Per a statement issued today by California Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell, the state will receive more than $1 billion in recovery funds for federal education programs, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed by President Obama in February. According to Superintendent O’Connell, “I have directed divisions with the California Department of Education to get these education recovery funds out to our schools as quickly as possible in order to save and create jobs, as well as improve student achievement.” The federal Title I funding supplements state and local funding for low-achieving children. Though state-level adjustments may be made, the Bear Valley Unified School District has thus far been allocated $232,865; O’Connell says that a second installment of these funds dedicated to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act program will be awarded in the fall. Adds O’Connell in his April statement, “President Obama recognizes that investing in education is a key way to rev up America’s economic engine. The severity of our state budget crisis has resulted in billions of dollars in cuts to California schools. This federal funding is vitally needed to help lessen the blow to public education.”