CLEVELAND — A group of superintendents is asking for more than $200 billion dollars in funding from the federal government to help local school systems. It’s a call after schools were forced to close and move to online classes.
Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, is among dozens of superintendents with the Council of the Great City Schools that support a call for additional funding which includes:
• $175 billion in Educational Stabilization Funds distributed to the local level through the Title I formula
• $13 billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• $12 billion in additional Title I program funding
• $2.0 billion for E-Rate, and emergency infrastructure funds that include public schools.
Gordon said more than one-third of students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District do not have access to internet service. He said the switch to online learning has led to challenges and increased the need for resources to help adapt.
The initial allocation of funds would help with unexpected costs associated with meal services and transitioning into digital classrooms.
If needed, the funds would also help to transition students back in the classroom with a modified structure that could include split days to reduce the amount of students in classrooms to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
You can read the letter that the Council of Great City Schools sent to Congressional leaders below:
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