Michigan Schools to Receive More Federal EduJobs Funds For Teachers

Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Communications (517) 241-4395

Agency: Education

March 16, 2012

LANSING - Michigan schools will receive an additional $22.2 million in federal Education Jobs funds in April, the Michigan Department of Education announced today.

The Education Jobs program provides essential resources to assist local public school districts and Public School Academies (PSAs) in saving or creating education jobs and helping to ensure that America's students are prepared to succeed in college and their career.

"High quality and professional educators are the foundation of a strong system of education, and Michigan schools have some of the best teachers in the world," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. "These additional funds can make a difference in maintaining top-notch educators in our neighborhood schools."

Michigan recently was awarded $4.7 million in supplemental federal funds under the Education Jobs Fund grant program, in addition to $17.5 million in initial EduJobs funds that are being re-allocated.

In August 2010, Michigan was awarded $318 million in the initial Education Jobs grant. Those funds were allocated to local public school districts and PSAs, based on a federally-prescribed funding formula.

According to the federal rules for that grant, the funds were to be used to pay salaries and benefits of employees hired directly by the school districts, PSAs, or Intermediate School Districts. These strict regulations prevented many PSAs from using the funds available to them, because some educators who work at PSAs are contracted, and not directly employed by the school. Those unused funds ($17.5 million) are being re-allocated to districts that can meet the federal requirement.