Courtney Releases Projected Aid to Eastern Connecticut K-12 School Districts Under the House of Representatives’ American Rescue Plan
VERNON, CT – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, today released projected allocations that school districts in Connecticut's second Congressional district would receive under the American Rescue Plan—the long-awaited, comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill currently being negotiated in the House of Representatives. According to current estimates, eastern Connecticut schools could receive at least $128.4 million in American Rescue Plan grants for local education agencies (LEAs) that would be proportionally distributed.
"Teachers, principals, and local education leaders in every town in eastern Connecticut have expressed an urgent need for more resources to cope with the pandemic," Courtney said. "We've got to make sure our schools have the tools they need to open safely, and to stay open—our students can't afford to miss out on more in-person learning than they already have, and working families can't afford it either. Not a single school in eastern Connecticut should go without the support they need to do basic things like repair and upgrade ventilation systems, provide PPE for staff and students, and implement social distancing guidelines. The American Rescue Plan will put more resources in the toolboxes of our local schools so that teachers and students can return to class safely, and will bolster the national vaccination effort to ensure educators and other essential workers can receive the vaccine as soon as possible."
Today's announcement comes after Rep. Courtney and the Education and Labor Committee voted on February 10th to advance the committee's portion of the larger comprehensive relief package, which included urgent relief for students, schools, and childcare facilities nationwide. According to projections, the bill could provide Connecticut with an estimated $1.2 billion in relief funding for K-12 schools, and $371.4 million for institutions of higher education. The bill is also estimated to provide $277 million to support childcare centers throughout Connecticut, and more than $6.6 million in support for the state's Head Start programs.
Eastern Connecticut K-12 school districts are projected to receive an estimated $128 million. The funding would be distributed through the existing Title I education aid formula, and eligible for use in helping schools take steps recommended by the CDC to ensure students and educators can return to the classroom safely. Schools must reserve at least 20% of funding to address learning loss. Under current projections, the New London and Norwich School Districts would receive awards of $19.4 million, and $18.1 million, respectively. The Windham School District would receive more than $14.8 million, the Enfield School District would receive more than $7.8 million. Click here for a full list of projected funding allocations to local education agencies and school districts.
These estimates reflect the current version of the bill and could be subject to any changes as the bill is considered in Congress and final calculations once it is implemented in law.
This support would come in addition to the more than $59 million in federal funding for eastern Connecticut schools authorized byH.R. 133 through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program, which Courtney announced on February 1st. Courtney has worked to support eastern Connecticut schools throughout the pandemic—his bill to protect federal Impact Aid for public schools, particularly those in Ledyard and Groton, was signed into law on December 7, 2020. Of the more than 14,000 bills introduced to the House and Senate throughout the 116th Congress, Courtney's Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act was one of only 344 to be made law.
On February 15th, Courtney released the projected allocations that towns and cities in Connecticut's second Congressional district would receive under the American Rescue Plan. According to current estimates, eastern CT local governments could at least $167 million through the new relief package, in addition to over $100 million in aid designated for counties that would be proportionately distributed. Click here to read more.
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