Stimulus Spending: A Bright Spot

This from Politics K-12:

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.

So most of that money went to districts, through the Title I formula. Districts could spend the dollars on any activity authorized one of four major federal laws: the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or the main laws governing students in special education, career and technical education, and adult and family literacy. Districts can also use the money to renovate and
repair facilities.

So what have Arkansas districts done with all this largess? Well, according to the folks at the state department of education, quite a lot. Much of the state stabilization money went to school facilities, particularly renovation and modernization projects, such as adding on a new science lab or building an addition...