Community
HISD Stimulus Package Information: Recovery and Reinvestment Act
COMMENTS and RESOURCES
HISD Resources:
NEW! HISD Stimulus Plan Overview (.pdf)
NEW! ARRA Board Workshop Presentation–September 10, 2009 (.pdf)
HISD Stimulus Action Plan (.pdf)
ARRA School Construction (.pdf)
ARRA Community Forum Slides (.pdf)
TEA Resources:
Stimulus Information from TEA Website
ARRA Intro Letter from TEA (.pdf)
Title I, IDEA Guidelines from TEA (.pdf)
U.S. DOE Resources:
Recovery Act Info from U.S. DOE
Policy Letter to States on NCLB
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Guidance (.pdf)
Fiscal Stabilization Letter to Governors (.pdf)
Title I Guidance (.pdf)
IDEA, Part B Guidance (.pdf)
Other Resources:
CGCS Statement on Stimulus (.pdf)
The economic stimulus package developed by Congress includes a strong focus on education. Signed into law in February, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will bring about $6 billion in new, one-time-only federal funding to Texas public schools. Actively involved in helping to shape the national initiative, the Houston Independent School District is committed to using its share of the stimulus funds to improve teaching and learning throughout the district.
Activities:
- As soon as the stimulus package was proposed, HISD developed an action plan on how the district could potentially use the funds to benefit students on the basis of data. Principals were involved in the design of the plan, which has also been discussed with the Board of Education and key communicators.
- A districtwide ad hoc stimulus committee was formed to inform stakeholders about the action plan. The committee consists of key administrators from all departments that could receive stimulus funds.
- HISD administrators and Board of Education members have met or communicated with state and federal leaders to outline HISD’s needs and goals and better understand how stimulus funds may be used. Meetings were held with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott (who had a stimulus meeting with President Obama), U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, and U.S. Representatives John Culberson, Al Green, Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Pete Olson.
Plans:
- HISD will adjust its action plan and continue to communicate with the board as the economic stimulus package’s guidelines, regulations, and details are modified and finalized.
- The district will meet with its parent and community-engagement committees to share information about the plan and solicit community input on the possible uses of the funds .
- School principals will work with potential service providers to facilitate and expedite the process of their working with the district to meet its specific needs.
Because of their financial difficulties, some school districts plan to use their stimulus funds to avoid staff layoffs. Because HISD’s finances are strong, the nonrecurring funds represent an outstanding opportunity for innovation, intervention, and academic reinforcement and enhancement, and will be used exclusively to achieve the district’s number-one goal: Increase Student Achievement.
Please note, questions included in comments will not be responded to individually—questions related to the Stimulus Package should be directed to info@houstonisd.org. All comments are welcome and are taken into consideration by those working closely with the issue. Also, comments that are off topic or that contain offensive language or are considered offensive, will be removed.
