ARRAEducation Funds 101

ARRA & Purpose

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

• Unprecedented effort to jumpstart economy.

• Save and create millions of jobs.

• Down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

• Signed into law February 17, 2009.

Billion with a Capital B

$787,000,000,000

ARRA

ARRA - Education Money

$98,238,000,000

One-time Investment

12.48%

ARRA Education Funds

Stratford’s Share

$2,939,372 = State Fiscal Stabilization

$574,808 = Title 1

$1,692,748 = IDEA Part B & Preschool

$5,206,928 = ENTITLEMENT TOTAL

Stratford’s Position

• Identified initiatives that build district’s capacity in meeting educational goals.

• Fully aware the ARRA money is a historic one-time investment.

• Living within our means. Avoiding budgetary “gimmicks”. Such as…

CLIFF EFFECT

Stratford’s Share

$2,939,372 = State Fiscal Stabilization

$574,808 = Title 1

$1,692,748 = IDEA Part B & Preschool

$5,206,928 = ENTITLEMENT TOTAL

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund

• CT will receive approximately $541 million. 

• Contingent upon maintenance of effort of support for education for FY 2009, 10, & 11.

• The SFSF will be proportionately applied to each town’s ECS grant.  

• Under the Governor’s proposed FY10 – FY11 biennial budget, towns’ ECS grants will remain at the 2008-09 level.

• Punch line = Governor has supplanted ECS funds with SFSF.

SFSF – How it will work…

• Town Budgeted $20,495,602 for ECS.

• BOE will directly receive $2,939,372.

• Town will be short BOE share.

• BOE will have to make application to State to receive funds.

• Punch line = No NEW money is available for BOE.

Stratford’s Share

$2,939,372 = State Fiscal Stabilization

$574,808 = Title 1

$1,692,748 = IDEA Part B & Preschool

$5,206,928 = ENTITLEMENT TOTAL

Title I - ARRA

• Funds are to be used to close the achievement gap and enable disadvantaged students to reach their potential.

• Title I funds are only to be used for eligible children and schools.

• 85% must be expended by 9-30-10.

• Punch line = ALL statutory & regulatory requirements apply.

Supplement vs. Supplant

• Intended to ensure that services provided with Title I funds are in additional to, and do not replace or supplant, services that students would otherwise receive.

Title I – How it will work…

• Vacation/Summer Math & Reading Camps

• Additional Summer Kindergarten Transition

• Kindergarten tutors @ FRA, ACA, NIC

• Additional Preschool Program

• Haskins Literacy Project

Stratford’s Share

$2,939,372 = State Fiscal Stabilization

$574,808 = Title 1

$1,692,748 = IDEA Part B & Preschool

$5,206,928 = ENTITLEMENT TOTAL

IDEA - ARRA

• Money must be expended by 9-30-11.

• Punch line = ALL statutory & regulatory requirements apply.

• These funds must be used only for the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.

Supplement vs. Supplant

• Intended to ensure that services provided with Title I funds are in additional to, and do not replace or supplant, services that students would otherwise receive.

Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

• Intended to ensure IDEA funds are not used to reduce the level of expenditures for eligible students below the level of those expenditures for the preceding year.

• If BOE “Meet Requirements” on IDEA Determinations by State can use 50% of IDEA increase to “offset” district expenses.

IDEA – How it will work…

• Exploring assistive technologies.

• Coordinating Early Intervening Funds

• 15% of funds can be used for students not identified as special education.

• Haskins Literacy Project

• Inclusion Facilitator

• 2 PreK, 8 ELE, 6 MID special education tutors

Accountability & Audit

• To prevent fraud and abuse, support the most effective uses of ARRA funds, and accurately track results, recipients must publicly report on how funds are used.

• Due to the unprecedented scope and importance of this investment, ARRA funds are subject to additional and more rigorous reporting requirements than normally apply to grant recipients.

Accountability & Audit

• ARRA = Auditors Reemployment Recovery Act

• Various Federal & State oversight agencies.

• New Federal whistleblower protection.

• Emphasis on transparency.

• Real-time audits.

Audit – How it will work…

• Recovery funds will need to be tracked and reported separately from regular entitlement funds.

• Quarterly financial and program outcome reports.

• Identify numbers of jobs created/retained.

• Will have to pay money back if not spent prudently and in accordance with the law.

ARRA Education Funds

94.6% is formula based or earmarked.

Competitive Grants

• “Race to the Top” Funds = $4.35 billion.

• Investing in What Works & Innovation.

• Teacher Incentive; teacher quality enhancement; impact aid construction.

• National Competitive Grants.

• Applications expected Fall 09 & Spring 10.

• 5.4% of $98.2 billion.

Other Information

- Under “Community”- Budget Information 2009-2010

• www.recovery.gov

• www.recovery.ct.gov

• www.stratfordk12.org

ARRAEducation Funds 101

Any Questions?