Department of Education Announced Another Round of Education Grants

During this pandemic, there have been some major adjustments around education, especially on the part of students and parents. (Former) Secretary of Education Betsy DeVoss announced another round of COVID-related education grants to fill the gaps. This comes as students all over the country are struggling with adjustments including virtual learning.

Education Grants May Help Fill The Gap For Ensuring Students Can Stay In School Safely

But not all students are in virtual school. Students in several states are attending in-person schools, which means that those schools need the resources for students and staff. Ensuring that students and staff are safe from COVID-19 has to be a top priority for many of these institutions. The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, has two parts, of which the total amounts equal 4 billion in total support.

This is critical because so many students have been struggling, especially with virtual learning. There are major issues of connectivity and literacy rates dropping, which is incredibly troubling.

Secretary DeVoss Speaks On Grant Awards & Their Importance

Former Secretary DeVoss made this announcement, saying:

As I’ve said from the beginning of this pandemic, parents are counting on the strong and decisive state, local, and school leadership to ensure their students can continue to learn in ways that work for them.

While some state and local education leaders have risen to the occasion, far too many parents are frustrated by a stunning lack of access to in-person learning for their kids. Every governor needs to utilize these taxpayer funds to safely reopen schools and ensure all students have the option to learn in person if that is what they want or need.

The impact of school lockdowns has been disastrous for our students—especially those from low-income families. And, far too many private school students have suffered because interest groups, politicians, and lobbyists predictably played politics and protected their own lucrative gigs with taxpayer funding. I was pleased to see, this time around, that Congress finally acknowledged what this Administration has said all along: All students and all educators at all schools — private, parochial, and public — are affected by this pandemic, and they all need and deserve support for PPE, cleaning supplies, learning materials, and more

Here are some of the things that these education grants can be utilized for:

• Cleaning educational facilities.
• Obtaining personal protective equipment.
• Improving ventilation systems.
• Training and professional development to help educators implement new safety practices.
• Physical barriers to facilitate social distancing.
• Coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
• Educational technology.
• Redeveloping instructional plans.
• Leasing additional space to ensure safe social distancing.
• Transportation costs.
• Supports for remote and hybrid learning.
• Remediating learning loss.
• Reimbursement for many coronavirus-related costs

How Can Nonprofits Benefit From Applying For Education Grants:

These grants must be made available for governors for continued learning. But there are also many initiatives, projects, and programs that can be funded by education grants. Education grants can be used to fund all kinds of critical things. At GrantWatch we are proud to list education grants that help to better the world overall.

For example, we have a grant for Pennsylvania Organizations for Literacy and School Readiness Programs for Children in Grades K-3. Grants like this are incredibly important to ensuring better outcomes for students. Another grant listed is Nebraska nonprofits, agencies, and tribal groups for programming to prevent gun violence, also critically important. For those grants and more, check out our full listings at Grantwatch.com!