Education Stimulus Funds Dwindling

The National Journal (2/9, Edwards) reports, "When Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the slice of the economic-stimulus package to be served to each state's school system in 2009, he said, 'The single best way to stimulate the economy - short-term and long-term - is to keep teachers teaching and keep kids learning.' But many of the states with the toughest budgets to balance this fiscal year have already depleted most of that federal lifeline, making cutbacks in education spending all the more painful." According to the National Journal, the US Department of Education "recapped the state of the stimulus money periodically until September 30, 2010, but it has since stopped updating its tables and has no plans to add to the draining sums. Despite two rounds of federal money to prevent teachers from being laid off, many states have used up most of their money and have begun to cut school spending, raise tuitions at state universities, and scale back on school employment and salaries."