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When President Obama first signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), he took much criticism for spending more money--$787 billion more--when the nation was reeling from decades-old debt, a more than 9 percent unemployment rate and a mortgage crisis. But this measure has allowed public school district leaders to invest in cost-effective, energy-efficient facilities projects faster than they would have if they didn't have the federal funds. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ARRA offered unprecedented opportunities for state and local governments to reduce energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs through implementing clean energy programs. At least $33.6 billion has been broken up and allocated to various departments and agencies to dole out to states, which in turn have filtered the money to various school districts to renovate or build new facilities, according to the 21st Century School Fund, a nonprofit organization designed to improve urban public school facilities. Some of the funds have been allocated for Qualified School Construction Bonds, which allow districts to borrow money at low or zero interest, saving millions of dollars. This article provides a more in-depth view of some of those projects.