American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Education

Purpose of ARRA

The overall goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) are to stimulate the economy in the short-term and invest in education and other essential public services to ensure the long-term economic health of our nation. The ARRA provides approximately $100 billion for education, creating an historic opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of jobs, support states and school districts, and advance reforms and improvements that will create long-lasting results for our students and our nation including early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education. This historic infusion of funds is temporary. Depending on the program, these funds are available for only two to three years. These funds should be invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires.