About $28 million in federal education funds headed to First Coast

First Coast school districts are expecting about $28 million in federal education funds to try innovative programs starting in the 2011-12 school year.

But none of the participating First Coast school districts said the money they expect to receive will be enough to fully implement the initiatives.

Duval County Public Schools is expecting to receive $5.5 million to $6 million a year for four years. That will be more than $15 million a year short of what the district projects would be needed to satisfy the state’s vision.

In Duval, Pratt-Dannals said some of the money could also go to developing an urban academy to prepare educators teaching in urban environments. Ultimately the federal funds will be an asset, he said.

“I think it’s a positive thing,” he said. “I’m confident that we can move forward with this and it can be a helpful source of funds in order to get us where we want to go.”