CHICAGO - April 14, 2009.  Governor Pat Quinn and United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today showcased Illinois’ strong investment in education thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Illinois could begin receiving some of those dollars within the next two weeks.

 

“Even in these tough economic times, Illinois needs to continue investing in education – thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we are able to do just that,” said Governor Quinn. “These funds allow Illinois to pay its bills to schools quickly, which keeps our teachers teaching and protects our children.”

 

Illinois is expected to receive $3 billion in education funding for Illinois schools through ARRA. This includes $2 billion from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, part of which Governor Quinn is proposing to use during this current fiscal year to pay the remaining General State Aid payments to districts. Also, Governor Quinn’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget proposes to use additional State Stabilization discretionary dollars to increase education funding by $174 million.

 

The final $1 billion of the $3 billion in ARRA funding will use a federal formula to support operations and innovative programs at schools such as the Andrew Jackson Language Academy, which was visited by Governor Quinn and Secretary Duncan today.

 

“The $100 billion the federal government has decided to invest in education presents us with a historic opportunity to avoid catastrophic cuts in teaching positions and learning programs” said Duncan.  “We also have a chance to move beyond the status quo and invest in innovative programs that work. I look forward to seeing Illinois become a national leader in using stimulus funds to save jobs and push for education reform.”

 

In order to access the funding, Governor Quinn has assured the U.S. Department of Education that Illinois will move towards education reform in several areas, including: progressing toward rigorous standards and high-quality tests, establishing a data system that will track student progress from preschool through college and careers, increasing teacher effectiveness and focusing more intense support for failing schools.