Governor Rell: Stimulus Grants Available

Special Education Programs, Local School Budgets

Grants Range From $7.4 Million to $15,000

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is receiving $132 million in federal stimulus funds to distribute as grants to local school districts statewide for new and innovative strategies that improve special education services for students ages 3-21 and to help offset local special education and general education costs.

The Governor said school districts can begin applying immediately to the state Department of Education. Grants are expected to be awarded as early as July 2009.

“These funds address the critical special education needs in our schools and also will help put money back into local economies by hiring staff and purchasing new equipment,” Governor Rell said. “Municipalities and school districts are operating with bare-bones budget in this recession and these funds will certainly provide some relief without having to shift the burden to local taxpayers. The flexibility of these grants will allow most districts to use some of the funds to offset local costs in other education programs.”

The special education grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Education through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The funds will be awarded through a formula grant application administered by the state Department of Education. Grant amounts range from $7.4 million for Hartford to $15,000 for Union. (List of stimulus grant amounts for each municipality is attached).

Applications for the stimulus grants are due by July 1. State Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan said the department is providing statewide briefings for school officials to help them access this funding. The application and guidelines for the grant are posted on the state’s official stimulus Web site under “Funding Opportunities.” To access the site, visit www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link.