Senator Murray Announces over $860 Million in Funding for Washington State Schools from Economic Recovery Act

Press Release

Funding will save and create teacher jobs, support WA state education goals, and protect education priorities in the face of budget cuts

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that over $860 million in funding is now available for Washington state's schools and education priorities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will go to the state to help save teaching jobs and provide much-needed resources for schools, students, and teachers in the face of state and local budget cuts. As a senior member of the Senate Committees that oversee funding and legislation on education, Senator Murray was instrumental in ensuring that the Recovery Act made significant investments in education. The funding announced today is a portion of overall funding that will go to Washington state as part of the Recovery Act. More funding for education will be made available in late summer or early fall 2009.

"This funding couldn't come at a more critical time for our teachers, students, and schools," said Senator Murray. "With the state and local budgets in real need, this funding is going to save teacher jobs and ensure our schools can meet their commitment to students. Our schools and universities are the engines that drive our economy. If we allow them to fall victim to this crisis we will lose our foundation for success in the future."

"I applaud the actions of the Obama administration and Sen. Murray on these much needed stabilization funds for our state's education system," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "There is no more important investment for the future of this state and this country than education. In the face of our budget shortfall, this funding will be a tremendous support while we work to improve our state's economic circumstances."

Today's announcement means that funding from a number of different education accounts that were included in the Recovery Act are now available to Washington state. The funding made available today can be used to protect against budget cuts, save jobs, boost funding for special needs students and adults, invest in low-income school districts, and modernize schools. Most of the funding will go through existing formulas to the state who will then distribute it to school districts throughout Washington.

A major component of today's announcement is the release of two-thirds of the State Stabilization Fund which will be made available for Washington state after an application process. State Stabilization funding is designed to ensure that local school districts and public institutions of higher education have the resources to avoid education cuts and retain teachers and professors in the face of difficult budgets. The program may also help support the modernization, renovation, and repair of school and public college facilities.

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