RRCNA Advocacy Update - February, 2009

Dear RRCNA Members:

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – the “stimulus bill” - into law on February 17, 2009, providing historic levels of funding for education. ARRA funds will become available to states and districts in the next few weeks. Reading Recovery professionals and supporters are encouraged to take two action steps to assure that funds can be used for early literacy intervention:

Step #1 - Communicate with principals, curriculum directors, federal funds administrators, superintendents and other decision makers to determine whether your school or university will receive ARRA funds and how they might be used to provide Reading Recovery instruction, professional development, materials, etc. See below for education funding highlights in the ARRA. Questions to ask include:

1. Will our state, school or university receive funds under the ARRA?
2. How may they be used to train teachers and provide instruction, books and materials for struggling readers?

Step # 2 – Send a thank you message to your Representative and Senator(s) if they voted for the ARRA. A sample message, list of legislators supporting the ARRA and links for sending your email:  “Write Your Representative” and “Write your Senator”.

Selected education funds in the ARRA:

1. Title I, Part A –

• Targeted Assistance and Incentive Grants to school districts: Most schools with Reading Recovery report using Title I, Part A funds to help support implementation. The ARRA provides $10 billion in targeted assistance and incentive grants for the education of disadvantaged students.
• School Improvement funds – $3 billion in additional funds will be available to local education agencies identified as in need of improvement to conduct school improvement strategies.

2. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B – States will receive $12 billion in additional funds for special education in the ARRA. Up to 15% of special education funding can be used for comprehensive early intervening services (CEIS) for students who are currently not identified as needing special education, but who need additional academic or behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment. CEIS can include professional development and scientifically-based literacy instruction.
    
3. State Fiscal Stabilization Fund – Nearly $54 billion will go to governors and states in this fund - $40 billion to support elementary, secondary and higher education, restore state support for education, and issue subgrants to local education agencies for basic education services. An additional $5 billion becomes available for State Incentive Grants and an Innovation Fund, and $8.2 billion for education modernization and repair.

For more information:

• White House website
• U.S. House Education and Labor Committee (for state and district-specific estimates of funding)
• Education Week free live webinar, March 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm EDT

Your action steps now could make a tangible difference in the lives of children. Thank you.