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By Susie S. Loraine, M.A., CCC-SLP
You can find the following information and more online at www.recovery.gov , www.ed.gov , and www.asha.org
What Is It?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is 787 billion dollars of tax breaks and spending to stimulate the economy and create jobs. President Barack Obama signed the “stimulus bill” into law on February 17, 2009. Of these funds, more than 98 billion dollars are allocated for general and special education, to be spent now through 2012.
What Does ARRA Mean for My School or My Child?
States, school districts, and schools can use these funds to reinstate or open new positions and buy equipment or materials, modernize classrooms, provide additional training and professional development opportunities, and advance other education reforms. Ideally, these funds will allow class sizes and caseloads to become more manageable (smaller), equipment and classrooms to be updated and/or repaired, and educators to have opportunities to obtain continuing education.
What Does ARRA Mean for the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)?
There are 12.2 billion dollars in funds dedicated to IDEA—11.3 billion for Part B Grants to states (special education), 400 million for Part B Preschool Grants, and 500 Million for Part C Infants and Families Grants. About half of this money was released on April 1, 2009. The other half should be allocated by September 30, 2009. Click to see the initial release of recovery act funds at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/news.html#ARRA
How Do I Access the Money as an SLP?
Check with your supervisors and administrators for how to receive stimulus money.
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