Matzie: More than $12.6 million in CARES Act funding allocated to district schools to support ongoing learning

Allegheny County Delegation    January 15, 2021 | 5:23 PM

AMBRIDGE, Jan. 15 – Schools in the 16th Legislative District will be able to apply for approximately $12.62 million in federal CARES Act funding to ensure students have the resources they need to continue learning during the pandemic, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding to eight school districts in the district will help ensure schools have the resources they need to continue offering quality education.

“The pandemic’s economic impact has strained resources all around, and school districts are no exception,” Matzie said. “The districts have faced a ton of challenges, from providing safe on-site instruction to ensuring an effective remote curriculum, and I want to commend school officials and our dedicated teachers, aides and other school staff.

This funding is going to speed the resources to our districts they need to ensure our students are safe and do not fall behind.”

Matzie said the following funding is allocated:

  • Aliquippa School District – $4,032,121.
  • Ambridge Area School District – $2,297,093.
  • Baden Academy Charter School – $875,776.
  • Central Valley School District – $1,173,585.
  • Freedom Area School District – $1,096,991
  • Hopewell Area School District – $1,051,041.
  • Quaker Valley School District – $711,691.
  • Rochester Area School District – $1,376,975.

The funding is part of $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts and charter schools may use ESSER funding for food service, professional training, technology purchases, sanitization and cleaning supplies, summer and after-school programs, and mental health supports.

To promote equity, efficiency, transparency and local flexibility, PDE will administer 100% of ESSER II funding through the Federal Title I, Part A formula, which considers the number of low-income students served by school districts and charter schools. Each entity will receive an amount proportional to federal Title I, Part A funds received in the 2020 fiscal year under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Additional information about the funding is available here.