HOW THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS HELPING SCHOOLS REOPEN SAFELY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS;...! (4039 hits)
For Immediate Release From USDE!
COVID-19 has been devastating for students and families. Despite heroic work by educators, staff, and families, the pandemic has led to increased absences, interruptions in learning opportunities and outcomes, more hungry kids and families, and more social isolation. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequities for students from low-income backgrounds; Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American students; English learners; students with disabilities; students experiencing homelessness; and migratory students. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has launched an aggressive strategy to help schools reopen safely and equitably, maximize in-person instruction time, and address the academic, social, and emotional needs of students, including expanding opportunities for underserved students.
Tomorrow, the Department of Education is holding a National Safe School Reopening Summit, where school districts can learn virtually from one another on successful reopening strategies and how best to close gaps in educational opportunities as they reopen their doors and get students back in the classroom. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken several steps to advance the President’s goal of reopening the majority of K-8 schools within the first 100 days of his administration:
Invested $130 billion through the American Rescue Plan to help K-12 schools open quickly and safely, and serve all students.
The American Rescue Plan gives states and schools the resources and financial stability and certainty they need to close budget holes and avoid lay-offs, implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended mitigation strategies, and work to close the gaps in opportunity that COVID-19 has expanded. The funds in the American Rescue Plan will enable schools to reopen safely and maintain safe in-person instruction; support students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs; and advance educational equity. Last week, the Department announced the amount of funding each state will receive from the nearly $122 billion American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds, and that those funds will begin to be distributed this month.
To make and keep our schools safe, funds can be used to implement COVID-19 mitigation strategies, hire custodians and nurses, provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staff and students who need it, improve ventilation, and invest in other strategies to keep students and staff safe.
The American Rescue Plan goes further by ensuring schools have the resources they need to address the academic, social and emotional needs of students, particularly for underserved students and those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, students experiencing homelessness, migratory students, and students with inadequate access to technology. Resources can be used to hire counselors; provide extended learning time, summer learning and enrichment programs, tutoring, and afterschool; and invest in other evidence-based strategies that accelerate learning while addressing the significant social and emotional needs of students.
Partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services to keep students, teachers, and school staff safe Released Volume 1 of the COVID-19 Handbook.
In February, the Department released Volume 1 of the COVID-19 Handbook, which provides educators and staff with practical examples, roadmaps, and tools to implement the CDC’s K-12 operational strategy for in-person learning, including the recommended five key mitigation
Webinar: Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 through Summer Learning and Enrichment.
Monday, March 29, 2021 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Please join the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety at WestEd for a virtual discussion on Addressing the Impact of COVID through Summer Learning and Enrichment.
Summer learning and enrichment programs can be beneficial in meeting the social, emotional, mental health and academic needs of students. The webinar is intended to elevate evidence-based components of high-quality summer learning and enrichment programs, describe how funds from American Rescue Plan can be used to support their design and implementation, and how these opportunities can be available this summer and beyond by building district capacity, including the role of philanthropy and community-based partners.
Registration:
We look forward to sharing this information with you and hope that you will share this invitation with your members and join us as well.
The Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety at WestEd has compiled resources to support states, districts, and schools as they serve students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center has also compiled resources to support schools in advancing racial justice and creating more equitable systems. To learn more, visit https://selcenter.wested.org/
