First round of stimulus money set to trickle in... with strings attached

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.funds27mar27,0,402569.story

The first round of federal education stimulus money, totaling $47 million in all, is set to roll into Maryland over the next three years. The funds are part of the School Improvement Grants, separate from the Race to the Top Grants, but drawn from the same stimulus pool of $3.5 billion. Maryland is one of the first 7 states to receive such grants, and the large majority of the funds will be funneled into Baltimore city ($30 million in all) where the highest concentration of failing schools exists.

Although the specifics have not yet been released (more information is set to be revealed at the April 13th board meeting, according to DCOS Laura Weeldryer), the state's initial grant application did outline a protocol for the disbursal of funds according to a three tier system in order of highest need.

However, the funds will be tied down with some pretty significant strings. Weeldryer stated that the district intends to focus on only eight schools, which is the largest number they believe they can "affect dramatically with this infusion of money." If the funds are distributed equally between these eight schools, each will have $3.75 million dollars to spend over the next three years. While these eight schools were not named outright (only the five "first tier" schools were named) Weeldryer suggested that schools already showing some improvements are unlikely to receive any funds. They are primarily looking for a failing school which "doesn't have a plan and who needs the help"

The eight schools chosen to receive the funds will not have much say over how the funds are spent, as this will largely be dictated by "nonprofit operators" who will do the heavy lifting work of overhauling the schools. Schools who accept funding must agree to a federally approved overhaul plan, which could include converting to a charter school, zero-basing, or outright closure.