Education Covid-19 Updates
Education Department Provides American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds for Homeless Students
The Department of Education (DOE) has released an additional $600 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for states to apply for and use for students experiencing homelessness. These funds are the second disbursement of the $800 million approved under the American Rescue Plan Homeless Children and Youth Fund (ARP-HCY). The funds will be available before the 2021-2022 school year. More information about the ARP-HCY Fund can be found here.
$3 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds for Children with Disabilities Available
DOE has released over $3 billion in ARP funds for states to support infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The funds will help children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and adds to the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) allocation. The announcement can be found here. A fact sheet on IDEA funds can be found here.
DOE Announces Fiscal Waivers and Flexibility
DOE is offering waivers for state education agencies to request in response to difficulties created from the COVID-19 pandemic. DOE recognizes that obligating funds has been difficult as a result of the pandemic, and is allowing state educational agencies to carryover 15% of fiscal year 2020 Title 1, Part A funds. States may also utilize flexibility to extend fiscal year 2019 funds for programs included in the State’s consolidated plan, for both the state and subgrantees. DOE provided a template for flexibility requesters. More information can be found here.