While 325,000 education jobs nationwide have been reported created or saved because of the economic stimulus so far, Pennsylvania is reporting just 531 such jobs.

The comparatively small number is the result of only a small portion of the stimulus money earmarked for education in Pennsylvania being spent so far. That's at least in part because the state budget was approved more than three months late, holding up some federal dollars.

Now additional federal dollars are ready to flow.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it has approved Pennsylvania's application for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, making Pennsylvania the last state to win approval.

The federal department approved $1.4 billion in economic stimulus money. All except $346.8 million for government services will go for education. The state can apply for another $514.4 million later.

As part of its budget, Pennsylvania counted on that money for basic education subsidy to elementary and secondary schools as well as to help higher education.

State reports on stimulus spending were due last week, and Pennsylvania's report shows both the number of jobs as well as the vendors who received money for computers, software and other items.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan highlighted the nationwide job figures during a telephone news conference yesterday.

The numbers varied widely, from 80,363 in California to three in Wyoming. Some other states included New York, 28,558; New Jersey, 16,915; Ohio, 7,202; and West Virginia, 338.

In addition to the jobs saved, Mr. Duncan said 21 states reported that stimulus money helped to mitigate tuition increases.

"What we really tried to do was stave off an education catastrophe," said Mr. Duncan.

In filings with the federal government last week, Pennsylvania reported stimulus spending for education so far has taken place largely in two areas: Title 1, which is aimed at improving math and reading skills of low-income children, and special education.

The reports show that so far 482 jobs were been created via Title 1 and 49 in special education statewide.

Of Title 1 money, the state has received or invoiced from the federal government nearly $46.7 million of the expected $400.6 million, according to the report. The report accounted for the spending of nearly $8.2 million of the Title 1 money.

Schools have been cautioned to spend the money on one-time expenses because the money won't be ongoing.

The list of Title 1 vendors shows that much of the money has been spent for interactive white boards, software, computers, other technology, tutoring and professional development.

In Allegheny County, Fox Chapel Area spent $93,565 for site licenses and training for Point Click Learn, a software program designed to help students struggling in math and reading; Penn Hills spent $55,693 for Learning Lamp tutoring services for elementary children who were have difficulty in reading; and West Jefferson Hills spent $55,467 on interactive white boards and $26,985 on laptop computers.

Among those spending larger total amounts in the region is Hempfield Area, which spent a total of $287,222 on classroom computers, Lexia reading software and Fastt Math software.

Overall, about a quarter of the Title 1 money spent so far has gone to two vendors, CDW and Apple.

CDW -- or a variation such as CDW Government -- was listed 17 times for contracts totaling more than $1.2 million. The contract descriptions include interactive whiteboards, laptops, computers, projectors and other hardware.

Apple -- or a variation such as Apple Computer -- is listed seven times for contracts totaling more than $989,000.The descriptions include smartboards, student laptops, software, carts and site licenses.

Of the $427.2 million expected for special education, the report states that nearly $57.5 million has been received or invoiced from the federal government and about $11.8 million has been awarded to 33 vendors, all of them school districts or charter schools.

The largest amount was paid to Philadelphia, $6.9 million.

Pittsburgh is listed for three grants, totaling nearly $1.2 million.

Pittsburgh's uses include retaining special education teaching positions, hiring curriculum specialists to adapt the core curriculum for students with disabilities and hiring classroom staff to teach emotional support students returning to the district.

The state report can be found at www.recovery.state.pa.us.

Washington correspondent Daniel Malloy writes the "Pittsburgh On The Potomac" blog exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.