91ÊÓƵ

Oregon public schools could be eligible for modernization and infrastructure improvement funds if President Obama’s American Jobs Act is approved by Congress.

According to a released today by the White House, Oregon K-12 public schools will be eligible for $253 million of the $25 billion set aside for improving public schools if the bill is passed as presented to Congress. Additionally, community colleges in Oregon would be eligible for $71.2 million.

White House officials estimate that this money could attract or retain as many as 3,300 jobs.

The money for K-12 schools would be allocated to the state once the bill is passed. The state Department of Education would then have until Sept. 30 to obligate those funds or they would be redistributed to other states.

Oregon would be required to direct half the funding to local school districts on a formula basis, and the other half through an application process in the most high-need districts, with a priority for rural districts.

The money for community colleges could only be used for repair, renovation or modernization of facilities used primarily for instruction and research.

Additionally, $10 billion of the $25 billion would be directed straight to the 100 largest high-need public school districts. No school districts in Oregon or Washington made that list.