We’re getting $700 million from feds. Let’s not blow it.
From the feds today. (To cut to the chase, Georgia is getting $700 million in formula grants. Details below.)
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the distribution of more than $21.8 billion in formula grants to support state-administered programs that support teachers and help students reach high standards
Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula and provide funding for a variety of programs, including resources to improve teacher quality, career and technical education, and support for children facing the challenges of living in poverty. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant program supports children and students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21.
“Formula funding is critically important to every state and school district as we work together to prepare young children to enter school and every student for graduation,” Duncan said. “Federal formula grants combined with Recovery Act funding present an unprecedented opportunity to drive reforms and improvements in our nation’s schools.”
The grants are being distributed through the following programs:
* Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help students living in poverty. $10.8 billion.
* Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, for America’s six million students with disabilities. $8.6 billion.
* Teacher Quality Enhancement. $1.6 billion.
* Career and Technical Education. $773.6 million.
These so-called formula grant programs dispense funds to states on July 1 and Oct. 1 based on congressionally mandated formulas that, depending on the program, take into account such measures as population, poverty rates and enrollment. Formula grants originate from the Education Department’s annual appropriation from Congress and are separate from the $100 billion in stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Here is more information about the education department’s budget.
This is what Georgia is getting by category:
Title I: $379.03 million
IDEA-B: $244.26 million
Teacher Quality: $45.78 million
Career-Tech: $26.14 million
TOTAL: $695.21 million
*
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25 comments Add your comment
TW
October 1st, 2009
5:21 pm
There were $1 Billion in uncollected state taxes last year alone in GA – money that would have helped immensely with schools. When Democrat Dubose Porter put forth the idea to go collect this money from those were illegally keeping it, stealing it, he was shot down by the GOP. The very next week the GOP did, however, give Sonny $27 Million for his fish tank in south GA.
By not collecting this money, by not running their own state efficiently, GA lawmakers, led by Sonny, now have to squat and kiss that socialist Washington backside they love to bad-talk.
Spineless.
Ernest
October 1st, 2009
5:37 pm
Maureen, can you check with Dana Tofig to find out when the above monies will be broken down by school district?
TW
October 1st, 2009
5:51 pm
There were $1 Billion in uncollected state taxes last year alone in GA – money that would have helped immensely with schools. When Democrat Dubose Porter put forth the idea to go collect this money from those were illegally keeping it, stealing it, he was shot down by the GOP. The very next week the GOP did, however, give Sonny $27 Million for his fish tank in south GA.
By not collecting this money, by not running their own state efficiently, GA lawmakers, led by Sonny, now have to squat and kiss that socialist Washington backside they love to bad-talk.
Spineless.
catlady
October 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
Sonny will use this money as an excuse to cut school funding even more. There will be zero net gain. Like what the HOPE grant did to State Student Incentive Grants (gutted the program).
I find it interesting that a disproportionate amount is to go to sped.
Dee
October 1st, 2009
7:49 pm
Does that mean I will get enough money to replace my broken staplers and pencil sharpener??? Fingers crossed:)
ScienceTeacher671
October 1st, 2009
8:09 pm
Dee, no new staplers or pencil sharpener unless you teach SpEd or are in a Title I school.
However, they might use the Teacher Quality funds to give you some nifty in-service training, if we have any extra staff development days after all the remaining furlough days are scheduled.
ScienceTeacher671
October 1st, 2009
8:13 pm
Notice, by the way, that there is absolutely not enough money in the state coffers to pay state employees, but Sonny is sure he’ll be able to find enough to repair the flood damage — without even having to call the General Assembly back in session.
Old School
October 1st, 2009
8:27 pm
ScienceTeacher671- do you mean we could all get treated to MaxThompson2.1!!! Or maybe they’ll channel the money into some shiny new standards. Or. . . we could always use some more administrators.
(folks, if you can’t recognize sarcasm by now. . . . )
Dan
October 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
I was about to make a snarky remark about how frustrating it is that they get all this money, but I still do not get a cost of living raise or sufficient materials; however, you all have covered that ground nicely. Bravo!
Lisa B.
October 1st, 2009
9:35 pm
I laugh out loud when I read about all this money pouring into education, and the suggestions to extend the school day and school year. Have those in charge not noticed that many states can’t even pay teachers to work 190 days? How will states fund additional instructional days? Many teachers struggle to acquire basic supplies (i.e., paper, staplers, etc.) There certainly seems to be a major communications gap!
Jeff Jarrett
October 1st, 2009
9:47 pm
I will be SSOOOOO GLAD to see SONNY PERDUE OUT OF THE GUVS OFFICE !!! HE HAS BEEN A WORTHLESS PILE OF – - – - FOR 8 LONG YEARS !!! I HOPE THAT HIS FAT – - – LEAVES THE STATE OF GA !!!! GOOD RIDDENCE !!!!! MAYBE THE GOOD FOLKS OF GA WILL ELECT A GOOD GOVENOR THAT WILL FOCUS ON TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THIS GROWING STATE !! IF THE NEW GUV ELECTED NEGLECTS TO PUT TRANSPORTATION FIRST (1) THEN WE ALL NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND IMPEACH HIM/HER ASAP AND REPLACE HIM/HER WITH SOMEONE WHO CONCENTRATES ON TRAFFIC ISSUES AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES !!!!
