Gov. Kelly requests federal funding reinstatement for Kansas students and educators
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Governor Laura Kelly has requested federal funding reinstatement for Kansas students and educators on Tuesday, April 15.
According to a press release, Kelly has sent a letter to the United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, requesting reinstatement of $22.6 million in federal pandemic relief funds.
The United States Department of Education announced in late March that the federal government was recouping nearly $3 billion in pandemic relief funds from states. Many states, including Kansas, had already obligated these funds for programs and services benefiting students and educators.
According to Gov. Kelly, these funds have been critical for supporting student learning recovery and ensuring the education workforce is prepared to assist those students in their academic needs.
The funds have also been used to retrain teachers in the science of reading and other evidence-based interventions to support student learning, career and postsecondary exploration experiences for students, and to lower start-up costs for child care providers.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) requested the Trump administration restore Kansas’ funding and allow for KSDE to continue using these funds toward its intended purposes in early April.
That request continues to be under consideration by McMahon.
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