The Stimulus Package and Education

Hello GreatSchools Blog readers. We're introducing something new with our blog today — you'll hear from more people on the GreatSchools team and we'll cover more issues.

Our goal remains the same: to continue a dialogue with our community about the changes we're seeing in the education landscape, the vital role parents play in supporting their kids' education, and other trends that impact the education ecosystem. We'll share what's new at GreatSchools and we'll look at news events, insights and data that shape the overarching dialogue.

In that spirit, today's newswires and blogosphere is abuzz with President Obama's stimulus package and the infusion of $100 billion to improve education. According to the Associated Press, the Obama Administration has released the first $44 billion to states. It's clear that the Administration wants to both preserve jobs (an estimated 294,000 teachers may face layoffs due to state budget cuts) and transform the federal government's role in education.

With the influx of new money in the education system, have you noticed the impact of the education funding at your school or in your city? Has it changed the way you think about your role in supporting your child's education?

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and experiences.

Comments

[Lisaksullivan@mac.com on April 01, 2009 at 08:31 PM]

We were in Scottsdale, AZ last week checking out a prospective school and the person giving the tour spent quite a bit of time telling us all about the school district cuts and the projected increase in class sizes. It was an eye-opening experience and just wondering who else is hearing these talks. Are we over-reacting by now considering not moving to this area? We are quite confused!

[Dylan C on April 02, 2009 at 04:47 AM]

My child's school is suffering from too many kids, not enough classrooms. We maintain a good teacher/student ratio, and they are building two additions onto the school, so the money is helping.

[K on April 03, 2009 at 10:35 AM]

We have not heard of any money comming into our schools. In fact, we recently learned our county administrators are slashing the school budget and eliminating many teaching positions including those for specialized areas. One teacher told us she is already been told she will not have a job next year. We are disheartened to hear this! Educatio should be the number one priority.

[Jess C on April 15, 2009 at 08:44 AM]

I have not heard of any additional money coming into our school district. We have the May budget vote coming up, so many projects will get cut, as well as athletic teams if the budget does not pass. I will be interested to see if our district gets any help from the state or federal gov since we are not a distressed district, but the ecnomony is hitting NY hard, especially Long Island.

[Angel on April 23, 2009 at 07:56 AM]

Unfortunately the Stimulus money is targeting Title I schools. In a district like Los Angeles, we're feeling like victims in an "us versus them" scenario.

I understand the need for the class-size to increase. I understand the need for the layoffs.

All districts, all schools are experiencing cuts. LAUSD is choosing to send the stimulus money directly to the schools. Sadly, the money earmarked for Title I is so much higher than non-Title I schools, that a non-Title I school will not be able to buy back a single teacher.

What I don't like is being told we're going to be able to make choices on how to spend the money, when the reality is for many schools, the amount is so insignificant that we can't buy anything significant, like a teacher or a librarian.

[Dave Steer on May 01, 2009 at 10:16 AM]

Very interesting to see this. Many of your comments point to a gap between the big dollars we hear about in the media -- the $100 billion towards education -- and the on-the-ground reality of cut programs and larger class sizes.

Especially as parents prepare for the next school year, I'll be interested to see whether this translates into greater involvement in the school -- both to make up for the cuts and to heed the call for improving education more broadly.

[buy aion kinah on June 14, 2009 at 11:55 PM]

Especially as parents prepare for the next school year, I'll be interested to see whether this translates into greater involvement in the school -- both to make up for the cuts and to heed the call for improving education more broadly.

[buy maple mesos on June 22, 2009 at 12:15 AM]

All districts, all schools are experiencing cuts. LAUSD is choosing to send the stimulus money directly to the schools. Sadly, the money earmarked for Title I is so much higher than non-Title I schools, that a non-Title I school will not be able to buy back a single teacher.