IDEA Money Watch is keeping track of the use of $11.3 billion in federal funds being provided to local school districts as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Special education advocates across the nation are keeping watch on the use of these funds and how the academic achievement of students with disabilities is improving as a result.

IDEA Money Watch State-by-State Blogs report on use of funds and provide information and resources. State IDEA Facts provides quick data look-up on special education students and IDEA funds going to each state. State ARRA Spending provides the amount of IDEA Recovery Act funds obligated by each state. 

Latest News

The Center for Law and Education has filed a FOIA Appeal with the U.S. Dept. of Education for its failure to respond to a request for information pertaining to State requests for waivers to financial support for special education. It's just the latest in The FOIA Chronicle.

ARRA funds teaching jobs according to US Dept. of Ed official. Dr. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary of OSERS recently told special education advocates the Recovery Act funds designated for IDEA Part B 611 (school-age students) have saved or created 57,470 jobs while funds for IDEA Part B 619 (Preschool program) have saved or created 2,293 jobs and funds for IDEA Part C (infants and toddlers) have saved or created 1,964 jobs. In a June Technical Assistance Webinar, the U.S. ED encouraged states and districts to show "courage" in using stimulus funds to hire personnel and minimize layoffs in the upcoming 2010-11 school year. More here.

States seek waivers to reduce funds for special education to local district. The U.S. Dept. of Education has released a statement detailing its procedures in considering state requests to reduce financial support to local districts due to economic hardship. Four states have made such requests to date: Kansas, Iowa, South Carolina and West Virginia. 

Recovery Act spending reports 41% of IDEA Part B funds obligated as of July 3, 2010...According to spending reports made available on the U.S. Department of Education Recovery Act web site, about 41% of the IDEA Part B Recovery Act funds have been obligated as of July 3, 2010. Rates of spending vary across states-from as low as 7% in the District of Columbia to 85% in Iowa. All IDEA Recovery Act funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2011. The State-by-State spending report is available here.

Investing Wisely and Quickly ... This new report from the Council of Great City Schools provides results from a survey of forty (40) Great City School districts that received a total of $7.3 billion in IDEA, Title I, and State Fiscal Stabilization Funds via the Recovery Act. Get details here.

Stimulating Equity? A report from the Campaign for Educational Equity recommends another round of ARRA funding for education...but first, close the IDEA MOE loophole! Get the full report here.

IDEA Money Watch on Rose Moore Show ... Candace Cortiella and Mark Halpert discussed IDEA Recovery Act issues on a recent broadcast of the Rose Moore Internet Radio Show. Listen here. 

GAO Report finds half of eligible LEAs plan to reduce local sped spending, more...A December 2009 GAO Recovery Act report (GAO-10-231) investigated the "Status of States’ and Localities’ Use of Funds and Efforts to Ensure Accountability" by conducting a survey of 16 states and certain localities in those jurisdictions, as well as the District of Columbia. Findings showed roughly half of eligible LEAs plan to reduce local spending on special education as allowable under the IDEA. Several States reported changing the process used to make LEA determinations. Read the report here. The GAO also issues bimonthly reviews of use of Recovery Act funds in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Check out your state's report here. 

U.S.ED releases letter to State Chiefs and State Sped Directors re MOE Reduction...On October 21, 2009  US Education Secretary Arne Duncan released a Letter to Chief State School Officers and State Directors of Special Education urging states to maintain high standards and not compromise the section 616 determination process under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  in view of the large increase in IDEA Part B federal funds that LEAs are receiving as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Read the letter here.

U.S.ED New Guidance on Use of IDEA ARRA Funds...New Guidance released on September 4, 2009, clarifies that all IDEA Part B funds must be used only to pay the excess costs of providing FAPE to children with disabilities. Guidance on RTI also clarifies use of IDEA funds for this purpose. 

Capital Hill Briefing on IDEA ARRA Funds:: Multiple Perspectives...At a July forum, IDEA Money Watch founder, Candace Cortiella, participated in a panel discussion on use of ARRA funds for special education. Full story here. 

American Association of School Administrators :: Top five reported uses for ARRA IDEA funds...A survey of 160 school administrators conducted in July and August 2009 reports on how districts are using education Recovery Act funds. Read the Press Release here. Get the survey results here.

Center for Law and Education Releases Memorandum Challenging USED Guidance to States...On August 11, 2009, the Center for Law and Education (CLE) released a comprehensive memorandum regarding the guidance provided by the U.S. Dept. of Education to States on monitoring of local educational agencies (LEAs). CLE concludes that there is no statutory authority for USED's guidance to State. Read the CLE Memorandum here.