U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced education stimulus funding for Maryland amounting to more than $589 million is now available. The funds are aimed at laying the foundation for education reform and to save thousands of teaching jobs which have been at risk due to budget cuts at the state and local level.

"The $589 million Maryland will receive today is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history," said Duncan.
The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed passed earlier this year. Maryland will be eligible to apply for another $290 million this fall.

Maryland had to provide the federal government with various assurances that it will keep track of the funds and how they are used in order to receive the money. The government wants the state to collect, and make available data about the schools, teachers and students and how well they are faring academically. It will also have to report the number of jobs saved through this funding and the amount of local and state tax increases were avoided by taking this money.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are almost 6 million teachers - from preschool through post-secondary education - in the U.S.