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Florida is missing out on 3.4 billion federal stimulus dollars for cutting billions from education.

A “maintenance of effort” clause in the federal bill penalizes states where education funding fell below 2006 levels. Governor Charlie Crist sent a letter to the US Department of Education asking for a waiver. Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow said the state will have to answer for the cuts they’ve made to public schools.

“The maintenance of effort was put in there so that states like Florida, who cut their education budget, wouldn’t be rewarded for cutting their education budget by getting stimulus money. So I think that they’re going to have to answer some questions to the federal government as to why the budget was cut for education, particularly because we are not a generous state as far as education is concerned,” said Pudlow.

Crist met with US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan Sunday, to talk about waving the penalty.