Representatives of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) updated lawmakers on how federal COVID-19 relief dollars are being spent during a Kentucky House of Representatives Budget Review Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 28.
Federal COVID-19 relief funds are bringing more than $3 billion to Kentucky’s educational system, and can be used flexibly to offset learning loss, improve technology and cover pandemic-related expenses.
Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman awarded $15 million in grants to 150 local Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSCs) from the second round of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund 2 (GEER II).
The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has allocated $40,817,799 to Kentucky for emergency assistance to non-public schools in the state.
New federal legislation provides the largest discretionary K-12 funding in history, with new allowable uses and streamlined spending.
Interim Education Commissioner Kevin C. Brown told superintendents that guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education will provide “a framework” for scenarios that school districts might consider as they plan their calendars for the 2020-2021 school year.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) released a new guidance document May 12 about the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund to help districts decide how best to spend the funding designed to help districts respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.