Some legislators have suggested that there is federal funding available that can be used as part of the MAEP appropriation. There is not. Legislators who advocate using federal dollars to fund the MAEP are referring to the Federal Education Jobs funding that was sent to school districts to help them pay teacher salaries for the current school year.
Federal regulations make it clear that states are not allowed to use the federal Education Jobs funding to increase the funds that a state could hold in reserve by supplanting state MAEP funds.
Page 6, section C-11 of the federal guidelines for the Education Jobs Fund states:
C-11. May a State use Ed Jobs funds to make payments into a “rainy day fund” or for debt reduction?
No. A State may not use program funds, directly or indirectly, to establish, restore, or supplement a rainy day fund, or to supplant State funds in a manner that has this effect. Furthermore, a State may not use program funds, directly or indirectly, to reduce or retire debt obligations incurred by the State or to supplant State funds in a manner that has this effect.
