Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), ranking member of the Senate health, education, labor, and pensions (HELP) committee, June 27 announced that the U.S. Dept. of Education reversed its decision to cancel nearly $17 million in federal K-12 Covid-19 funding for Vermont school districts and some $2.5 billion for schools across the country. The administration’s announcement follows a successful lawsuit led by 16 states and the District of Columbia to prevent the department from revoking this important education funding.
Sanders worked with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to make certain that Vermont received its fair share. Sanders and his staff also worked with 19 school districts in Vermont to submit 88 applications to appeal these cancellations.
“I am very happy to announce that the U.S. Dept. of Education has reversed its decision to deny $17 million of Covid-19 funding to schools in Vermont and billions across the nation. This means that 19 school districts in our state will receive funding that had been denied so that they can go forward with a variety of projects — summer programs, afterschool programs and school renovation,” Sanders said in a video message. “At a time when so many of our school districts are suffering and struggling economically, this is an important step forward.”
In March, the Trump administration canceled an estimated $2.5 billion nationwide in unspent funding for K-12 schools provided under the American Rescue Plan Act and established a bureaucratic appeals process. Sanders had several conversations with the Secretary of Education to urge her to change course.
Sanders’ office promptly contacted all affected school districts and worked with local school leaders to overcome administrative barriers to appeal the cancellations. The department is expected to provide funding to states next week.
