The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provide impact aid grants that are designed to stimulate the economy and jump start school reform efforts. The ARRA grants are one-time school improvement grants that improve teaching and learning by saving and creating teacher jobs, repairing school facilities and by infusing technology upgrades in our classrooms such as computers, smart boards, etc. for student and teacher use both at school and at home.

The Education Stabilization Fund as developed by the PSS at $32.3 million for the PSS and $4 million for the NMC for a total of $36.3 million is the largest federal grant ever received in the CNMI. The PSS share of the grant, $32.3 million, is being used for the following purposes:

1. $14.9 million to support 180 teaching staff across two years;
2. $11.7 million for repairs, renovations and school modernization;
3. $  2.5 million for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs;
4. $  1.8 million for Utilities;
5. $  1.7 million for the one laptop per child initiative;
6. $    .7 million for program administration.

The ARRA Consolidated Grant at $3.6 million provides funding for a series of educational initiatives that PSS had wanted to undertake for years but had not due to a lack of funding. The educational initiatives are as follows:

1. Turning around the five lowest performing schools at $610,000;
2. Support for schools showing growth in student achievement but still needing additional support                                        $391,000;
3. Summer seminars for teachers                                    $946,000;
4. School leadership improvement program                    $264,800;
5. Network Upgrades                                                     $190,000;
6. Teacher Academy Program                                         $135,000;
7. Parental Involvement                                                  $100,000;
8. Summer Reading Program                                          $120,000;
9. Central Electronic Archive                                         $100,000.

The Federal Transit ARRA grants provide $1.1 million for the renovation of the Bus Depot and Warehouse at lower Base.

The Head start ARRA grants at $205,290 provide college courses and cost of living adjustments (COLA) for our Head Start staff.

The Special Education Part B ARRA grant at $174,906 provides funding for SPED teachers to get MA degrees.

The Special Education Part C grant at $16,323 provides for training for teachers and support staff working with infants and toddlers;

The TEFAP ARRA in the amount of $19,851 provides support for Head Start parents.

Total ARRA grants received by the PSS  $39,558,384