Hawai'i's application for $129 million in federal education stimulus funds was approved by the U.S. Department of Education, federal officials said yesterday.

"The $129 million Hawai'i will receive today is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

"The president's leadership and support from Congress have made this historic investment possible. Hawai'i can now utilize these funds to save jobs and lay the groundwork for a generation of education reform."

Hawai'i will be eligible to apply for another $63 million this fall.

To receive the funds, Hawai'i officials provided assurances that the state will collect, publish, analyze and act on basic information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps and interventions in turning around underperforming schools, according to the announcement.

Hawai'i is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted and how funds are used.