Schools to get federal virus assistance money

More than $2.82 million in federal virus emergency aid funding will go to three local school systems.

Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane announced May 1 that Virginia public schools will receive $238.6 million under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Congress approved the emergency legislation in late March.

Wise County schools will receive nearly $1.84 million. Norton schools will get nearly $220,400. Dickenson County schools will get nearly $764,700.

Ninety percent of the federal funding will pass directly to the commonwealth’s school divisions. Amounts for each division are based on the formula used to allocate funding for schools under Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Under the CARES Act, possible uses for the money include:

• Services and expenses directly related to the pandemic, such as cleaning of schools and other facilities.

• Expenses related to providing extended learning opportunities, including summer and after-school programs.

• Instructional and support services for economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, homeless students, migrant students, students in foster care, and racial and ethnic minority students.

• Expenses related to expanding and improving distance learning options for all students.

• Mental health services.

• Career and technical education.

Ten percent of the commonwealth’s allocation is reserved for statewide efforts to expand distance learning by increasing access to technology and through the development of resources for students, families and educators.

Potential initiatives include:

• Expansion of the Virtual Virginia online learning program to grades pre-K-12, including online courses, professional learning opportunities and digital content for school divisions.

• Expansion of instructional content and lessons offered by Virginia public television stations.

• Expansion of the GoOpenVA openly licensed education resource platform to support online instruction and resources related to academic content missed this spring due to the closure of schools.

• Regional and division-level grants to support training and professional development for teachers who serve at-risk populations, including distance learning and remote services for students with disabilities.

• Targeted, needs-based grants to school divisions to increase internet access, provide funding for technology equipment, educational materials and other remote learning resources.

• Development or purchase of a statewide learning management system that can be accessed remotely by all Virginia educators.