PUBLIC EDUCATION
Dr. Jane Rubenstein is the director of the Nye Early Childhood Center for Santa Fe Public Schools, which is supported in part with Recovery Act funds. New Mexico schools statewide will receive more than $94.5 million in special education funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Overview of Public Education Programs
A central goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to stabilize funding for public education.
Education is among the largest investments of New Mexico's share of Recovery Act funds, and this money is already flowing all over the state, in urban and rural New Mexico.
Current estimates show that public education will receive about $521 million in Recovery Act funds, including the Education Jobs Fund allocation.
The biggest part of this investment has gone into the state budget, where more than $260 million will go to classrooms and avoid deep cuts in schools and colleges. This money has already funded thousands of jobs, and created stability for New Mexico teachers and children in challenging times.
New Mexico is also expected to receive $64.9 million from the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which gave states a boost to help save teacher jobs.
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
New Mexico will receive more than $94.5 million in Recovery Act funds for programs through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B.
School districts have broad discretion within a federal program to determine how to best meet student needs.
Some projects or activities that have been supported by these funds include salaries and benefits for returning or new special education staff; extended special education services such as extended school year and tutorial services; professional development; data reporting enhancements; and coordinated early intervening services.
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECT
Recovery Act Funds Support Early Childhood Education in Santa Fe
Funding Recipient: Santa Fe Public Schools
Location: Santa Fe
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education
The Nye Early Childhood Center is a premier Santa Fe Public Schools preschool program which provides services for children who are 3-years-old (or will turn three during the school year), and 4 and 5-year-old children with disabilities. Students attend either morning or afternoon sessions Monday through Thursday during the academic year. The Nye staff is comprised of highly trained and certified educators, physical and occupational therapists and certified assistants. The center was designed for early childhood students with unique child-sized doors for each of the classrooms.
Recovery Act funds were used for program enhancements to the center and additional support services for children and families. Most noted is the addition of a program director for the center rather than the center being overseen by the elementary school principal. The new program director at Nye also serves as the assistant director for special education for early childhood services, including supervising the provision of services at the public preschool sites, Child Find and the Extended School Year program for preschool children.
Get more information on Nye Early Childhood Center and Santa Fe Public Schools »
