Where is the
Money Going?

LDOE will continue to post state and local funding requests.

Local District Applications
(as of 8/12/09)

Louisiana’s Projected
ARRA Pre–K—12
Education Funding

Two Year Total for 2009 and 2010

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (disbursed to districts through Louisiana’s Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) – $206 million
Title I, Part A – Funds for Grants to Local Education Agencies - $177,156,777
Title I, School Improvement Grants – $57,204,753
Title II, Part D – Enhancing Education Through Technology - $12,145,171
Title VII, Subtitle B – McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act – $1.954,563
IDEA, Part B (611) – Students with Disabilities– $188,749,525
IDEA, Part B (619) – Pre-School Grants - $6,909,542
IDEA, Part C - Support for Infants and Toddlers - $5,801,783
National School Lunch Program - $2,069,399
Impact Aid Construction - $173,832
TOTAL - $658,165,345

Louisiana Overview

On February 17, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). A component of the national economic recovery act includes $53.6 billion in funding to support the country’s roughly 105,000 pre-K–12 public schools. Based on entitlement formulas, $48.6 billion of this allocation will flow to states through State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and increases in IDEA and Title I funding. States will compete for the remaining $5 billion in through “Race to the Top” and “Investing in Innovation” grant applications. States may also partner with non-profits to compete for funds through the “Teacher Incentive Fund”.

Louisisna is slated to receive more than $658 million over the next two years for pre-K-12 education, including $206 million that will be disbursed to districts through the state’s Minimum Foundation Program (MFP).

This investment represents is an unprecedented surge of funding for Louisiana’s public schools, and thus a tremendous opportunity to raise student achievement in a state that has been historically at the bottom of most rankings in pre-K–12 public education. With that potential in mind, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and local school districts recognize a shared responsibility for ensuring the aid is used wisely and in alignment with the priorities outlined by the Obama Administration. In fact, every district superintendent in each of the state’s 70 local school districts has signed a commitment form pledging to allocate funding based on the four pillars of education reform outlined by President Obama’s appointed Education Secretary, Arne Duncan.

Even before ARRA was enacted into law, LDOE began collaborating with local school districts around the potential legislation. In late spring, teams of local superintendents worked with Department leaders to develop a blueprint for the effective use of the stimulus funds. These recommendations are based on the four pillars outlined by Secretary Duncan, as well as on current state initiatives and best practices. All 70 superintendents agreed in writing to spend funds to implement strategies in alignment with these recommendations.

In developing the framework for spending priorities, state education leaders are hoping to influence and encourage districts and communities to allocate funding in areas where the dollars can have the greatest impact on student achievement. And since Louisiana intends to compete for a share of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top funds, state and local education leaders are keenly aware of the need to align expenditures to the priorities outlined by the Obama Administration. Secretary Duncan has emphasized that states that use stimulus funds to support the four pillars will be looked upon with favor by the federal education agency when it disburses the competitive grants in 2009 and 2010.

The Louisiana Department of Education will continue to post updated information to support local school districts and to facilitate transparency and accountability around ARRA funding.