Local universities and colleges, like Kennesaw State University, are offering online courses targeted exclusively to educators. Best of all, the courses are conveniently online, typically last only 6 weeks, and are easy on your wallet [classes range from $139 to $179 with most classes costing only $139].

Here is just a sample of the classes available to you:

Understanding Adolescents

Solving Classroom Discipline Problems

Creating a Classroom Website

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 in the Classroom

Survival Kit for New Teachers

For a complete list of these courses, click here.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently stated:

“From the very beginning, we have made it clear that this education stimulus funding is intended to supplement local education dollars, not replace them.”

What does this mean for states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania who have been singled out for not correctly using the stimulus? According to the Associated Press, Duncan is in charge of $5 billion worth of stimulus grant money meant for school districts to adopt Obama-supported plans, including charter schools. And, Duncan alone has the power to distribute the funds to those school districts deemed worthy, and the accused states may be withheld incentive money.

But, who’s to blame for the lack of control over the stimulus? According to the Associated Press article, congress negated to establish hard rules on how to spend the money – a common theme of late.