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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Kentucky to Receive Millions to Support Education, Teachers
FRANKFORT, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear announced today that he has submitted the state’s application for nearly $135 million in federal money to support education and teacher hiring.
President Obama signed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act in mid August, which includes $10 billion to support teacher hiring and retention and other educational support in the states.
“Despite the worst economic times in our recent history, we have been able to protect the primary funding formula for primary and secondary education from deep budget cuts,” said Gov. Beshear. “These funds were unexpected, and are one-time in nature, but will help school districts get through a tough year in which their local funds are not growing along with their expenses.”
Funds will flow directly to the school districts through the SEEK formula and must be used to retain, hire and rehire school personnel, including teachers. The funds may also be used to support related expenses that were in jeopardy because of funding pressures.
“Even with the protection of SEEK funding, school districts are struggling to maintain teaching positions and instructional programs,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “These federal funds will provide some much-needed temporary support for the state’s 174 school districts.”
Many states have had mass layoffs of teachers, have closed schools, and have made other deep budget cuts to education.
“We acted aggressively early in this financial crisis to both cut state spending and at the same time protect education from those cuts,” said Gov. Beshear. “So our schools haven’t faced the disastrous cuts inflicted on schools in some other states.”
In New Jersey, about 3,000 teachers were let go in May.
In Florida, about 550 teachers were let go this spring in Broward County Public Schools alone.
Illinois’ governor recommended an additional $70 million in education cuts on top of $241 million in previous cuts.
Georgia’s fiscal 2011 budget cuts schools and colleges by more than $600 million.
For those states, their share of the $10 billion Education Jobs Fund will be used to restore the cuts.
Gov. Beshear reminded school districts to be prudent. “I urge our schools to be cautious and conservative with these funds,” he said. “These funds will help the districts this fiscal year, but they will not be available next fiscal year, which will be more challenging than the current year from a funding perspective.”
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Education Jobs Fund Program Application
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