1703 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311–1714 USA 1-703-578-9600 or 1-800-933-2723 1-703-575-5400 (fax) www.ascd.org

Our children are our nation’s most important resource and should therefore be one of our highest priorities. As educators, we’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating effects this economic recession has had on them. Shrinking state education budgets, local business closings, and falling property values jeopardize school resources. Additionally, the stress children experience when a parent loses a job, the bank forecloses on the family home, or food becomes scarce affects their ability to learn.

The federal government’s historic investments in education via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the stimulus package, is designed to generate economic activity to prevent further deterioration of the severely contracted U.S. economy.

On behalf of our members, which include local school superintendents, principals, and teachers, ASCD applauds the federal government’s recent investment in our education system. Research has proven that a thriving education system is integral to sustained, long-term economic recovery. Consistent, coordinated planning to ensur e that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged is imperative

to student achievement and is even more c ritical in times of economic stress.

With warmest personal regards,

Gene R. Carter, Ed.D.

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

For 65 years ASCD has been dedicated to helping educators

advance best practices and policies for the success of each learner. We know that navigating federal legislation,

researching grant deadlines, and making c ritical decisions about school improvements can be compl icated and time-consuming. This document will help you better

understand how to access and use the edu cation dollars the stimulus package provides and offer y ou additional resources to aid in your school improveme nt efforts.