The CNMI has been approved to receive the monies for its compliance with the Maintenance of Effort, or MOE, requirement.
Joseph Conaty, director of the department’s Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs, broke the good news to the governor.
As part of the conditions of receiving the funding, Conaty said the CNMI must maintain its levels of state support for elementary and secondary education and for public higher education for each of fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011 atleast at the respective levels of such support for fiscal year 2006.
The MOE requirement applies to fiscal years 2010 and 2011 even if all of the funds are expended prior to those periods.
If the CNMI fails to meet the statutory MOE requirement, it must meet the criterion for a waiver, Conaty added.
Fitial said he was pleased to receive the funds.
“While the commonwealth continues to address these tough economic times, my administration fully supports such funding opportunities that will continue to benefit the education of the CNMI’s students,” he said.
