Pennsylvanians will have an additional $3.6 billion to spend on education over the next two years or so.

"We know there's a need for the stimulus funding, and we're glad it's going to be coming our way," said Michael Race, spokesman for the state Education Department. "In terms of mechanisms and details, we're trying to sort through that like anybody else."

The $3.597 billion total was calculated by the National Education Association and includes money that goes to the state and schools as well as Pell grants, which go to college students with a certain amount of financial need.

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WEB LINKS

• PDF: Allocations for Pennsylvania
• By state: How school districts will benefit

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According to the Congressional Research Service, the estimated additional money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment bill includes:

• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, $53.6 billion nationwide, $1.9 billion for Pennsylvania. Most of the money will be allocated to local school districts using existing formulas to prevent cutbacks and layoffs, modernize schools or other purposes. Some of the money is for bonus grants for meeting performance measures, while another portion can be used for high priority needs, such as public safety and education.

• Title 1, which provides reading and math instruction for low-income students, $10 billion nationwide, $402.9 million in Pennsylvania.

• Special education, $11.3 billion nationwide, $426.6 million in Pennsylvania.

• College affordability, $17 billion to increase Pell grants by $500 per eligible student and $15 billion in tax credits for college costs nationwide. The National Education Association estimates $589.5 million in additional Pell grants will go to Pennsylvania students.

Other programs are getting extra money as well, including Head Start; child care and development; and some education reforms.

All told, the bill contains more than $115 billion in new education funding nationwide, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

Mr. Duncan, who was hoping the bill will be signed by President Barack Obama on Monday, said the money will be sent to states and schools as soon as possible.

The stimulus bill runs hundreds of pages, and government analysts as well as observers are still trying to figure out all of its implications.

During the negotiations over the House and Senate versions, money designated for new construction was removed. Now, capital money is aimed at modernization, renovation and repair, which often is less costly and quicker than constructing new buildings.

The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund was as high as $79 billion in the U.S. House version, fell to $39 billion in the Senate and ended up at $53.6 billion, according to a National Education Association analysis.

The House voted to approve the bill yesterday

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said he was pleased that the conference committee package included significant increases for Title I, special education and the Teacher Incentive Fund, which provided a grant for an incentive pay program for the district's principals.

"This is unexpected," he said.

A Congressional Research Service analysis estimates Pittsburgh Public Schools will receive $17.7 million more for Title 1 and $10.2 million more for special education. A link to estimates of Title 1 and special education money for other districts can be found at post-gazette.com.

Mr. Roosevelt noted that the conference committee bill also includes some money for capital projects.

"One can always whine and say it could have been more, but I'm really grateful," he said.

Kenn Marshall, spokesman for the state System of Higher Education, which includes 14 public universities, said officials haven't seen the specific language, but he noted, "We're encouraged that there's some additional support for students in there with increases in the Pell grant and increases in the college tax credit. There's a possibility we could receive some money for capital and operational funding as well."