Federal Education Officials Ramp Up Pressure On Florida Schools Money

2 years ago 192

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) — The U.S. Department of Education is ratcheting up unit connected Florida to taxable a program for however it intends to usage the latest circular of national COVID-19 alleviation backing for schools.

Florida is present the lone authorities oregon U.S. territory that hasn’t submitted a program for spending American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.

Until the authorities Department of Education submits a plan, which was owed connected June 7, the national authorities volition proceed to withhold one-third of the state’s allocation. The national bureau said successful a missive Monday to authorities Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran that a 3rd of the state’s allocation amounts to astir $2.3 billion.

“FDOE’s (the Florida Department of Education’s) hold raises important concerns due to the fact that of the unnecessary uncertainty it is creating for schoolhouse districts crossed the authorities and due to the fact that it is hindering their quality to confidently program for however to usage these funds to code the needs of students,” wrote Ian Rosenblum, a lawman adjunct caput for argumentation and programs astatine the national agency.

The national authorities released the archetypal two-thirds of each state’s allocation successful March. Under national guidelines, the authorities acquisition section is fixed power implicit 10 percent of the backing for Florida, with the remaining 90 percent intended to spell straight to schoolhouse districts.

In his missive Monday, Rosenblum said Florida’s acquisition section has drawn down $177 cardinal successful American Rescue Plan wealth earmarked for schools “for usage astatine the authorities level.” However, Rosenblum said the national authorities has “heard repeatedly from parents, teachers, and superintendents from schoolhouse districts successful Florida that FDOE has not yet awarded” disbursements from wealth already received nether the American Rescue Plan.

The authorities Department of Education didn’t instantly reply an email from The News Service of Florida requesting remark Monday.

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