States waylay federal teacher-job dollars

The $10 billion that Congress authorized in August to save some 145,000 educators’ jobs, reduce classroom crowding and restore programs cut from state budgets isn’t necessarily going to the classroom in some places. In a number of states it’s going to close shortfalls, be shunted into school construction or even be used to reduce state aid to school districts by the amount received from the feds.

Rhode Island’s governor wants to take back some $33 million in state school aid to close a looming $320 million deficit. The funding was supposed to hire back or replace the some 450 teachers laid off or retired statewide.

South Dakota’s chief executive wants to reduce state aid by the $26.3 million that districts will receive from the federal government, and Arkansas’ governor wants to use his state’s $91 million federal grant for school construction and improvement. That state at least has few teachers on the unemployment line.

CNN Money, Sept. 20