The economic recovery bill released Thursday by the House Democratic leadership would provide over $140 billion in much-needed funding for K-12 education, early childhood programs, and higher education.

“With our economy worsening by the day, bold and strategic investments are needed to jumpstart our economy and drive long-term growth and competitiveness,” said House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA). “This remarkable effort will get Americans back to work quickly, strengthen educational opportunities for our children, and fuel innovation. Together with President-Elect Obama, we are moving quickly to build a 21^st economy and strengthen our nation’s middle class.”

The bill would include the following for K-12 public schools:

• $14 billion for school renovation and modernization, including technology upgrades and energy efficiency improvements;
• $13 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to increase the federal share of mandatory special education costs;
• $13 billion for Title I under the No Child Left Behind Act;
• $1 billion for 21^st century classrooms, including computer and science labs and technology training for teachers;
• $250 million in competitive grants for states to design and develop statewide data systems that analyze individual student data;
• $200 million for the Teacher Incentive Fund, which provides funding for states and districts to reward teachers and principals for increases in student achievement, recruit effective teachers to the neediest schools, and create sustainable performance-based compensation systems;
• $100 million for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce; and
• $66 million for homeless education services.

To read the full text of the bill, go to: http://appropriations.house.gov/.

The House Appropriations Committee will mark up the legislation on January 21, and House Democrats hope to send a final bill for the president’s signature by mid-February. The Senate Appropriations Committee is also expected to release its own draft bill this week.