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Mass. Schools To Get $168M In Federal Stimulus Aid

Governor Deval Patrick has announced $168 million in federal stimulus dollars that will be directed at local school districts in Massachusetts.

Patrick proposes sending the money to 166 school districts to help avoid teacher layoffs, program cuts and even school closures. Those district are at risk of falling short of their so-called "foundation level" spending. That's essentially the minimum amount of money a district needs to spend to provide adequate education.

Speaking at an elementary school in Framingham, the governor said the federal money will help, but recognized that it won't solve all the state's education funding problems.

"It doesn't mean that public schools and public school officials are off the hook," Governor Patrick says. "All of us are still on the hook in terms of having to make some tough choices."

Some struggling districts including Boston won't be getting any of the money in the governor's proposal.

This program aired on March 19, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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