WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $2.8 million to Maine for construction and improvement projects at schools and to implement special academic programs, according to U.S. Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen.

The funds were included in the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act and can be used by qualifying school districts to offset interest on school renovation bonds. Baldacci and Allen said that funds “are vitally needed to improve Maine schools.”

“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Education will be making these funds available to Maine. This is a significant award; one that is needed to address deficiencies in school buildings throughout our state. These resources will go a long way toward helping local school districts initiate and complete needed repairs. This is good news for Maine’s students, teachers and school administrators, and we look forward to seeing the benefits that will come from this funding,” Baldacci and Allen said in a joint statement.

The representatives also announced support for legislation to expand federal efforts to make resources available to states for construction and renovation projects. The bill is H.R. 3320, and will increase affordability of modernization efforts and provide federal tax credits to cover the interest on a total of $19.4 billion in school repair bonds over the next two years.