More Detail on Governor's COVID-19 Education Relief Package.  I wrote briefly last week about how the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will be distributing $132 million in COVID-19 relief funds that are available to the state through the American Relief Plan (ARP) that was passed at the Federal level in March.  Here are the major funding areas of the MDE plan with the dollar amounts attached to each program within each funding area.

Learning Recovery--$66 million

There are no specific programs mentioned in this funding category, but the plan states that the funds will go directly to public schools to support historically underserved students (HUS) with particular emphasis on students receiving special education services.  Funding from this category may mesh with the special education recovery language that was passed by the Legislature as part of the omnibus education finance and policy bill.  Districts receiving revenue must select evidenced-based strategies from the MDE-identified list in addressing student needs and aligned to the MDE priority list for learning recovery referenced here,  Schools are encouraged to engage community-based partnerships in meeting student needs.

After School Programs--$13.2 million

MDE will allocate funds to Ignite Afterschool to provide grants to community organizations and culturally-specific community organizations to deliver evidence-based after school programming.  

Summer Enrichment--$13.2 million

MDE will allocate funds for grant distribution with 50% of the funds going to community organizations and 50% going to culturally-specific community organizations.

School Support--$26 million

• $5 million for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)*
• $5 million for Full Service Community Schools*
• $4 million dedicated to expanding rigorous coursework for underserved students*
• $3 million for trauma-informed/anti-bias instructional practices training.*
• $3 million for non-exclusionary discipline training*
• $2 million for Life Skills/Transition Programs
• $2 million for teacher mentoring for new staff
• $1.5 million for ParentChild+ and Reach Out and Read.
• $500,000 Tribal/State Relations Training for public school leaders.

*Included in some form in the Governor's original budget recommendations but either not passed or funded at the level recommended by the Governor in the omnibus education funding and policy bill.

State Support--$13.6 million

• $6 million to prioritize data disaggregation
• $2 million to provide for a public engagement division in MDE that will support public school efforts to provide translated materials for families
• $2 million to provide non-grant administrative related supports attributable to needs arising from COVID

I have not accounted for all of the revenue here and more details will be forthcoming from MDE in the month ahead.  I know that they are planning a set of webinars and while those should be well-publicized by MDE, I will certainly follow up with notice on the blog.

The curtain has come down on the legislative session, but there's a lot to explain regarding the omnibus education funding and policy bill and the Governor's most recent initiative related to distribution of the ARP funds.  Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.

Governor Announces COVID-Relief Package.  On the same day that the Governor signed, sealed, and delivered the omnibus education funding and policy bill, he also released his plan for disbursing nearly $132 million in Federal aid that was passed through to the state as part of the American Rescue Plan, the third (and my guess final) Federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a refresher, the $132 million is the 9.5% of the initial state allocation that remains after 90% of the revenue was distributed to school districts based on their Title I numbers.  The Minnesota Department of Education retains 0.5% of the allotment to administer the program as outlined by Federal law.

The breakdown of the Governor's plan (this isn't a proposal, because the revenue is at his disposal--that rhymes!):

1. $66 million will be distributed to public schools to support students using evidence-based strategies. 
2. $13.2 million will be dedicated to Ignite Afterschool to provide grants for evidence-based after-school programs.  50% of the funds must go to community-based programs.
3. $13.2 million will be dedicated to summer enrichment allocated through grants with 50% going to community-based programs.
4. $26 million will go a variety of grant programs including full-service community schools, expansion of rigorous coursework, training for non-exclusionary discipline strategies, funding for Life Skills/Transition programs for students receiving special education, and other initiatives.
5. $13.6 million will be dedicated to building and reinforcing systems and structures with the Minnesota Department of Education to better support students, families, and educators.

It is a very ambitious program and dovetails with the overall general support that school districts received in the omnibus education funding and policy bill.  The thing that jumps out at me is that many of the Governor's initiatives that fell by the wayside during the negotiations to construct the final omnibus education funding and policy bill will find their way to students through this effort.  It appears that something akin to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which promotes the use of evidence-based strategies to meet student needs in a comprehensive manner will be part of this plan.

Here is a link to the press released annoucing the plan.  There are links at the bottom of the release for further information.

Governor Walz Announces $132 Million in Federal American Rescue Plan Education Funds to Support Student Recovery from COVID-19 and Promote Success for Years to Come