Stimulus funds for schools will be available in 30 to 45 days

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says nearly $44 billion in federal stimulus aid to schools will be available to states in the next 30 to 45 days -- soon enough, education officials hope, to prevent hundreds of thousands of layoffs and program cuts nationwide. An additional $49 billion will be distributed within six months. Duncan released a series of funding guidelines that had been eagerly awaited by states and school systems. Read The Washington Post article.