Gov. Phil Bredesen said today he won’t be happy if Tennessee is not eligible to receive $195.8 million in federal funds to save teaching jobs, money approved as part of a $26 billion package to help financially beleaguered states.
Bredesen said that “since we have not laid off teachers, we’re sitting here trying to struggle with whether we qualify for it. And if we don’t, I’ll be fairly irritated.”
He said states such as Tennessee “shouldn’t be punished for managing well” and protecting funding for K-12 education.
The federal legislation, given final approval by the U.S. House on Tuesday and signed into law by President Barack Obama, provides $10 billion to prevent education layoffs or rehire educators already let go as states and local governments seek to recover from the recession-beaten revenue shortfalls.
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is uncertain as well as to the impact on Georgia, a spokesman said Tuesday. Representatives of states in Washington are seeking clarification from U.S. Department of Education officials.