(Photo: MGN)BERLIN, Md.- More than $589 million in federal economic stimulus money is now available to fund Maryland school systems in financial need, according to U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil.
Schools across Maryland and the Eastern Shore have been reporting financial strain. Kratovil said the money will be used to help keep existing school programs alive.
"This isn't looking to really increase any programs. It's simply a stabilization fund to stablize what they have," Kratovil said. "And with a decrease in revenues, that's obviously been very, very difficult."
Kratovil said the money will be given to the state to allocate to school systems that show financial need.
Kratovil said with the funds, school systems will have to report how many jobs have been saved, how the money has been used to avoid an increase in taxes and how the funds are being spent.
The money will primarily go to special education, math and science programs.
"For children that have those certain special needs, and teachers that excel in that, this will protect their jobs and enable them with piece of mind to go and present those needs to children that need it," said Md. Delegate Jim Mathias.
Kratovil said more economic stimulus money could be available for state education in the fall.
