UPDATE: Arlington Schools to Receive Nearly $500,000 in Federal Funds

Arlington Public Schools are slated to receive nearly $500,000 of the $204 million in federal Education Jobs Fund money designated to the state, according to the school department.

Earlier reports had the district receiving about $400,000, but school officials said Thursday that the district will actually take in $490,929 of the federal aid.

The School Committee is expected to discuss the new funds at its meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at Arlington High School.

Massachusetts was allocated $204 million from the $10 billion federal Education Jobs Fund, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama earlier this month. The funds, meant to preserve jobs for teachers and other school-based employees, were then distributed among the state's school districts using the state's education funding formula, according to the governor's office.

Gov. Deval Patrick announced the specific allotments Wednesday at Normandin Middle School in New Bedford, a city expected to save 82 teaching positions through recent state and federal funding.

"Great schools are the key to our future," he said at the press conference, "and great teachers are the key to great schools. With this significant infusion of funds, we are building a better, stronger future for our kids, our communities and our Commonwealth."

The new funding should support approximately 2,700 teaching positions statewide.

The news comes a day after the state announced that Massachusetts secured $250 million in federal Race to the Top dollars. Overall, a combination of state and federal funds totaling $4.07 billion will ensure that all school districts in the state will receive more state aid, at least $25 more per student, than they did last year, according to the governor's office.

Earlier this month, Arlington also received a $999,990 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Teaching American History Grants Program. The federal grant will go toward intensive professional development for American history teachers in town, according to the district.