COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cutbacks are plaguing school districts everywhere in Ohio.
Extracurricular activities, bussing and even teaching positions are being eliminated due to severe budget gaps.
Today, the federal government announced $44 billion in stimulus money is now available for states and schools.
The Obama Administration says the money lays the foundation for education reform.
Ohio is scheduled to receive $1.4 billion to directly go into the state budget.
Governor Ted Strickland plans to create a new system of education with the money.
The plan includes making full-day kindergarten universal across all districts, ensuring smaller student-to-teacher ratios.
The new plan will also provide funding for more tutors and gifted education programs.
The state will also receive $933 million of Title One funding.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, the money must be spent on school issues related to poverty and on special education.
The state will pass out funds to districts based on applications and formulas.
The federal government will require states to report on their progress.
States must show improvements in the effectiveness of teachers and in the achievement of low-performing schools.
Only two-thirds of the State Stabilization funds were released Wednesday.
Later this year, states will have the chance to apply for the remaining of funds. Five billion dollars will also be awarded to states that are pursuing reforms most aggressively.
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