The U.S. Department of Education added a page to its website with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resources and updates for elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. You can access this information at www.ed.gov/coronavirus. The page will be continuously updated by the Department. Below are brief overviews of what can be found in some of the newest materials. Advance CTE will continue to share posts with a breakdown of the resources, so keep checking the blog!
Education Stabilization Fund Implementation
The recent stimulus legislation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) included more than $30 billion in funding to support K-12 and postsecondary programs and learners affected by Coronavirus. On Monday, the Department released a centralized page of resources related to administering these funds.
Last week, the Department unveiled guidance on disbursement of the first set of funds to help support postsecondary learners that have been affected by Coronavirus. It is expected that in the coming days and weeks, guidance on other funding provisions of the CARES Act will become available.
Updated Guidance for Interruption of Postsecondary Programs of Study
The Office of Postsecondary Education updated its COVID-19 FAQ and Guidance for interruption of study related to Coronavirus. This guidance, currently remaining in effect until June 30, 2020 “unless otherwise specified,” includes changes that are being implemented based on provisions in the CARES Act. Some of the new guidance includes:
- Accommodating students whose enrollment is disrupted by Coronavirus;
- Distance education – including broad approval and flexibility on implementing new programs, but requiring that instructions and materials meet the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (IDEA); and
- Flexibility given in the CARES act for funds and provisions provided by Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
Guidance on Donation or Loan of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Medical Supplies
On Tuesday, the Department released a memo that gives guidance on loaning or donating certain medical supplies or equipment, if that equipment was originally purchased using funds from a Department grant program. The memo indicates that donating PPE or medical supplies to health providers that have been purchased with funds provided by the Department are allowed. Some of the guidance also includes:
- Direction that grantees can loan or donate PPE (e.g. masks, face shields, gloves), other medical supplies or equipment (e.g, ventilators) or even equipment that can be used to produce these medical supplies, such as 3D printers;
- The Department will provide grantees and subgrantees a class exception for uses of grant funds, authorized by OMB Memo M-20-20;
- Requirement that grantees and subgrantees must keep detailed records on donating or loan items and maintain these records for at least three years (page 2);
- Indication that the Department intends to follow-up with grantees in the future regarding the donations or loans of equipment (page 2); and
- Direction that additional questions can be sent to COVID-19@ed.gov.
Samuel Dunietz, Senior Associate for Federal Policy