RI to receive education funding

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal officials say Rhode Island will receive a $33 million grant to support state education jobs.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says in a statement released Wednesday that the money will "keep hundreds of teachers in the classroom" this academic year.

• Blog: Duncan celebrates RI not using $33M (Sept. 9)

Duncan says Rhode Island was one of the first states to seek a share of the $10 billion education fund used to aid jobs in school systems across the country.

He says the application was approved within a few days.

The money is distributed to states by a formula based on population figures.

States can distribute the money to school districts based on its own primary funding formula or their relative share of federal Title I funds targeting disadvantaged students.