The federal government released $1.8 billion in stimulus money for education to Florida on Monday, two weeks after the state applied for a waiver required because the state underfunded education in previous years.

''The $1.8 billion Florida will receive today is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history,'' U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. ``Florida can now utilize these funds to save jobs and lay the groundwork for a generation for education reform.''

Although the money is expected to plug holes in school-district budgets to save jobs, South Florida's school districts might still see layoffs.

'Contrary to all the rhetoric about `it's there to save all these layoffs,' the reality is it's going to help us have less layoffs,'' Broward Superintendent Jim Notter said.

The Broward Teachers Union has criticized that stance, saying the district could cut spending elsewhere before eliminating jobs.

In Miami-Dade, the stimulus money may help avoid or minimize layoffs, said Richard Hinds, the district's chief financial officer.

''It'll go a long way toward solving the problem, but it won't cure all of it,'' he said.

School districts won't be getting the funds directly from Washington. Florida lawmakers, confident the state would get the money, allocated funds to shore up the education portion of the 2009-10 budget the Legislature approved last week. That meant legislators could tout a small increase in per-student spending in Florida. But they reshuffled -- and reduced -- other pots of education money to do so, leaving school districts with less money than they had last year.

In addition to the $1.8 billion in so-called state stabilization funds, Florida has received almost $600 billion in education stimulus dollars -- including about half the money the federal government designated for low-income schools, programs for disadvantaged students and other grants.

Another $891 million in stabilization money will also become available this fall.

Gov. Charlie Crist and state Education Commissioner Eric Smith had faced criticism last month for waiting several weeks before sending in the waiver application, which the federal government had made available April 1.

Florida submitted its paperwork April 24, after receiving ''good guidance'' from the U.S. Department of Education, Crist said at the time.

To receive the funds, the state had to assure the federal government that it would closely track education statistics, including annual student improvements, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, and interventions in turning around underperforming schools.

Florida will also have to report how many jobs will be saved using the stimulus money, how the funds are used and what state and local tax increases are avoided because of the federal dollars.

Some members of Florida's Congressional delegation praised the release of the funding Monday, saying it would save thousands of at-risk teaching jobs.

''This funding will provide critical short-term support to local school systems and prevent thousands of teacher layoffs,'' said U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, a Boca Raton Democrat. ``It will also provide tangible, long-term benefits to our community by supporting strong schools and experienced teachers, which are critical to the future success of our children.''