When it wasn't snowing, it was raining money on Capitol Hill last week. On the floor of the House of Representatives and in committee meetings in the Senate, an enormous and unprecedented economic stimulus package slipped through the legislative process at break-neck speed.

At an estimated cost of $819 billion, HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was debated by the House of Representatives, and, in spite of a personal lobbying blitz by President Obama himself and a constant barrage of dismal economic news, the bill passed on a partisan vote of 244 to 188. Not a single Republican voted in favor of the measure that included approximately $500 billion in tax cuts and $325 billion in new domestic spending.

The Senate will take up S. 336, a bill that shares a name with its House counterpart, and is similar, although not identical, to that chamber's approved tax and spend proposal. The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees developed this two-part measure, and both bills enjoyed limited Republican support. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have told their colleagues "no February recess" until the bill is complete, which so far has proven to be a powerful "stimulus" in and of itself.

Education advocates continue to pinch themselves to make sure the infusion of new funding promised in these proposals is real - $141 billion at last count. The lion's share is for Pell Grants, Title I, IDEA and school modernization, but other programs do get special attention. There is $1 billion in education technology funding, $100 million for teacher preparation programs, $2 billion for Head Start, $2 billion for the Child Care Block Grant, $490 million for Work Study and $61 million for the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

Although the new funding is eagerly anticipated, a lingering question is just how long this good fortune will last. The bill is designed as a stimulus for a stalled economy and a lifeline for state budgets in freefall. The money must be spent quickly and will be appropriated over a two-year period. Given the complexity of funding formulas and the accountability requirements in place, it will be challenging for states and school districts to get the dollars out the door quickly and spend the money wisely. It is the kind of challenge education advocates have always wished for. Let's hope at the end of the day the wish comes true.

On Jan. 29, the New America Foundation (NAF) held a briefing to introduce its new report, "Bridging The Gap: How to Strengthen the Pk-16 Pipeline to Improve College Readiness." NAF's MaryEllen McGuire opened the briefing with some report highlights. According to different studies cited in the report, of the 66 percent of high school graduates who go on to study at four-year post-secondary institutions, only around 34 percent of them finish high school with the skills necessary to succeed there. Further, more than 40 percent of incoming freshmen at public two-year colleges require some type of remediation. These statistics point to the need for the federal government to provide states with incentives to adopt national college and work-readiness standards in mathematics, science and language arts. The report also calls for federally mandated and funded high school graduation plans for all students. Additionally, the report recommends that federal funds be leveraged to identify college readiness programs that have proven effective and that more research be conducted on the effectiveness of current college remediation methods.

Michael Wotorson, executive director for the Campaign for High School Equity, endorsed the report findings. Wotorson explained that among other things, the Campaign for High School Equity is concerned with the quality and equity of education that students of color receive and that the solutions proposed will directly address that issue. Robert Templin Jr., president of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), also supports the report findings. Templin described a partnership program between NOVA and Northern Virginia high schools that has been achieving success in ensuring college-readiness. The NOVA "Pathway to Baccalaureate" provides 30 high schools with counselors who work with the teachers to identify students who need help in becoming college-ready by graduation. These students, who number more than 2,800, are counseled and provided with a highly structured curriculum to ensure they can be academically successful college freshmen.

PAES Holds First Working Group Meeting: On Jan. 26, the Partnership for America's Economic Success (PAES) held the first PAES/Invest in Kids Working Group meeting for 2009. The Working Group was created to explore issues and policies related to the economic benefits of investments in early childhood. During this meeting, the working group discussed federal investment in programs that serve children from before birth to five years old. Doug Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office and McCain presidential campaign chief economic advisor, briefly discussed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and how it makes investments in pre-kindergarten and early childhood programs. According to Holtz-Eakin, this stimulus package will invest approximately $145 billion in education programs. He encouraged education experts and congressional caucuses focusing on youth to convey to the Office of Management and Budget just how effective pre-K and early childhood programs are. William Bentley, chairman of the new Children's Leadership Council (CLC), also took time during this meeting to introduce and describe the recently formed CLC. Bentley described the CLC as a coalition of child advocates from 36 national policy and advocacy organizations committed to improving health, education and the well-being of children nationwide. This group of advocates formed to push for a stronger federal investment in America's youth, specifically calling for a greater investment in early diagnosis and treatment of children at risk for abuse, preventing school dropouts, ensuring all children have proper health care, providing early development and learning programs and providing economic support to families. Bentley noted that right now, the CLC is focused on generating public attention and support for a common children's agenda. More info.

Science And Technology Committee Holds Organizational Meeting: On Jan. 28, the House Science and Technology Committee held an organizational meeting to adopt the committee's rules, approve the committee oversight plan, and confirm the subcommittee chairs and membership. Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) was confirmed as the chair for the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education. Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), who chaired that panel in the 110th Congress, will now serve as the chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) will serve as the chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics; Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) was re-elected as chair of the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation; and Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) was re-elected as chair of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Also, during this meeting, Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-Texas) announced his commitment to ensuring the committee invests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels to ensure the future of American competitiveness in these fields. More info.