Implementation of the CARES Act is happening quickly at Secretary DeVos’s request. Over $6 billion was made available to institutions of higher education to provide direct emergency cash grants to students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by COVID-19. Students may use these funds for course materials and technology, as well as food, housing, health care, and child care.
The CARES Act provides over $14 billion to support higher education students and institutions. Institutions will receive allocations and guidance for the institutional share of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund in the coming weeks.
Also this week, Secretary DeVos announced the next tranche of funding, making nearly $3 billion available to governors. The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund is a flexible emergency block grant designed to enable governors to decide how best to meet the needs of their students, schools (including charter schools and non-public schools), institutions of higher education, and other education-related organizations.
The Department will address the $13.5 billion in CARES Act funding for K-12 schools in the coming days.
Memos to be released on Monday, April 20:
NOTE: Memo 2020-059 was released to the public earlier today to allow for teacher planning and coordination.
