Federal education jobs money

An excellent illustration of not counting chickens...
The state informed districts of the allocation of the federal "edujobs" money yesterday. The state had the choice of allocating the money according to the federal Title 1 rules or to the state's formula (Ch. 70, in the case of Massachusetts). As I mentioned below, either allocation privileges some districts over others; for Worcester, allocation by Title 1 would be advantageous.
The Governor went with Ch. 70.
A few things of note:

• the state is first making up for the 4% Ch. 70 cut made to many districts this spring. Any district that would be cut below foundation did not receive this cut, Worcester included. This should be a help for the districts that did, 'though the last week of August is rather late to do much for this year.
• the state is taking back $54.6 million that it had allocated to districts of federal stimulus money, and replacing it with this money instead. Thus, Worcester is losing $2.7 million in stimulus money and having it replaced by these funds. Keep that mind when totals starts flying around!
• the state is funding Ch. 70 aid at $25 a pupil. This will get Worcester $1.9 million.
• "State guidance reminds districts that the primary purpose of the Education Jobs program is to allow local school districts to retain existing employees, to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees for the 2010-11 school year" says Superintendent Boone. It thus isn't to be used for textbooks, computers, repaving, or pay raises.
  

In total, Worcester will receive $4.6 million in funding, but count only $1.9 million of that as new money. For a complete list, district by district, see here.
The recommendation of the administration--and you'll agree if you remember slide after slide of the FY12 funding cliff!--is that the money be retained for the projected $10-20 million budget gap in FY12, particularly as "We anticipate that all licensed, contracted teachers will be recalled through attrition or through the addition of staff at the secondary schools."