Baker-Polito Administration Allocates $50 Million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund to Schools and Colleges Across the Commonwealth
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today it will allocate more than $50 million in federal CARES Act funds to benefit education in elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. The funding from the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund will improve early literacy, expand remote learning opportunities, and cover costs associated with reopening certain schools and colleges, as well as boost financial aid for college students in greater need of financial assistance.As part of the federal CARES Act, governors in each state
were granted a share of discretionary dollars to ensure continuity of
educational services during the COVID-19 crisis. The Baker-Polito
Administration previously allocated nearly $1 billion in federal funds to help municipalities,
school districts, and colleges and universities in the Commonwealth address
COVID-related expenses.
The funding announced today will support the following
initiatives:
· Up to $10
million for early literacy programs that provide extra help to students through
Grade 3, aimed at remediating learning loss children may have experienced since
schools closed in March, as well as accelerate reading skills of children in
high-need communities;
· Up to $7.5
million to expand access to online courses, including advanced placement, early
college or dual enrollment courses;
· Up to $25
million to cover COVID-related expenses associated with reopening colleges and
universities, as well as certain non-public elementary and secondary schools.
Funds will be allocated based on the number and percentage of low-income
students these schools enroll;
· Up to
$2.5 million in financial aid for low-income college students attending public
colleges to ensure they can cover emergency expenses to continue their
education;
· And up
to $5 million set aside in an emergency reserve fund.
“Our administration is committed to supporting every
student in our schools as districts and universities prepare for the start of
the school year,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This $50 million
investment represents flexible funding that can be used for a variety
of critical resources for schools and colleges as they begin to reopen and
bring kids back into the classroom, especially in our most vulnerable
communities.”
“These additional resources will help us target funding
to support schools and colleges recover from effects of the pandemic,” said
Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration looks forward to our
continued collaboration with school officials statewide on how to best support
the safe return to classrooms this fall.”
“Besides supporting financial stability and continuity of
service in both K-12 and higher education, this plan will give more students
access to high-quality online learning opportunities,” said Education
Secretary James Peyser.
“We know districts will need more funding this year than
in a typical school year, and I am pleased to see this money added to the
financial support that is already on its way to districts,” said
Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.
“At a time of great uncertainty for those of us in higher
education, this investment in our public colleges and universities and most
especially, in our underserved students, will help ease the financial burdens
associated with COVID-19 and lay the groundwork for a productive fall
semester,” said Carlos E. Santiago, Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher
Education.
Funding announced today builds on the nearly $1 billion
previously allocated to schools, childcare programs, colleges, and
universities.
· In June, the
Baker-Polito Administration announced the allocation of approximately $200
million from the Commonwealth’s federal Coronavirus Relief Fund for costs
related to reopening public schools.
· Other funding
sources to support school reopening include:
$500 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund previously
allocated to cities and towns.
$194 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School
Emergency Relief Fund grants.
$45 million to support the reopening of childcare
programs serving low-income children.
$19 million for special education residential schools.
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