The U.S. government recently released $1.8 billion in stimulus money for education to Florida, shortly after the state applied for a waiver required because the state has underfunded education in previous years.
"The $1.8 billion Florida is receiving is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. 'Florida can now utilize these funds to save jobs and lay the groundwork for a generation for education reform."
Although the money is expected to plug holes in school-district budgets to save jobs, some of South Florida's school districts may still see some layoffs. School districts won't get the funds directly from Washington. Florida law makers, confident the state would get the money, allocated these funds to shore up the education portion of the 2009-10 budget the Legislature approved last month. That allowed legislators to tout a small increase in per-student spending in Florida.
In addition to the $1.8 billion in stabilization funds, Florida has received almost $600 million more in education stimulus dollars -- including about half the money the federal government designated for low-income schools, programs for disadvantaged students and other grants.
Another $891 million in stabilization money will also become available later this fall.
To receive the funds, the state had to assure the federal government that it would closely track education statistics, including annual student improvements, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, and interventions in turning around under performing schools. The state will also be required to report how many jobs are being saved with the stimulus money, how the funds are used, and what state and local tax increases were avoided because of the federal dollars.
While all this spending may seem to be a mixed bag of benefits and downsides, there is little doubt that this infusion of money will help improve the schools around the state and here in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
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