HARRISBURG – The School Safety and Security Committee approved an additional $49.8 million on Tuesday for the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency School Health and Safety Grant program.
All school districts in the 35th Senatorial District will be able to apply for additional grant funding to protect the health and safety of students, teachers and school employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. (R-35), who is a member of the School Safety and Security Committee.
A total of nearly $200 million of funding was approved by lawmakers in May to help schools meet the challenges posed by the pandemic as part of Act 30 of 2020.
In June, $150 million of this funding was distributed to school districts and other education entities through the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency School Health and Safety Grant program.
Starting Monday, school districts will be able to apply for their share of the remaining $49.8 million in funding to meet new educational and safety needs during COVID-19 through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program within the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Grant applications for ESSER can be submitted on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Egrants Web site.
Eligible uses of the funding include:
- the purchase of cleaning and sanitizing products.
- training and professional development of staff on sanitation and infection prevention.
- equipment purchases.
- modifying school facilities to support appropriate social distancing of students and staff.
- mental health services and support.
- educational technology for distance learning.
- other health and safety programs, items or services.
More information on the grant is available on the School Safety and Security Committee’s Web site.