Govenors to return unused funds in 2011...

How many states do you think will have unused money coming from the stabilization fund within two years?

Just in case...the following is from the department of education provisions:

(d) State Allocations. After carrying out subsections (a), (b), and (c), the Secretary
shall allocate the remaining funds made available to carry out this title to the States as
follows:
(1) 61 percent on the basis of their relative population of individuals aged 5 through 24.
(2) 39 percent on the basis of their relative total population.
(e) State Grants. From funds allocated under subsection (d), the Secretary shall
make grants to the Governor of each State.
(f) Reallocation. The Governor shall return to the Secretary any funds received undersubsection (e) that the Governor does not award as subgrants or otherwise commitwithin two years of receiving such funds, and the Secretary shall reallocate such funds tothe remaining States in accordance with subsection (d).

This is from the general overview from the department of education:

Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize the "funding cliff." ARRA represents a historic infusion of funds that is expected to be 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.

The allocations themselves are not intended to promote innovation as they are stop-gap measures to keep us from slipping backward because of funding. My optimistic side hopes these funds will create something innovative and sustainable. But, my cynicism leads me to think that special projects and already advantaged districts will be funded and rewarded. School districts that already have potential because of resources and potential ongoing resources will have the most to gain, and districts that struggle for resources and suffer more systemic economic problems will be left in the exact same place in three years.

Are there allocations for new schools, more charter and alternative schools? Are there incentives to actually reward innovation, and give innovation a chance to succeed?

Final thought from Obama's speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce regarding longer more time for children in school.

I am in favor of a full calendar academic year divided into four quarters with two week breaks in between. But, unless we use the time in school more wisely, more efficiently...it won't matter how many hours a day students spend in a building.

We were in a situation for a couple of years to be able to homeschool our children. We could accomplish in 2 hours what they spent the next year doing in a public school setting in 6 hours. Not because of poor teachers, but ineffecient and antiquated systems. Even our subject matter in many schools looks exactly the same as it did 20 years ago.

The larger the beurocracy, the less effecient the outcomes. If not funding for innovation and risk taking in education now, when?