all available steps to prevent these layoffs,” the lawmakers wrote.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Obama last month, includes a state stabilization fund to give states emergency relief to stave off teacher layoffs, backfill harmful cuts to education programs, and repair and modernize schools – which would also create jobs. Under this structure, states would receive and allocate funds to school districts and colleges and universities.
The plan allocates over $5.9 billion in stabilization funding to California.
As their letter notes, there has recently been confusion over whether the state can decide how local districts and colleges use those funds. To clear up any misunderstanding, the lawmakers today confirmed that deciding how to use this emergency aid should be up to local school districts and college, not up to the state. While the state allocates the funds, school districts should determine how to use them based on their local needs.
“We would like to clarify that it is the intent of Congress that local education agencies may determine how they will use Stabilization funds and that resources are allocated from the state to school districts and institutions of higher education as soon as possible,” the letter reads.
To read the lawmakers’ full letter to state officials, click here.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Obama last month, includes a state stabilization fund to give states emergency relief to stave off teacher layoffs, backfill harmful cuts to education programs, and repair and modernize schools – which would also create jobs. Under this structure, states would receive and allocate funds to school districts and colleges and universities.
The plan allocates over $5.9 billion in stabilization funding to California.
As their letter notes, there has recently been confusion over whether the state can decide how local districts and colleges use those funds. To clear up any misunderstanding, the lawmakers today confirmed that deciding how to use this emergency aid should be up to local school districts and college, not up to the state. While the state allocates the funds, school districts should determine how to use them based on their local needs.
“We would like to clarify that it is the intent of Congress that local education agencies may determine how they will use Stabilization funds and that resources are allocated from the state to school districts and institutions of higher education as soon as possible,” the letter reads.
To read the lawmakers’ full letter to state officials, click here.
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