Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia received a confirmation from United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today, Monday, announcing that he will receive a letter today confirming his request for immediate access to the funds of the “Law of Aid, Aid and Economic Security Against Coronavirus ”Public Law No. 116-136 (CARES Act) was granted.
On March 5, 2021, the Governor sent a letter to Secretary Cardona requesting immediate access to the funds of the CARES Act to provide the necessary resources to the students of Puerto Rico. This is $ 912 million in federal education funds.
“Today marks another major step in our progress to continue to provide our students with the resources needed for personal learning, our teachers the resources to teach, and reopen our schools safely. Our students have surpassed much since the hurricanes of 2017 to earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve to return to normal. These resources will provide the necessary funds for the needs of our students on the island, ”said Pierluisi Urruitia.
These funds include $ 390 million under the CARES Act, specifically from the Primary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER I) and the Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund (GEER I).
In addition, it includes funds under Title A, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and Part B of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, both totaling $ 522 million. Dollars.
On behalf of our children, teachers and the parents of Puerto Rico, I thank Secretary Miguel Cardona for his commitment to supporting Puerto Rico and President Biden for promptly granting Puerto Rico to these federal funds. I look forward to continuing to work with USDE to continue to work for our children, ”the governor concluded.
Cardona said the United States Department of Education wants to help Puerto Rico reopen schools.