State approves giving $660M in stimulus money to schools

The state Board of Education on Tuesday morning approved giving more than $660 million to local school districts to use to help low-income and special-education students.

The money is for two separate areas. The first batch — $324 million — is for special education (IDEA) students and pre-school services.

The second — $336 million — is for low-income students (Title 1). This money will be released to schools in two separate amounts: the first $168 million now, and the remaining $168 million in September.

The grants are to support, among other things, improving SAT, ACT and other achievement scores.

State schools Superintendent Kathy Cox said staff made suggestions to local school districts on how they could use stimulus money but that the districts don’t have to follow those recommendations.

Local districts have to submit a budget to the school board before they can use the money, she said. The funds, she said, may prevent local districts from laying off workers — and instead may allow them to expand certain programs and add staff.

“This comes at a very good time,” Cox said during the meeting.