COVID-19 Update
Feds Release More Funds for Schools

The latest round of federal COVID-19 funding announcements (April 23) by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos reflects that Texas is on track to receive nearly $1.285 billion in emergency coronavirus relief funding out of the $13.5 billion allocated for this part of the program nationally. (See the expected state entitlements here.)

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) expects that about $1.157 billion of the funding to flow to Texas ISDs and charters via the TEA, based on charter and district Title I, Part A entitlements. The TEA must formally apply for the funds, using a streamlined application process.

A total of 10 percent of the funding can be used by each state’s education department for administrative purposes.

The USDE’s emergency relief grants to schools are a part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by the president (March 27) — and is in addition to the $307 million Texas is expected to receive under a provision in the $3 billion Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) portion of the act (see TEN, April 27).

According to a state-by-state analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, Texas could expect to receive $1.4 billion — about $265 per student — for K-12 schools specifically, when the just announced emergency relief funds plus the GEER grants are factored together, based on the expectation that half the GEER grants will go to

K-12 schools and the other half will be allocated to colleges and universities.

Some of the other provisions of the CARES Act include additional funding for child nutrition programs, for child development and Head Start programs, and additional funding to improve distance learning and broadband access.

In Other COVID-19 News

TEA’s Tips
TEA released an eight-point list of tips for schools to apply when allowing staff into school facilities as a result of the governor’s order (as reported in TEN, April 27) closing schools for in-person instruction the remainder of the school year.

Among other things, the guidance requires that if teachers have to enter school buildings, they must be alone in their classrooms, wear masks (or face coverings if masks are not available) and be pre-screened for abnormal temperatures and other signs of illness.

The Legislature
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed (April 24) six work groups of state senators to discuss the challenges the state will face in the next legislative session as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the working groups will examine COVID-19 issues related to public schools and higher education.

Meanwhile, the Texas Tribune reported (April 22) that House Speaker Dennis Bonnen wrote a memo to Patrick and Gov. Abbott suggesting that they engage in conversations about the state’s economic fallout due to the crisis, and indicated the House would like to discuss a directive to all state agencies to “immediately identify and execute 5 percent budgetary savings.”

Federal Funds Training
The governor announced (April 23) that the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will provide a series of free online trainings to help local governmental officials understand, acquire and administer federal assistance.

Extension agents will be available to assist local leaders with questions throughout the training and subsequent federal funding application process.

Polls
 Closing Texas public schools in response to the crisis has the overwhelming support (83 percent) of Texans, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll (April 26).

Meanwhile the Texas portion of a national poll conducted by the Niche.com school search website reflects that 63 percent of Texas students — and 70 percent of their parents — believe their school is handling the COVID-19 crisis well.

And, 43 percent of Texas high school students said they now plan to choose a college closer to home.

Also, only 12 percent of Texas high school students reported that online learning is as effective as in-person instruction.

The Niche.com survey included responses from 4,651 Texans.

College Student Aid Drive
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board launched (April 27) a campaign to raise $2 million for emergency aid to help college students impacted by the closure of their institutions. The Texas Emergency Aid Grant Program was launched with donations by two education-focus-ed organizations,

The Trellis Foundation and the Greater Texas Fund, with donations of $200,000 and $500,000 respectively.

The money will be used to provide block grants to public and private universities, with amounts depending on the institution’s size, to assist students with housing, food and other expenses.

The drive was started with the realization that the $1 billion Texas public and private colleges expect to receive in CARES Act funding — with half the money to be earmarked for grants to students for emergency expenses — won’t be enough to meet the needs of either COVID-19 impacted institutions or their students.