Connecticut Education Stimulus

Summary

Connecticut will receive education-related funding from the American Recovery and Reinvesting Act of 2009 (ARRA), through two principal avenues:

• $766 million to be distributed through the U.S. Department of Education.
• $541 million through the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds. These funds go directly to governors to use for what they determine to be "critical services", which can include funds to public colleges and universities and local school districts for financial aid and operating costs. Governors can also direct money from this fund to private colleges and universities in order to modernize facilities.

Connecticut Education Stimulus Breakdown

Higher Education Funds

The educational stimulus package includes a variety of higher education and vocational training funds and grants for Connecticut:

• An increase in 2009 Pell Grant funding of $49.6 million over 2008 funds. The 52,000 current Pell Grant recipients in Connecticut will receive an increase in the average award for the 2009-10 academic year from $3400 to $3,850.
• An additional $2.2 million for student financial assistance through grants to institutions to assist in the operation of work-study programs under the Higher Education Act.
• $133 million for Special Education Part B State Grants to help improve educational outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• $4.8 million in education technology funds to purchase up-to-date computers and software and provide professional development.
• $97.1 million for Title I Education for the Disadvantaged.

Connecticut's higher education students and institutions are also eligible to apply for the following grants funded by the stimulus package:

Community College and Career Training Grants

An institution in Connecticut is eligible for one grant, not to exceed $1,000,000, by demonstrating that it has worked with employers to identify shortcomings in existing training opportunities within the community.

Teacher Certification and Training

Teacher quality enhancement grants are available to Connecticut states and eligible partnerships on a competitive basis.

Education and Human Resources

Provides grants for Connecticut colleges and universities to attract math and science instructors, and grants to improve math and science in K-12 schools.

Health Professional Training Program

Provides funds for the National Health Services Corporation (NHSC), which recruits and trains health professionals to deliver health care in underserved communities in Connecticut.

Demonstration Program to Integrate Information Technology into Clinical Education

Provides grants to medical schools and medical related graduate schools to for demonstration projects and develop academic criteria integrating EHR technology in the clinical education of health professionals.

Education tax credits

The federal education stimulus package also includes the American Opportunity Tax Credit. This modifies the federal higher-education tax credit that was established in 1997, which benefited middle-income students by offsetting their tax liability. The new credit is “refundable.” Lower-income households in Connecticut that have limited or no federal income tax liability can now receive a partial credit in the form of a tax “refund" of up to 40 percent of qualifying expenses for a maximum refund of $1,000. This will potentially benefit 30,000 more students in Connecticut.

Stimulus Breakdown (2008 vs. 2009)

City Specific Data - Where the money is going

Bridgeport Replace Roofs At Bassick High School And The Maintenance Garage Bridgeport Replace Plumbing Fixtures And Mixing Valves In Winthrop, Bassick, Roosevelt, Whittier Schools. Bridgeport Columbus Energy Efficiency Renovations To Include Window Replacement And Hvac Upgrades Bridgeport Upgrade Hvac System To Include Energy Efficient Boilers And Air Handling Units. Schools Include Curiale, Central, Whittier, Sheridan, Marin, Park City, Jfk. Bridgeport Upgrade Electrical Systems To Meet Current Technology Requirements Within The Schools. School Include: Hallen, Longfellow, Madison Harding Wintrop, Blackham, Bearsdley, Whittier. Bridgeport Replace Doors And Windows. Existing Windows And Doors Need To Be Upgraded To Thermopane Units And Replace Old Corroded Doors At Blackrock, Blackham, Beardsley, Central, Cross, Harding, Hallen, Longfellow, Park City, Skane And Bassick Schools Bridgeport Replace Heating Controls Systems In Blackrock, Beardsley, Edison, Hallen, Blackham, Hooker, Jfk Campus High Horizon, Multi Cultural, Read, Roosevelt, Whittier And Wintrop Schools Bridgeport Columbus Ada Renovations. Renovate And Existing Elementary School To Meet Ada Code Requirements Bridgeport Auxiliary Classrooms At Central High School To Provide Additional Teaching Space To Meet The Accreditation Issues Within The High School. This Project Would Provide Relief From The Existing Over Crowding Situation Bridgeport Provide Local Funding To Construct A Discovery Magnet School. This Facility Is 70,000 Sf With 500 Students. This School Will Operate In Conjunction Witht He Discovery Museum. Bridgeport Provide Local Funding For The New 210,000 Sf Multi Magnet High School To Aid In Over Crowding And Provide A Facility That Is Environmentally Sound And Matches The Curriculum. The Curriculum Includes Infromation Technology, Zoology, And Aerospace Programs Danbury Replace Boiler - Danbury High School Danbury Replace Roof - Park Avenue School Danbury Science Labs Renovations - Danbury High Schools Enfield Enfield High School Fire Line Extension-Extension Of Exterior Fire Line To Replace Failed Line Under Building. Enfield Secondary Schools Parking Lot Improvements-Reconstruction Of The Three Secondary School Parking Lots, With Improved Drainage And Traffic Flow Meriden Replace Pools At City High Schools To Meet State Law. Incoporate Renewable Energy Technologies In Pool Reconstruction. Meriden Construct Building Addition At Hanover Elementary School To Accommodate All-Day Kindergarden. New Haven District-Wide Code Compliance And Accessibility Upgrades: Ada Accessibility Upgrade For Civil Rights Compliance At Several Schools, Including Restrooms, Counters, Ramps, Elevators, Labs, Signage, Doors And Swimming Pools. New Haven Davis Street School: Abate And Demolish The Existing Davis Street School And Construct A New Pre-K-8 School In Its Place. New School Building Would Use Highest Quality Energy Efficiency Measures Norwalk Repair And Modernize 10 Schools, Including Such Activities As Replacing Exterior Windows, Emergency Lighting, Exterior Doors And Frames, Boilers And Burners, Roofs, Pa Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Emergency Lighting, Installing New Ddc, Abs/Ems Stamford District Wide Electrical Stamford District Wide Technology Infrastructure Stamford Energy Conservation Projects Stamford Davenport Code/Renovation Stamford District Wide Boiler Projects Stamford Cloonan Renovations Stamford District Wide Paving Stamford Rippowam Center Code/Renovations Stamford Westhill High School Mechanical Upgrade Stamford Boyle Stadium Renovation Stamford Northeast Code/Renovation Stamford Modular Classroom Replacement Stamford System Wide Roofing Stamford District Wide Turf Field Stamford South End Charter School Stamford Springdale Expansion/Renovations Stamford System Wide Code Compliance Projects Stamford System Wide Iaq Projects Stamford Stamford High School Stratford School Capital Improvement Projects At 15 School Buildings Throughout The System. Includes Window And Panel Replacement To Improve Building Energy Efficiency, Roof And Masonry Repair, Ada Code Compliance. Waterbury Construction Of Two K-8 Elementary Schools In Cdbg Eligible Census Tracts As Part Of A Wider Neighborhood Revitalization West Hartford School Fire Safety Improvements West Hartford School Ventilation Improvements West Hartford School Fiber Optic Improvements