Federal funds from the economic stimulus bill helped save teaching jobs at two-thirds of all school districts, but most of these districts plan to lay off teachers this coming school year.

That's according to a survey conducted by the Center on Education Policy. It found that 75 percent of school districts that received funds from the stimulus bill's State Fiscal Stabilization Fund expect to lay off teachers in the 2010-11 school year because of budget shortfalls. School districts already have spent much of their stimulus funds.

Nearly half of all the school districts that received stimulus funds had to reduce their teaching staffs this year because of local budget cuts, according to the survey.

"Unless additional recovery money is provided, the education jobs crisis that had been averted to some extent this year may emerge in full force in the coming school year," said Jack Jennings, president and CEO of the Center on Education Policy.

This "could undermine progress in school reform," he said.

Funds commercialize clean-energy technology

The Department of Energy plans to spend $30 million in economic stimulus funds to help small businesses commercialize new clean-energy technologies.

To be eligible, small businesses must have previously been awarded Phase II grants in the agency's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. This is the first time the agency will award money for Phase III projects, the stage where a promising technology becomes a commercial product.

"Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean-energy economy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "By helping America's small businesses bring these innovative technologies to market, we will spur economic growth and help reduce the country's energy use."

The deadline for applications is Aug. 4. Winners will receive up to $3 million over three years.

Grant expands digital services for the deaf

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded a $15 million economic stimulus grant to Communication Service for the Deaf Inc. for expanded digital services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The nonprofit organization will provide discounted broadband service, specialized computers, customized technology training and public access to videophones at community centers across the country.

Kent Hoover is Washington bureau chief for American City Business Journals. E-mail: Federal funds from the economic stimulus bill helped save teaching jobs at two-thirds of all school districts, but most of these districts plan to lay off teachers this coming school year.

That’s according to a survey conducted by the Center on Education Policy. It found that 75 percent of school districts that received funds from the stimulus bill’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund expect to lay off teachers in the 2010-11 school year because of budget shortfalls. School districts already have spent much of their stimulus funds.

Nearly half of all the school districts that received stimulus funds had to reduce their teaching staffs this year because of local budget cuts, according to the survey.

“Unless additional recovery money is provided, the education jobs crisis that had been averted to some extent this year may emerge in full force in the coming school year,” said Jack Jennings, president and CEO of the Center on Education Policy.

This “could undermine progress in school reform,” he said.

The Department of Energy plans to spend $30 million in economic stimulus funds to help small businesses commercialize new clean-energy technologies.

To be eligible, small businesses must have previously been awarded Phase II grants in the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. This is the first time the agency will award money for Phase III projects, the stage where a promising technology becomes a commercial product.

“Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean-energy economy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “By helping America’s small businesses bring these innovative technologies to market, we will spur economic growth and help reduce the country’s energy use.”

The deadline for applications is Aug. 4. Winners will receive up to $3 million over three years.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded a $15 million economic stimulus grant to Communication Service for the Deaf Inc. for expanded digital services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The nonprofit organization will provide discounted broadband service, specialized computers, customized technology training and public access to videophones at community centers across the country.

Kent Hoover is Washington bureau chief for American City Business Journals. E-mail: khoover@bizjournals.com