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American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

ARRA Overview

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides approximately $100 billion for public education to save jobs, support states and school districts and advance reforms and improvements in early learning, K-12 and post-secondary education. The overall goals of the ARRA are to stimulate the economy and invest in education and other essential public services. Read the full text of the legislation (PDF, 13.4MB). See Titles VIII and XIV for education agencies.

The Virginia Department of Education has created this Website to provide school divisions with the latest guidance on the distribution and use of these funds. Four principles guide the distribution and expenditure of ARRA funds:

• Must be spent quickly to save and create jobs;
• Should be used to improve student achievement and help close achievement gaps;
• Will be subject to additional and rigorous reporting requirements; and
• Are available for only two to three years and should be invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires.

October 16, 2009 (VDOE) - Update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Presented to the Senate Finance Education Subcommittee (PPT)

Executive Order #85 (2009) required that all ARRA-funded positions be advertised with the Virginia Workforce Connection through the state Recruitment Management System. For more information, see Executive Order # 85 (2009) (PDF).

U.S. Department of Education - ARRA
ARRA funding for public education is intended to support effective reforms and preserve teaching jobs at risk because of state and local budget cuts. ARRA funding for public schools includes State Fiscal Stabilization Fund grants and formula grants awarded through existing federal programs such as Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (also known as No Child Left Behind) and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. ARRA funds are distributed to school divisions on a reimbursement basis. More about ARRA and public education from the U.S. Department of Education (PDF).

• April 24, 2009 (USED) – Using ARRA Funds to Drive School Reform and Improvement (Word)
• March 27, 2009 (USED & VDOE) – Saving & Creating Jobs and Reforming Education (PPT).

Key Elements for Education in Virginia

The public education component of the ARRA includes several primary funding sources (also see the menu to the right):

• Title I, Part A – funding for schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students at risk of failing to meet state academic achievement standards. Includes suggested uses of ARRA funds for Early Childhood Programs.
• Title I, Part D – funding for educational programs for youths in state-operated institutions or community day programs, as well as to school division programs involving collaboration with locally operated correctional facilities.
• Title I, School Improvement – funding for resources to enable the lowest-achieving schools to meet the goals under school and division improvement, corrective action and restructuring plans.
• Title II, Part D – funding to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools.
• IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) – funding to school divisions and states to ensure that children with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education.
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance – one-time supplemental funds that supplement services to homeless students.
• State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)
• Competitive Grants
• Equipment Assistance Grants for School Nutrition Programs

In using ARRA funds, states and school divisions must advance core reforms identified in the legislation, including: implementation of college- and career-ready standards and assessments for all students; establishment of preschool to postsecondary and career longitudinal data systems; improvement in teacher quality – especially for students most at risk of academic failure; and improvement of low-performing schools through effective interventions.

ARRA.Virginia.gov

ARRA.Virginia.gov is the commonwealth's official website for information related to how state government is spending federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.