RALEIGH, N.C. – The State Board of Education Wednesday approved emergency rules implementing Gov. Bev Perdue’s directive to give public school systems greater flexibility to preserve teacher jobs and protect classrooms using federal recovery and state funds.

“I understand superintendents across North Carolina are facing tough budget decisions,” Perdue said. “My goal is to give them as many tools as possible to keep teachers in our classrooms, including the flexibility they need to maximize use of federal recovery funds.”

The policy allows public school systems more flexibility to shift state funds to make best use of resources from state, local and federal sources — including recovery money — for classroom instruction and activities.

It also institutes monthly reporting on types of jobs created and saved by public school systems using federal recovery funds.

Over the next two years, public school systems will directly receive $579 million in federal recovery funds and may be eligible for additional money from competitive grants.