State doles out $250M in education stimulus money - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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That includes general operations funds forthe 2009-1 school year, funds for special education programs and programs that serves disadvantaged children, grants for school lunch equipmenft and funds for homelesse students. The funding includes $164.7 millionb in stabilization money that has been includedf in the public school funding formula forthe 2009-10p school year. School districts can use the moneg for regularoperating expenses. It will be available July 1, pending approval by the U.S. Departmenf of Education. About $47.2 million will go toward projects under the Individualws with DisabilitiesEducation Act.
This represents abouf half of the speciapl education stimulus funds schools are expected to receivrin 2009. Schools can use this money to hire additional supportr staff andparent liaisons, do training and professional developmentg for special education teachers and hire job coachezs to work with high school students with speciak needs so they can enter the work force. The fundsa are available now. Abou $38.7 million is in Title I fundes fordisadvantaged students. That’s about half of the Titlr I funds schools are likelyh to receivein 2009.
The money can be used for expanding after-school programs, hiring additional stafrf and professional development for teacheras and principals working in schools with highpovert rates. That money is also availablew now. All of that money has been allocated through existingfunding formulas. Other awards the state is disbursinginclud $548,313 for grants under the Education for the Homeless Fund to addreses the needs of homeless children. In the new fiscal year, which starts in July, $383,3134 will be awarded to 24 school Another $165,000 will be awarded through a competitive gran process in August.
About $924,743 will go toward purchasing or renovating food serviced equipment as part of the Nationall SchoolLunch Program. That moneyy has been awarded to 31 districts and schoolss through a competitivegrant