The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Providing Aid to States and School Districts Nationwide

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will provide enormous opportunities to improve the lives of infants, children, and youth nationwide. This historic legislation includes more than $100 billion in education funding, plus additional billions for school modernization.

The ARRA funds will provide new opportunities for states and school districts in nearly every realm of education, including school renovation, special education, early childhood, youth development, and financial aid to college students in need. Other priorities—such as those focused on health care, creating new jobs, and tax cuts—also hold the promise of improving the condition of children, particularly those least well-served through the nation's current systems of support.

"President Obama's address to Congress included an encouraging commitment to the well-being and education of the nation's children and youth, and an emerging vision of what the future might hold for our kids – from infancy through higher education," says WestEd CEO Glen Harvey. "This is an exciting time."

On March 7, 2009, U.S. Department of Education Arne Duncan announced that the Department will distribute $44 billion in stimulus funds in 30 to 45 days. Forty-nine billion more will be available within six months. The first round of funding will help avert hundreds of thousands of estimated teacher layoffs in schools and school districts while driving crucial education improvements, reforms, and results for students.

For more information on the ARRA and/or guidance on how districts and states can best use this unprecedented funding to build capacity and advance education reform, please contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1.800.872.5327.