Burns urges local school districts to apply for share of $523 million COVID emergency funding
Funding can be used for a wide range of purposes including technology, food, summer programs
Rep. Frank Burns May 13, 2020 | 4:01 PM
EBENSBURG, May 13 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today is urging local school districts to apply for their share of $523 million in emergency school funding that was recently approved by the federal government for Pennsylvania.
“The federal government has earmarked this money for Pennsylvania, but it’s still up to our local school districts to apply,”’ Burns said. “That’s why I’m trying to get the word out to administrators and officials, to make sure they don’t miss out on this chance to secure vital school funding.”
Under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, at least 90 percent, or $471 million, of the funds will flow through to traditional public schools and charter schools. Each entity will receive an amount proportional to federal Title I-A funds received in 2019 under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Schools may use the funding for a wide range of purposes, including food service, professional training, technology purchases, sanitization and cleaning supplies, summer and after-school programs, and mental health supports. Funds must be used by September 2022.
A full list of how much funding each school district is eligible to receive can be found here.
“As we begin to emerge from the shadow of the coronavirus, we’re going to need all of our resources to get our communities and schools back to normal,” Burns said. “This is an excellent chance to secure some funding for our schools to help make sure our students aren’t left behind.”