Posted by annamarkowitz

February 04, 2009, 7:48 am

Democrats For Education Reform just released its suggestions for how to make the new stimulus plan work for the education sector. Joe Williams, Executive Director stated that, "This economic stimulus package is a historic investment in education, the largest increase in federal funds in history and presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get things right. "

There is more than enough in the $145 billion in education funds to:

• shore up state and local education budgets;
• stimulate the economy; and, equally important
• advance genuine reform.

 
DFER is encouraged that the House bill specifically includes funds for:

• Teacher Incentive Program ($200 million) – to boost teacher pay, change pay schedules, and improve the quality of teaching in high-poverty, high-minority schools
• Improving State Data Systems ($250 million)
• Charter Schools Facilities ($30 million)

 
The amounts for each of these functions are relatively (and in some cases, ridiculously) small. They approach rounding error in the context of the $145 billion education package.

 
We urge the Senate to fund each of these three functions at a level above that which can be found in the House bill.

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