Learning Point Associates

The Stabilization program is a new, one-time appropriation of approximately $48.6 billion that the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will award to Governors to help stabilize State and local budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential services. The Department is awarding SFSF funds in two phases. In Phase I, states submitted applications for approximately $36 billion. In Phase II, states will apply for the remaining roughly $12.6 billion.

SFSF Assurances

In exchange for these funds, a State must commit to advance essential education reform in four areas. These areas are referred to as the SFSF "assurances":

1. Making improvements in teacher effectiveness and equitable distribution of qualified teachers for all students, particularly students who are most in need;
2. Establishing pre-K-to-college-and-career data systems that track progress and foster continuous improvement;
3. Making progress toward rigorous college- and career-ready standards and assessments that are valid and reliable for all students, including limited English proficient students and students with disabilities; and
4. Providing targeted, intensive support and effective interventions for the lowest-performing schools.

General Information

• Awards, Allocation & Funding Information
• Spending Reports by Program: Program: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/spending/program.xls
• Fact Sheets and Guidance

  Proposed Guidance:

  • Proposed requirements, definitions, and approval criteria, Comments due August 28, 2009: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2009-3/072909e.pdf

    • ED Tables of Proposed Requirements (July 29, 2009), http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/prop-reqs-20090729.doc
    • Summary Prepared by the Great Lakes East and Great Lakes West Comprehensive Centers Operated by Learning Point Associates: Finalized, waiting to be posted

Fact Sheets:

• Phase I: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/stabilization-fund.html
• Phase II: http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/factsheet.html

 

• Guidance:
  • Guidance Modification: Funds Provided to Public Institutions of Higher Education for Student Financial Assistance Programs (July 6, 2009)
  • Guidance on Amending a State Application (June 24, 2009)MSWord (28K)
  • Modifications to Questions in the April 2009 Guidance on the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program, May 11, 2009
  • Guidance on the Maintenance-of-Effort Requirements in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program, May 1, 2009
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Using ARRA Funds to Drive School Reform and Improvement. Guidance on how to use the Title I, IDEA, and State Fiscal Stabilization Funds for lasting improvements in education April 24, 2009
  • Stabilization Fund Program, April 7, 2009
  • Clarifying Instructions Regarding Use of FY 2009 Prior-Enacted Levels of State Support , April 6, 2009
  • General Guidance MS Word (32K) | PDF (24K) MS Word (448K) | PDF (412K) Apr 1, 2009
• Webpage http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/index.html

Supporting Information

• State Applications and Approvals
• Events

  Education Stakeholders Forum August 4, 2009

  • Transcript http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/presentation/08042009-transcript.doc
  • Powerpoint Presentation http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/presentation/08042009-stakeholders.pdf
  • Video - Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtjUozOKOGM
  • Video -Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtOJ0ze0LmY
• Letters
  • April 1, 2009 Letter to Governors http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/090407.html
• Materials and Resources
  • U.S. Department of Education Program Plan, http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/program-plan&program_id=7631
• Speeches
  • Using data to inform instruction: Secretary Arne Duncan Addresses the Fourth Annual IES Research Conference (June 8, 2009)
  • Developing and adopting world-class standards and assessments: States Will Lead the Way Toward Reform: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the National Governors Association Education Symposium (June 14, 2009)
  • Turning around low-performing schools: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference (June 22, 2009)
  • Great teachers and leaders: Secretary Duncan Delivers Speech on Teacher Effectiveness and Equitable Distribution (July 2, 2009)

U.S. Department of Education Contact Information:

• Send questions to: State.Fiscal.Fund@ed.gov