Daniel A. Domenech, Ph. D. Executive Director American Association of School Administrators

 In 1965, when ESEA was first enacted, it consisted of 4 titles containing 3 grant programs.  Today, ESEA has grown to 11 titles containing 93 grant programs.  We have a disjointed collection of unrelated programs and services begging for consolidation and focus.

 The heightened level of accountability that is now part of our school system culture will not disappear.  The disaggregation of data that monitors the performance of student subgroups should remain.  The noble goal to leave no child behind should endure as well.

The federal contribution to K-12 spending is a mere 8%. Maximize the impact of ESEA by focusing all available federal dollars and services on the total child! By focusing federal dollars where they are needed most, on schools serving children of poverty, we significantly increase the chances that those dollars will actually help to close the achievement gap.

 Health services including pre and post-natal care  Child care  Pre-school programs  Full day kindergarten  Parenting education and support  Stable housing

Increase the level of funding. Refrain from prescribing how children should be taught. Compile the research and best practices that will help the schools. Assessment should focus on measures of growth and greater use of formative rather than summative instruments. Professional development dollars need to be allocated for both teachers and system leaders.

 Every school day 7,000 children disappear from our schools. (The number of children that drop out of school).  As a result of the current economic crisis, our government has bailed out Wall Street at a cost of $700 billion and may spend more to bail out the auto industry.  This school year, public school districts across America have been under-funded by $42 billion dollars.

 In response to economic downturn as evidenced in state budget shortfalls, federal buyouts and interventions, and a series of additional events characterizing a slowing, stagnant economy  Feedback from members that schools districts were beginning to feel the pinch  Examine the impact of the economic downturn: widespread or more concentrated?

When superintendents were asked to identify what actions their districts have already implemented as a result of the economic downturn, the top responses were: ◦ Altering thermostats (62 percent) ◦ Eliminating non-essential travel (57 percent) ◦ Reducing staff-level hiring (48 percent) ◦ Reducing consumable supplies (48 percent) ◦ Increasing class size (36 percent) ◦ Deferring maintenance (36 percent) ◦ Reducing instructional material (35 percent)

When superintendents were asked about the economic- related problems of the families of students in their districts: ◦ 95% said unemployment has worsened somewhat or a great deal. ◦ 94% said lack of health insurance has worsened somewhat or a great deal. ◦ 91% said student mobility has increased somewhat or a great deal. ◦ 81% said mortgage foreclosures have worsened somewhat or a great deal. ◦ 70% said homelessness has worsened somewhat or a great deal.

 President Obama and House and Senate Democratic leadership are on record for a stimulus package including billions of dollars to fund school construction  A new huge education block grant to fill for one time short term education spending to fill gaps, stimulate purchases and create jobs is brewing between Kennedy and Miller ◦ But spending restraint is being urged by some after a Trillion of so in new spending !!  AASA is putting IDEA Mandatory funding back on the table

America’s public schools have billions of dollars in both new and back-logged construction projects that could be alleviated with stimulus spending. Responders identified $6,520,400,000 in ready-to-go new construction projects and $4,493,100,000 in ready-to-go renovation and repairs projects

One-time funds for facilities-related projects are focused on renovation and repair. The top four facilities related projects responders would address with the stimulus funds are building repair (68%), building renovation (59%), security measures (57%) and deferred school construction projects (46%).

Survey responders reported an interest in using one-time funds to provide instructional materials, with an especially strong focus on classroom technology. The top four instructional materials-related projects responders would address with the stimulus funds are classroom technology (88%), classroom equipment/supplies (63%), textbooks (46%), and music education equipment/instruments (41%). The strong focus on technology-related projects carried over to professional development and informational technology. The top four professional development-related projects responders would address with the stimulus funds are technology (71%), curriculum instruction (64%), academic instruction (61%), and assessment (47%). The top four technology-related projects responders would address with the stimulus funds are machines (computers, printers, etc.)(75%), infrastructure/hardware (66%), software (51%), and connectivity (47%).

Survey responders also identified a set of back-logged transportation- related projects. The top four transportation projects responders would address with the stimulus funds are vehicle purchases/upgrades (71%), fuel (59%), deferred structural (bus barn) maintenance (29%), and deferred fleet maintenance (19%).

Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act - main features: $14 billion $14 billion for a new School Modernization and Repair Program (to be distributed under the Title I formula); $13 billion $13 billion for IDEA over two years; $11 billion $11 billion for Title I over two years; $2 billion $2 billion for School Improvement Grants; $1 billion $1 billion for Title II, Part D: Education Technology; $250 million $250 million for states to develop longitudinal data systems; $66 million $66 million for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act; $20.4 Billion $20.4 Billion for QZABs and Bonds for New Construction

Economic Recovery Act - main features $79 billion $79 billion for a state stabilization fund, including – $39 billion for states to use principal elementary and secondary formula to bring funding up to 2008 level; – $15 billion to be awarded to states based on their performance in three areas, including distribution of teachers, creation of longitudinal data systems and development of assessments for special education and ELL; and – $25 billion for states to spend anywhere within their state budget, including education; $89 billion $89 billion for Federal Medicaid Assistant Payments, FMAP, which will provide necessary relief and reduce competition for limited state dollars between Medicaid and education; and $6 billion $6 billion for broadband deployment. Extension of the Medicaid Regulations moratoria until June 30, 2009.

Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act - main features: $16 billion $16 billion for a new School Modernization and Repair Program (likely to be distributed mostly through competitive grants); $13 billion $13 billion for IDEA over two years; $11 billion $11 billion for Title I over two years; $2 billion $2 billion for School Improvement Grants; $13 Billion $13 Billion for QZABs and Bonds for New Construction Increased marketability of tax exempt bonds

Will the Stimulus come through? Probably because President Obama is so strong right now.