Contact: Kimberly Hunter (Webb) 202-228-5258
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Kevin Hall (Warner) 202-224-2425
Senators Webb and Warner Announce Critical Investments
in Virginia’s Educational Needs
Stimulus Funds Will Save Jobs, Drive Reform
Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today announced that the Department of Education will release $806 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to help address the budget shortfall that Virginia’s education system is facing by saving hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Of that funding, $659 million will be used to maintain state support to K-12 education and institutions of higher education and to mitigate the need to raise tuition on in state students. The remaining $147 million will be put toward other projects, including construction at higher education facilities.
“The funds announced today will help strengthen Virginia’s education system, keep quality teachers, and improve academic results for students from kindergarten through college,” said Senator Webb.
“These federal funds will provide welcome relief for stressed state and local school budgets,” Senator Warner said. “It also is appropriate that this one time federal commitment is linked to standards and honest assessments of classroom instructors, student performance, school progress and overall effectiveness of our educational programs.”
“The US Department of Education’s prompt approval of Virginia's application for federal funding will help stimulate the economy, create and save jobs, and ensure our children receive the excellent education they need and deserve to compete in a global economy. The impact of these funds will be felt this summer and fall as teachers and other vital employees — who otherwise would have lost their jobs — return to schools across Virginia to serve the commonwealth’s children,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said.
In order to receive today’s funds, the Commonwealth is responsible for collecting, publishing, analyzing and acting upon basic information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps, and interventions in turning around underperforming schools. Virginia is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted, and how funds are used.
Virginia will be eligible to apply for another $397 million this fall. Today’s funding is being made available per Virginia’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.
To date, Virginia has received $240 million in education stimulus funds—representing a combination of funding for Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation Grants and Independent Living Grants. On April 1st, Virginia received $83 million in Title I funding and $151 million in IDEA funding. This represents 50% of the Title I and IDEA funding Virginia is eligible for in total. On April 1st, Virginia also received $6 million in Vocational Rehab funds and $1 million in Independent Living funds.
