Stimulus Leads To Frenzy Of Demand For Consultants

With contributions from Liz Bowie, Baltimore Sun, and Edith Starzyk, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

The flood of federal stimulus money into the nation’s public schools has dramatically increased the demand for education consultants, leaving some stimulus recipients struggling to find seasoned advisors and others uneasy about the pitches they are getting.

The frenzy was caused by the unprecedented size and scope of the nearly $100 billion federal effort, which began two years ago. That has stirred up great expectations among policymakers and the public. Faced with nerve-wracking timelines, their own bold promises and a dearth of in-house expertise, states ...

Posted Jan. 28, 2011 2:15 p.m. | 0 comments

Districts get the word on Edujobs grants

The Colorado Department of Education this week notified school districts of the amounts each likely will receive under the new federal Edujobs program, which is designed to reduce the loss of jobs caused by budget cuts. Most districts are expected to receive grants equal to 2.9 percent of their total program funding, which is the amount of state and local revenue that’s devoted to school operating costs. Most districts experienced total program cuts ranging from 3.6 to 6.3 percent for 2010-11. By Todd Engdahl, EducationNewsColorado

Posted Aug. 20, 2010 4:47 p.m.

IDEA B

Amount: $1,511,297

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) comes in two parts. IDEA Part B provides funds to states, school districts, and charter schools to ensure that children with disabilities, including pre-schoolers ages 3 to 5, have access to a "free and appropriate" public education. The stimulus dollars targeted for IDEA Part B call for states to implement "innovative strategies" to improve outcomes for children and youths with disabilities while stimulating the economy. The ARRA funding provided $11.3 billion to states and another $400 million in preschool funding. "

Awarded July 1, 2009

Title I

Amount: $728,150

Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) received $10 billion for schools with high concentrations of students from families who live in poverty. The guidelines call for educators to implement innovative strategies to improve teaching and learning and to close the achievement gap for at-risk students. The Education Department's website notes that the funding should enable schools to serve more students than the estimated 20 million previously covered by Title 1.

Awarded July 1, 2009