by Michele Catahay

Guam - Guam will receive $20 million from the federal government to support education jobs. According to a release from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan commends Guam for being one of the first to submit its application. DOE will be receiving these much needed funds in the next several days and will keep thousands of teachers in the classroom working with students this school year.

Over $10 billion in education funds will support education jobs for 2010 to 2011 nationwide. DOE Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood had said the money will not only cover teacher salaries, but support staff to help in the classrooms. This was part of a funding source the department was relying on to cover a shortfall they anticipated several months ago.

USDOE says over the last couple of years, they've been able to support 300,000 education jobs by this funding under the stimulus funds. The awarding of these dollars comes shortly after a contract was signed for a third-party fiduciary agent for DOE.

The agency will also have access to millions of dollars from the Consolidated Grant to cover multiple federal programs.