In the tussle over $14 billion in school construction funds, it appears that the compromise stimulus package will include $6 billion for school repair and modernization, according to the Associated Press .
Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa told reporters earlier today that money cut from the Senate’s version of the stimulus bill would be restored.
The reported amount is less than the $14 billion the House version included, but still more than the Senate’s version, which included nothing in that category.
Of course, a lot still needs to be worked out on this legislation, so stay tuned.
UPDATE 2: Alyson has confirmed the $6 billion in school modernization and repair funding with Sen. Harkin’s office. Also, she’s learned that the final deal is set to include $44 billion for state budget stabilization, which is down from the $79 billion in the House version.
UPDATE: Alyson reported in from Rep. George Miller’s press conference (in which New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein appeared) that the congressman also implied he was optimistic that the final version will include some money for state data systems and teacher incentive funds for alternative-pay programs. (The House set aside $250 million for data systems and $200 million for TIF.) He also indicated that the House may prevail in its stricter maintenance-of-effort requirements, which require states to use their own money up to certain levels before they use federal money for programs.