President Joe Biden used his executive powers to direct the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to collect national data on school closings and provide guidance on reopening.
CNBC reports that the executive order, “Supporting the reopening and continued operation of schools and early childhood education providers”, also encourages the Federal Communications Commission to improve Internet connectivity “for students who do not have reliable home broadband, so that can continue to learn if their schools are operating remotely. “
From the President The school reopening plan includes intensifying testing, accelerating the rate of vaccination and providing more resources for educational institutions.
In addition, a newly formed Covid response team “will work to ensure that test materials, contact tracking support and vaccinations for teachers are provided equitably to support in-person care and learning,” according to management. .
Under Biden’s plan, schools could obtain disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Covid-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, sanitation, improved ventilation, reconfigured classrooms and updated technology.
The president also asked Congress to provide at least $ 130 billion in dedicated school funding and $ 350 billion in state and local aid funds to help school districts close budget gaps and provide additional resources for the reopening.
Another $ 35 billion in emergency funds would be used to keep colleges open.
Vaccinating educators is also essential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prioritized teachers and school staff as “essential workers”, making them next in line to receive the vaccine.
Biden says he will try to speed up the launch of Covid vaccines, providing more funding for local and state officials, creating more vaccination sites and launching a national public education campaign.
New research indicates that distance learning has caused a significant setback in educational performance, especially among black and Hispanic students, as well as students with disabilities.
Distance learning also puts pressure on parents trying to reconcile work, day care and remote school.