Action from the education community on the debate over the federal economic stimulus package will remain crucial as a House/Senate conference committee works to reconcile differences in their respective versions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

S. 336 and H.R. 1 contain similar provisions for education, with some differences for expenditure of funds. Approximately $140 billion in stimulus funding is earmarked for education. California’s share of the stimulus money is estimated to be $10 billion.

The stimulus plan passed in the House of Representatives without a single Republican vote, and has faced intense scrutiny in the Senate.

ACSA has been working closely with colleagues at the American Association of School Administrators to determine what amendments, if any, may be proposed for education.

Support for the education stimulus package must include provisions to hold states accountable to “supplement not supplant” funding, particularly for the formula-driven allocations, and to require states to allocate the funds as soon as they become available.

More information is available in the “Advocacy” section at ACSA Online.