LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — State education officials are requesting federal funds to help assist school districts during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is seeking $390 million in funding from a federal relief bill package that was passed in late March. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides $13.2 billion for K-12 schools impacted by the pandemic.
MDE has announced that it will be immediately applying for the relief, with the application released to the states on Friday, April 24th.
“These funds will be very helpful for local school districts to help meet the needs of students and staff during the pandemic, and we appreciate them as such,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice in a released statement.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSR) portion of the new law provides funding for school districts to boost sanitation efforts, provide technology for remote learning, and continue services like school meals and mental health resources.
Rice says that the ESSR funding will be used to further narrow the gap between districts with sufficient remote learning programs and those that lack internet access or the technology for online lessons.
Programs supported by the funding include sanitation training for school staff and measures to improve coordinated responses by districts and state agencies to prevent, prepare, and respond to any future pandemic.
MDE expects its application to be quickly approved and will be sharing guidance with local school districts in the next several days on the details of how they can apply for relief.
