March 9, 2009

New funding for education from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), recently signed into law by President Obama, promises substantial new funding for education over the next two to three years. This is welcome news for states and local school districts that are facing daunting local budget deficits.

Detailed guidelines for use of this funding are still being developed, but certain themes are already evident. Improved student achievement, higher learning standards, quality assessments, robust data systems, teacher quality initiatives, and school modernization are among the specific targets identified by the U.S. Department of Education (see the ED Recovery Act web page). In a March 7, 2009 press release, ED laid out four principles to guide distribution and use of ARRA funds:

• Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs
• Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform, with emphasis on four areas:

• Developing standards and assessments that are valid and reliable for all students, including English language learners (ELLs) and students with disabilities
• Establishing data systems to track progress
• Improving teacher effectiveness and equitable distribution of qualified teachers
• Providing intensive support and effective interventions for low-performing schools

• Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability
• Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize unsustainable budget commitments when these funds expire

States and districts face a tremendous opportunity to drive educational improvements with this infusion of funds, but it is a huge challenge that will require all the resources they can bring to the table. The Education Alliance at Brown University has brought such resources to state education agencies and school districts for over 30 years, helping educators with school improvement efforts, and paying special attention to underperforming districts and schools, and issues of equity and diversity. Most of the Alliance's work has been funded either directly or indirectly through federal grants and contracts, so we are very practiced in working to tight accountability requirements and in meeting federal standards for evidence of effectiveness in educational initiatives.

The Alliance's strengths are grounded in working collaboratively with districts and schools to bring research-based resources, technical assistance, and evaluation services to bear on the challenges that they face. We work in tandem with states, districts and schools to align research and policy directions within local contexts and to help build and sustain capacity that supports effective management of school improvement. Where appropriate, we utilize technology tools to support job-embedded learning for teachers and administrators that links them with peers in collaborative networks.

Alliance staff work with educational leaders at all levels to assess needs and plan improvements in instructional and management practices. Recent work includes:

• audits of ELL programs and curriculum alignment across 100+ schools in New York state;
• needs assessments for targeted student populations to clarify learning needs and identify and leverage school-based and community resources and partnerships;
• technical assistance to districts on issues of national origin, race and gender;
• work with Rhode Island on issues of minority teacher recruitment, especially as related to the teaching of ELLs; and
• comprehensive school reform consultation and assistance to multiple East coast state education departments from Maine to Florida.

We plan and implement professional development for teachers and administrators on such topics as:

• improving instruction for second language learners;
• culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices, for general education and ELL teachers, and school administrators;
• designing and delivering effective online professional development; and
• working across and within content areas to provide middle- and high- school content area teachers with strategies for meeting students' literacy needs.

Our evaluation services aim to improve programs and contribute knowledge to the development of successful schooling. Alliance evaluators employ multiple methods—both quantitative and qualitative—to provide the information educators, policymakers, and providers need to strengthen programs, improve teaching and learning, and build knowledge and skills. The expertise and experience brought to our work are evidenced in the range of work we do, including:

• one of six federally funded Striving Readers evaluations employing a randomized control trial design with five Massachusetts high schools implementing literacy programs targeted at students who are reading below grade level;
• multiple formative and rigorous evaluations of federal Magnet School Assistance Programs that focus on choice and diversity (recently featured in ED's Evaluation Toolkit; and
• evaluation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs situated both in school and out-of-school contexts, using technology-enhanced resources and challenging content, and involving educators, scientists and policymakers from across the country.

Now more than ever, through ARRA, the federal government will look to research and assistance organizations like The Education Alliance to help states and districts build the capacity to implement and sustain improvements that address student achievement gaps. We are committed to playing our part in this historic undertaking, and extending our many years of partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, with state education agencies, districts and schools, and with other research and assistance organizations to assure the educational quality and economic competitiveness America's children require both at home and globally.

 

Contacts at The Education Alliance:
Dr. Deborah Collins, Director of Research and Evaluation: D_Collinsbrown.edu
Dr. Maria Pacheco, Director of Equity and Diversity: Maria_Pachecobrown.edu

 

Resources

U.S. Department of Education's main site for ARRA information

National Governors Association ARRA Resource Center