The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has emerged from the conference committee. The conferees have reached agreement on a final economic recovery package but final details have not yet been released. Reports indicate that the $789 billion package includes significant investments in education – a direct result of your intensive advocacy over the past few weeks. Let me say again that I'm so proud of the role played by FEA in being an integral part of what was an intense lobbying effort. While no official bill language has been released, we have been able to collect a few of the key details that involve public education. Accordingly, some of the key elements of the package include:

• $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, including $40.6 billion to local school districts using existing funding formulas, which can be used for preventing cutbacks, preventing layoffs, school modernization, or other purposes
• $13 billion for Title I grants
• $12.2 billion for IDEA (Special Education)
• Increase in maximum Pell Grant by $500, for a maximum of $5,350 in 2009 and $5,550 in 2010;
• New bond-financing program for school construction, rehabilitation, and repair – reportedly close to $20 billion

It appears that the bill will be passed by both chambers within the next few days. From there, it will move to President Obama's desk for his signature and hopefully our country and our state will begin receiving the assistance that all of us so desperately need.  

All of us have a stake in working together to make sure these funds are deployed in a fashion that will stimulate our state's economy and get Florida back on track so that working families aren't suffering. Now, our job is to redouble our efforts with Governor Crist and our legislative leaders to invest these funds in our state's public education system. The stimulus funds will provide short term relief, but they do not solve the problems with Florida's inadequate revenue structure. In short, this represents a significant win but our fight continues as we work with others to make our schools a priority!

Andy Ford, President

Florida Education Association

NEA, AFT, AFL-CIO

850.224.1953

Imagine the Future!