Governor Bill Richardson, Secretary Veronica Garcia Announce More ...
For immediate release Contact: Beverly Friedman (505) 827-6661
June 15, 2009 Andy Lenderman (505) 476-0393
Governor Bill Richardson, Secretary Veronica Garcia
Announce More Than $250 Million in Stimulus Funds for
New Mexico Schools
SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson and Secretary of Education Veronica C. García today
announced that the New Mexico Public Education Department has awarded or will award more
than $250 million in federal stimulus funds for schools throughout New Mexico.
The money includes general operation funds for the 2009-10 school year, funds for special
education programs, money to programs that serve disadvantaged children, grants for school
lunch equipment, and funds for homeless students.
“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a historic opportunity to drive real change in
our public schools,” Secretary of Education Veronica C. García said. “School districts and
charter schools from every corner of New Mexico will now have a chance to save and create
jobs, and provide extra help to students in an effort to improve academic performance.”
The education funding includes:
• Stabilization Funds: $164.7 million. These funds have been included in the public
school funding formula for the 2009-2010 school year. This money will be available on
July 1, pending final anticipated approval by the U.S. Department of Education. Districts
may use this money as they have used general fund dollars for regular operating
expenses.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B: $47.2 million. This represents
about half of the special education stimulus funds schools are expected to receive in 2009, and
the money is available now. Examples of ways to use this money include hiring additional
support staff and parent liaisons, training and professional development for special education
teachers, and hiring job coaches to work with high school students with special needs so they can
enter the workforce.
Title I Funds or education for the disadvantaged: $38.7 million. This represents about half
the Title I funds schools are expected to receive in 2009, and the money is available now.
Examples of ways to use this money include expanding after-school programs, hiring additional
staff such as reading specialists, and professional development for teachers and principals
working in high-poverty schools.
Stabilization, IDEA, and Title I funds are being allocated through existing funding
formulae.
• Education for the Homeless Funds: $548,313. These grants will help schools address the
educational and related needs of homeless children during the current economic
downturn. In July, $383,313 will be awarded to 24 school districts across the state.
Another $165,000 will be awarded through a competitive grant process. Those awards are
expected to be announced by August 8.
• School Lunch Equipment Awards: $924,743. The purpose of the money is to improve the
infrastructure of the National School Lunch Program, and the money may be used to
purchase or renovate food service equipment. The money has been awarded to 31 school
districts and schools through a competitive grant process.
TO VIEW FUNDING BY DISTRICT: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/arra.html
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