Washington, D.C. (July 27, 2020) – The Council of Chief State School Officers released the following statement on the proposal for additional federal aid for K-12 education to aid schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic:
“We are pleased to see Congress taking action and moving forward to provide additional federal aid for schools. We appreciate that Leader McConnell is prioritizing K-12 education by proposing a $70 billion investment to help our nation’s youth weather the COVID-19 pandemic and continue their learning under very challenging circumstances,” said CCSSO Executive Director Carissa Moffat Miller. “However, we are deeply concerned that the bill would seek to tie much-needed assistance to a federal definition of school building reopening. Student health and safety is the most local of concerns. Education leaders at the state and local levels are working tirelessly to bring students back to the classroom, but will continue to prioritize the health and safety of students, teachers and their communities. It is important to know that nearly all schools will reopen in some way this fall, whether in person, remotely or a combination of both. Additional federal resources are critical to serve students in every learning environment, from necessary PPE and health and safety protocols for safe in-person instruction to broadband and connectivity in the home for successful remote learning. We urge members of Congress to work quickly to come to a bipartisan solution that meets the needs of students across communities in this country.”
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The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, Bureau of Indian Education, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.
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