If the $819 billion economic stimulus package passes through Congress, it could mean $120 billion for state education budgets. This is exactly what a sick economy needs, according to U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. The goal is to reform education.

According to the Washington Post, the stimulus money from the House version would be used to renovate classrooms, keep teachers in their classrooms, pay for charter school facilities and state data systems, and fund teacher bonuses tied to student performance.

This doesn’t sound too bad, considering the budget cuts against which educators continue to struggle. 

Of those federal funds, Duncan is proposing $15 billion be turned into state incentive grants to those states who boost achievement. We think it’s best for Washington’s 1.1 million public school students to go after those funds. However, our track record isn’t that great in this respect. Last year Washington walked away from a $13.2 million NMSI grant that was to strengthen math and science A.P. courses. So, what will Wash. do this time around if another grant to improve our schools is on the table? Hopefully not walk away. The schools that received the NMSI grant funds saw improvements, and walking away is a mistake.

The funds would supplement core funding and help students and teachers succeed in Washington. Let’s make sure we take action with these competitive grants. It could mean a more modernized teaching workforce, new approaches to teacher compensation, modernized charter schools, and improvements to math, science and engineering instruction.

All of these are necessary to ensure students receive a high quality education so they are prepared for college and work in a growing competitive global market. So, while the back and forth continues on the Senate floor, education dollars remain in question.