March 4, 2009
USED Guidance on School Modernization Projects
ARRA INFORMATION FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT PATRICIA I. WRIGHT
The United States Department of Education (USED) has posted new information on its Website containing guidance as to how schools can use State Stabilization dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for school modernization projects.
The new guidance is posted at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/modernization/index.html.
The guidance provides explanations of how ARRA funds may be used and highlights how school divisions can use stimulus dollars to modernize schools. It also includes practical information as to what schools should do now in order to be ready to wisely spend new funds.
It appears that guidance from USED will come out in multiple releases and ways. In a meeting with all chief state school officers last week, Secretary Duncan indicated that guidance on permissible uses of stimulus funding would be issued this week. We are still waiting for the main guidance document from USED. We plan to send information to you as guidance from USED is released. While there are numerous organizations that are distributing useful information on the stimulus package, official guidance on education funding will be released from USED.
The U.S. Department of Education's ARRA Website can be accessed at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
The White House's ARRA Website can be accessed at:
http://www.recovery.gov/
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