Actions to Take Now to Get Your Fair Share

While we wait for guidance from the state and feds on all that COVID-19 special relief money you’ve been hearing about, there are things you can do to prepare for getting your portion.

Here are the important highlights to get you started (see in-depth details by WCRIS here). The Federal CARES Act that was passed by Congress on March 27, 2020, provides disaster relief funds to every state. There are two grants for the education sector:

1) Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds. Wisconsin’s share is $45.6 million. GEER funds are block grants to states totally controlled by the Governor. It covers K-college. The K-12 funds will flow from the state to public school districts and on to private schools.

Public school districts must provide equitable services to students and teachers in private schools located within the district. Public districts must engage private schools in timely and meaningful consultation.

2) The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Wisconsin’s share is estimated to be $175 million. Ninety percent of the funds will go to public school districts. The law provides for an equitable services provision, but It is still unclear how the allocations will be apportioned to districts and thus how an equitable share will be calculated.

Here’s what you can do now to prepare for when the state starts sending the money to your local school district:

  1. Reach Out: Contact your public school district and tell them you expect to be provided timely and meaningful consultation about how the funds will be used, as the law requires.
  2. Assess: The CARES Act allows the money to be used for 12 purposes. Think now about the needs you have that fit into those categories.
  3. Know the Law: Read the relevant portions of the CARES act and bring it with you to the consultations, even if they are virtual.

The U.S. Department of Education has 30 days to write the rules for the funds. The clock started when the act was signed on March 27. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will then need to create its own procedures for districts to navigate the new law under our state’s unique education system.

The DPI and other states are looking to their Private School Ombudsmen to help in the process. Thankfully, our ombudsman, Abbie Pavela, has been involved with DPI as they plan for issues that the federal aid may trigger.

As you prepare for timely and meaningful consultation with your public school district, stay tuned to WCRIS’s Current Events for updates.