California is getting nearly four-billion dollars in federal stimulus money for some public schools. The money is designated for special education and students enrolled in underperforming districts.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell says he expects the federal dollars will pour into school districts next month.
Erika Hoffman is a legislative advocate with the California School Boards Association. She says there’s a long list of ways to use the federal funds in the classroom—including hiring more teacher’s aides…
“With an aide you’re talking a classified employee. But, especially in a special ed classroom those are great assistants to both the students and the teachers because those are the people that provide the individual one on one help…”
The money can’t be used to hire back teachers who recently received layoff notices. However, O’Connell says California expects to receive another four-billion dollars in federal stimulus funds within two years that can be used to do that.
Governor Schwarzenegger has to apply for the second half of the federal funds before May 15th.