American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides approximately $100 billion for public education to save jobs, support states and school districts and advance reforms and improvements in early learning, K-12 and post-secondary education. The overall goals of the ARRA are to stimulate the economy and invest in education and other essential public services.

Four principles guide the distribution and expenditure of ARRA funds:

• Must be spent quickly to save and create jobs;
• Should be used to improve student achievement and help close achievement gaps;
• Will be subject to rigorous reporting requirements; and
• Will be available for only two to three years, therefore should be invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires.