Stimulus Spending: A Bright Spot
Despite the $100 billion unprecedented infusion of federal cash in the stimulus, the budget situation for K-12 in most states and districts remains pretty dismal. One very bright spot? Arkansas, where some superintendents have a difficult, but enviable challenge.
They're trying to figure out how to spend a significant boost in federal funding - millions of dollars in some cases - on a very tight time frame. And because the money is temporary, they can't put it towards anything that can't be sustained once the funds go away. And, of course, it all has to tie back to the goals of raising student achievement.
On top of unprecedented increases for Title I and special education, Arkansas districts got a major boost from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, which was supposed to backfill cuts to K-12 and higher education. But the Natural State didn't have any cuts to restore. In fact, it has increased funding for education, in part because of a school finance lawsuit.