Economic Recovery and Reinvestment

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Public Law 111-5, provides funding opportunities to public schools and libraries. Some are distributed by formula, while others take the form of competitive grants. In some cases, schools and libraries may compete with other entities for funding.

Late-breaking information     U.S. Department of Education overview     American Library Association page

Reporting, Accountability, and Transparency. A new page has been created to house all ARRA-related reporting information. Anyone knowing of fraud, waste, or abuse involving federal funds or programs should contact the Office of Inspector General (OIG). ARRA provides protections for certain individuals who make specified disclosures relating to Recovery Act funds.

Grants in which the DPI plays a role, for Wisconsin schools and libraries:

• Broadband Fiber to K-12s and Libraries
• Educational Jobs Fund (Ed Jobs)
• Educational Technology
• Homeless Children and Youth
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B
• Qualified School Construction Bonds
• Qualified Zone Academy Bonds
• Race to the Top
• School Lunch Equipment
• Teacher Incentive Fund
• Teacher Quality Partnership Grants
• Title I-A
• Title I School Improvement, Section 1003(g)

Other funding opportunities:

• Investing in Innovation - competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education
• Clean Diesel funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Energy
• Rural Community Facilities Programs - grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Additionally, Gov. Jim Doyle used much of the ARRA's State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to maintain and provide a slight increase to current PK-12 education funding levels in his 2009-11 budget. The governor is also leading Wisconsin's effort to win some of the federal Race to the Top funding.

Late-breaking Information:

• IDEA page includes new infrastructure certifications (Sep 29)
• Broadband Funding page includes update on status of BadgerNet fiber grant (May 19)
• Application process opened for Qualified Zone Academy Bond programs (Apr 12)
• Reporting page includes new guidance for reporting survey due (Dec 9)
• Education Jobs Fund page updated (Nov 16)

Links and Resources:

U.S. Department of Education page on the ARRA

American Library Association page on the ARRA

"Using ARRA Funds to Drive School Reform and Improvement" (U.S. Department of Education)

"Possible Coordinated Uses of ARRA Funds" (DPI)

DPI chart: ARRA funding compared to regular IDEA and Title I funding

DPI Letter to School Districts of March 31, 2009, about ARRA funding

Web-friendly version of the ARRA, from the Library of Congress (listed with other federal appropriations legislation; click on "P.L. 111-5")

Presentation from U.S. Department of Education

Education Recovery and Reinvestment Center at Learning Point Associates

Summary of the major education provisions of the ARRA, from the Council of Chief State School Officers

Last updated on 11/30/2011 3:14:29 PM