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President Obama recently signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which includes the largest ever one-time influx of federal education funding for our nation's schools. The stimulus bill includes approximately $130.24 billion in federal funds for education.
Schools and districts can use these funds to support language arts programs that address the funding criteria. Most of the funding will flow through three main streams in the coming months, using existing state and local formulas:
- $13 billion in additional Title I funding for local education agencies for schools that have high concentrations of students from families that live in poverty
- $11.7 billion of the $12.2 billion in additional IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding for special education programs
- $39.5 billion of the $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, aimed at preventing job loss and program cuts in state education
The table below describes the major funding categories and how funds can be used to purchase language arts and reading instructional materials and professional development.
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ARRA Funding Category / Estimated Funding for PreK–12
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Zaner-Bloser Programs That Can Be Purchased With These Funds
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Title I - Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Title I-A)
$10 billion
» $5 billion through the Targeted Grants formula (section 1125)
» $5 billion through the Education Finance Incentive Grants (EFIG) formula (section 1125a)
Title I - School Improvement Grants (Section 1003g)
$3 billion
These are grants to local education agencies (LEAs) with schools in school improvement, corrective action, and restructuring AYP categories.
To see a preliminary list of which districts will receive these Title I funds, go to ed.gov. |
* Leveled readers: ZB Literacy, Voices Reading
K–3 Leveled Readers
* Professional Development
* Reaching All Readers
* Read for Real
* Strategies for Writers
* Trio Books
* Voices Reading
* Word Wisdom
Many Zaner-Bloser programs can be used in before/after school and summer school settings:
* G.U.M. (Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics)
* Handwriting Helper Kit
* Let's Write
* Read for Real
* Voices Literature & Character Development
* Word Wisdom
Some Title I funds will be available for middle schools. The following Zaner-Bloser programs are available for one or more middle school grades (Grades 6–8):
* Handwriting for Middle School
* Read for Real
* Spelling Connections
* Strategies for Writers
* Voices Literature & Character Development
* Voices Reading
* Word Wisdom
The stimulus bill will also fund early childhood programs with this Title I money, which can support:
* On the Road to Writing and Reading
* Voices Literature & Character Development
* Voices PreK
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IDEA - Special Education (Part B)
$11.7 billion
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B Grants to States and Preschool Grants can be used to reimburse costs associated with staff, training, and resources needed to help children with disabilities improve their achievement on state-administered tests.
An additional $500 million is available under Part C for Infants and Families.
To see the estimated amount of IDEA funding that each district will receive, go to edlabor.house.gov. |
Any Zaner-Bloser program can be purchased with these funds, especially programs that address reading intervention, Tier 1 interventions (classroom-based), differentiated instruction, and test preparation, including the following:
* Activity Phonics
* Leveled readers: ZB Literacy, Voices Reading
K–3 Leveled Readers
* Phonics Intervention Kit
* Professional Development
* Reaching All Readers
* Trio Books
* Voices Reading
Students with motor and other disabilities who require special education for handwriting can benefit from:
* Handwriting for Middle School
* On the Road to Writing and Reading
* Zaner-Bloser Handwriting
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State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
$39.5 billion
Approximately $39.5 billion of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund is reserved for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. Funds received by LEAs can be spent for any purpose allowable under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Adult and Family Literacy Act, the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, or for modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities. |
All Zaner-Bloser programs address the criteria for funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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Head Start
$1 billion
Early Head Start
$1.1 billion
Grants will mostly be used to increase the number of seats for eligible low-income children. However, as with the Title I funds, there will be some discretion for how Head Start and childcare centers spend these funds. Funds will be allocated by competitive grants, with up to 10% available for "training and technical assistance" (professional development).
Child Care & Development Block Grants
$2 billion
These grants will be funded through the existing block grant process and will include $255 million to improve "quality of programs" (instructional materials and professional development). |
* On the Road to Writing and Reading
* Professional Development
* Voices Literature & Character Development (PreK)
* Voices PreK |
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| Contact your Zaner-Bloser Educational Sales Representative to discuss how our programs align with Title I, IDEA, and other federal funding. |