IDEA Money Watch
Quick Links
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Recovery Act ResourcesSTAR Coalition (States for a Transparent and Accountability Recovery): Find out what's happening in your state on Recovery Act accountability. Start here.
OMB Watch: On Dec. 3, OMB Watch released a beta version of a new database on FedSpending.org that gives the public improved access to and searchability of Recovery Act recipient report data.
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Government
Accountability Office (GAO)
Following the Money ...
The GAO's bimonthly reviews, Following the Money, examine how Recovery Act funds -- including IDEA funds -- are being spent and whether they are achieving the act's goals. Reviews focus on 16 states and the District of Columbia, which contain about 65 percent of the U.S. population and will receive about two-thirds of the grants funds available through the Recovery Act. More...
If you are in one of the following states, be sure to check out the GAO bimonthly reviews (April, July, September and December are available) and meet your GAO contact:
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Greetings!
IDEA Money Watch, a project of The Advocacy Institute, is keeping track of the use of $11.3 billion in federal IDEA Part B funds being provided to local school districts as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
All IDEA ARRA funds must be obligated by September 30, 2011. We've added a countdown to our homepage...just 631 days remain!
Thanks for your interest in this project!
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The Balance Sheet
What 10 Months Have Taught Us
As we close out 2009, we paused to do some stocktaking...reflecting on all that has happened since the passage of the Recovery Act in February 2009 and what the past 10 months have taught us.
If you are new to IDEA Money Watch, this trip down memory lane will provide lots of background and links to more information. If you've been with us since the beginning, it's a quick reminder of all that has transpired. Either way, we hope you'll find What 10 Months Have Taught Us a good read...
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Wall Street Journal Reports on IDEA Recovery Act Funds
School Districts Shift Millions of Dollars to General Needs After Getting Stimulus Cash The January 6, 2010 issue of the Wall Street Journal carried a story detailing how millions of IDEA Recovery Act funds are being used to offset reductions in local special education spending -- as allowed by an IDEA provision that was never intended for a situation like the one created by the large, one-time infusion of funds brought about by the Recovery Act.
IDEA Money Watch contributed to the WSJ story. Our chart of annual federal appropriations for IDEA is featured as well as a quote from Candace Cortiella, director of The Advocacy Institute - the not-for-profit organization that manages the IDEA Money Watch project. We are grateful to WSJ reporter, Anne Marie Chaker, and her editors at the paper who all felt this story was worth telling.
Be sure to check out the article before the link is disabled -- in about 6 days.
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GAO Study Reports on IDEA Recovery Act Issues
New Survey on Localities' Use of Funds and Efforts to Ensure Accountability
In December, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) - which is tracking Recovery Act activities in 16 states and the District of Columbia - released a report packed full of information about how districts are dealing with IDEA Recovery Act funds.
The report is LONG ... so if you want to jump right to the stuff about IDEA, go to pages 57-62. Some of the important findings are:
- Several states changed the criteria used to make LEA determinations -- resulting in many more LEAs as "eligible" to reduce local spending as a result of federal increases;
- An estimated 44 percent of LEAs plan to use the reduced local expenditure flexibility to decrease local spending on students with disabilities, although the percentages vary across states: from 14 percent in New York to 72 percent in Iowa. An estimated 48 percent of the largest LEAs planned to do so.
- 19 percent of LEAs said they planned to use over half of their IDEA Recovery Act funds on job retention.
- As of November 6, 2009, states covered by the survey had drawn down just 10 percent ($755 million) of IDEA Recovery Act funds.
Read the GAO Report for more information! And, if you are in one of the 16 states or the District of Columbia, check out the bi-monthly reports issued by the GAO - links appear at left.
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Dec. 25th Spending Report :: State Update
States report vast differences on "obligated" funds
The U.S.ED's latest report on Recovery Act funds "obligated" by LEAs goes from zero to 50 -- some jurisdictions (HI, OK) report as much as 50% of available IDEA Recovery Act funds already obligated, while others (DC, WY) report zero funds obligated. Across the states, the average is 14%. All Recovery Act funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2011. That's just 631 days away!
Find out where your state stands -- our state-by-state chart is here.
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IDEA Money Watch makes it easy ...
- Use our one-page information flier available here. Distribute it to parent groups, at conferences and meetings and reprint in newsletters;
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IDEA Money Watch relies on the support of dedicated parents and advocates across the country.
Please forward this message to friends and colleagues by using the "Forward email" link below. And please contact us if you would like to become part of our nationwide network!
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