The state education department knows Missouri will get about 189-million dollars for schools from the jobs act passed by Congests this week. But that’s about all they know.

School budgets have been adopted for several weeks. Employment decisions have been made. Classes begin soon. And now, K-12 education is going to get 189-million federal dollars.

State Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro can’t tell districts when they’ll get some of this money, or how much, or how they’ll be able to use it. She thinks school districts are grateful that Congress and the White House had recognized districts need help meeting their needs even if the new stabilization funding does not make up; for all of the money that has been cut from education in the last few years.

Supporters in Washington say a big part of the funding is to retain or rehire teachers. But NiCastro doesn’t know how that will play out because she has seen no guidelines yet from Washington. But she thinks there’s time to get that guidance because districts are unlikely to have made budget decisions based on passage of the bill.

Chris Nicastro talks it over with Bob Priddy 3:54 mp3