White Papers
From Economic Stimulus to Education Stimulus
Maintaining a strong education system is a key to surviving and overcoming the recession. In his remarks to a joint session of Congress in February, 2009, President Obama observed that “In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite. The countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow.” The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) acknowledges this fact by including $100 billion in education aid. The ARRA is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the economy, create or save millions of jobs, and address long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. It is an historic, one-time investment to stimulate the economy and improve education.
This white paper explores the challenges of investing stimulus funds thoughtfully to maximize the impact on interventions that are sustainable after the ARRA funding expires. The white paper also focuses on how ENI and its products and services can assist districts and schools to integrate coherent improvement strategies aligned with the core reform goals.