The U.S. Department of Education has approved New Jersey's application for $268 million for educators' salaries and benefits. The approval was a major step towards districts receiving money that will be distributed using a state formula. The money is to be used for a range of positions and benefits, including transportation or student loan reimbursements for teachers, librarians, coaches, custodians and other workers outside the superintendent's office. But the funding, part of a $26 billion stimulus package Congress passed last month to help states, is being billed as money that will help save up to 3,900 teachers' jobs.
