Stimulus Dollars Cleared for California

Washington

Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday released nearly $4 billion to California, the first state to benefit from a special fund for states that was created by the economic stimulus law.

Duncan said the money will "save jobs and lay the groundwork for a generation of education reform."

The fund will replenish state budgets that have been cut or threatened because of the recession. Most of the money is intended for schools, since education accounts for a big share of state spending. President Barack Obama promises it will rescue hundreds of...