Obama Stimulus Plan

It was annouced today that $2.7 billion will be released early to states due to issues relating to tighter budgets.  Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, says the early release will aid states as they encounter larger budegetary problems.  This will be the third and last payment from the government services fund as outlined by the obama stimulus plan.  $2.4 billion will go to states that have already completed phase 1 applications and the remaining funds will be released to states in coming days upon completion of phase 1 applications.

To date, the Department has done everything possible to get stimulus funds out the door quickly and effectively, including approving Phase I applications within 10 days,” said Duncan. “That is unprecedented speed for a federal department and today we want to take these efforts one step further by making more than $2.7 billion available immediately. This money, which represents the final third of the government services fund, provides maximum flexibility for states to save jobs and drive reform.

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) account for nearly half of the funds($48 billion) of the $100 billion given to the department of education by the obama stimulus plan.  The SFSF is meant to provide fundage for state education reform.  Now, if only the funds can funnel their way to the bottom and truly make a difference in the education of our children.  The government tends to use a top down approach on these things which may be great for large corporations but not so much with children.  Officials need some kind of bottom up initiative that will allow us to find out what it will really take to make ourselves smarter as a race.  Go Beef!