Rosie
October 1st, 2009
10:59 pm
Interesting the most valuable program to our students receives the least amount of $$$. If you look into how many students take Career and Tech classes you would think the government would give more money to programs utlized by more students. IDEA impacts a lot less students, but gets tons more money. Even teacher quality gets more. Lets buy lots more stuff to indoctrinate teachers in the latest educational fad. Let’s also hire lots of consultants (making the big bucks) to come into our schools after school to lead teachers through the latest fad. This takes away useful planning time, but we gotta spend that money on teacher quality.
money grabbers
October 2nd, 2009
5:59 am
No matter how you slice it, if you don’t show any difference in students’ achievement, it will be very difficult to convince the federal government to spend any extra money again. So, you teachers better just focus on what you are supposed to be doing – that is, teach your students.
ScienceTeacher671
October 2nd, 2009
6:10 am
If they don’t spend money on Career and Tech, maybe all the students will get ready for college instead!
Old School
October 2nd, 2009
6:22 am
money grabbers, I honestly believe at least half if not a majority of teachers and CTAE instructors do indeed not only focus on teaching, but do a remarkable job of it. . . in spite of all the cures forced upon them. There are many schools who are presented to the public as failing when it is just a small and very specific group that actually is. So instead of working from the bottom up (grounding elementary students solidly in the fundamentals of reading, writing, math) the policy makers slam everyone with their brilliant cures du jour that either don’t work or are not given time to work before the next brilliant idea is mandated.
catlady
October 2nd, 2009
6:54 am
Please don’t use a cent of the money on programs that have not been used by REAL teachers in REAL classrooms! That would cut out 90% at least of the stuff that has “reformed” us over the last 10 years! What a waste!
jim d
October 2nd, 2009
7:30 am
OH GOODIE!!!
GCPS being the largest system in the state should be in line to recieve a lions share of the IDEA grants that they can then use to fight providing these critical services.
Same stuff—different day!! ;(
jim d
October 2nd, 2009
7:33 am
I’m wagering that less than 40% of these funds will actually be spent in the classroom.
jim d
October 2nd, 2009
8:02 am
with 1,522,611 k-12 public school students in georgia that breaks out to be roughly $459.74 per student.
Someone help me out here. Where does the fed get this money??
NBCT husband
October 2nd, 2009
8:55 am
After reading on this blog about how much more valuable that National Board Certified Teachers are than just plain teachers, I think the money should be used to not only be restore NBCT bonuses, but to double them.
If you don’t believe me, just ask a NBCT how important they are to the school system. They have an almost cult like status–legends in their own time.
Without NBCT’s, SAT scores in GA would be at least 200 points lower.
Please help the NBCT make her new car payment!!
Hubby
Tony
October 2nd, 2009
8:57 am
The feds contribution to education comes with many, many strings. In terms of our overall budgets, the amount is between 5% to 10% for the system. Yet the costs are extensive.
To get the federal money, we first had to agree (several years ago) to test children and set state wide passing rate standards. These standards had to be ever increasing until 100% of children passed the assessments in 2013.
Second, we have to follow various protocols in use of the funds. We can only use federal funding for “research-based” strategies. We have to have a comprehensive improvement plan. We have to have parenting support. Special education has a gazillion requirements many of which are absolutely ludicrous.
Third, they take both hands and tie them behind our backs so that we are not allowed to take any real action to improve our schools. The rules and regulations that states and feds impose on local schools have the effect of limiting our options rather than improving our options. Sometimes, the only way we can enact major improvement strategies is through very careful maneuvering through all the obstacles thrown in our way. (Growing up on a farm, I learned early how to deal with obstacles.)
To jim d – Where does the Federal Reserve get any of the money the government distributes? A major portion comes from those of us who make weekly, “voluntary” contributions through the payroll deduction plan. Another portion comes from those who are self-employed and voluntarily file the quarterly payments. Then, the rest comes from the imaginary bank that is about to put our whole country in the poor house.
Ronald
October 2nd, 2009
8:57 am
@ jim d —”Where does the fed get this money??”
out of your and my pocket, bro.
jim d
October 2nd, 2009
9:37 am
So what you are saying is that they get us to give it to the fed so they can then decide how much to give back?
One thing I’ve learned over the many years in business is that the more times money changes hands the less there is of it. (administrative fees you know)
I’m no mathmatican but it occurs to me that we’d be better off just keeping our money locally and telling the fed to shove off.
Terry
October 2nd, 2009
11:30 am
Mo, I believe the money Georgia is getting for IDEA should be used for PBS in every district and then I also believe that all educators need to be really educated on good classroom management and behavior management alternatives for those ‘problem’ children they always like to complain about.
Sarge
October 4th, 2009
1:42 am
When I was a kid, I received, from my Dad, X monies a week, no questions asked. Generaly, the monies garnered was enough to cover a weekend movie or two along with the usual box of popcorn and a drink. If there was anything else on my needs n’wants agenda, I had to explain to my Dad, IN DETAIL, the whats, whys and hows involved. Being a pretty good sort of a guy (although, at the time, you wouldn’t know it by me), he generally accomodated the fiscal goals of this 50s-era 9 year-old, AS LONG AS I COULD FORMULATE and ENUNCIATE MY PLAN (as well as could be expected of the kid). In hindsight, I now realize that he was simply training me in the soon-to-be-adult responsibility of ACCOUNTABILITY. On the rare occassion when I might attempt to BS him by offering some half-baked generality as an explanation for my intended use of the dough, I would not only receive nothing, but future requests were met with indepth interogations of those whys, whats and hows.
So rather than accept the broad snake oil-saturated reasons for this cash infusion: support teachers and help students…, lets hear the detailed plans, how they are to be implemented, and the expected results. Inasmuch as, in the past, the fed has been known to toss billions to the wind with little, if any, return on (taxpayer) investment, perhaps this just might be a wise approach to that oft-called for ACCOUNTABILITY.