Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia Urrutia received today, Monday, a confirmation from the Secretary of Education of the United States, Miguel Cardona, in which he said that today he will receive a letter confirming that his request for immediate access to the background of the “Law on Aid, Relief and Economic Security against Coronavirus “Public Law No. 116-136 (CARES Act for its acronym in English) was granted.
On March 5, 2021, the governor sent a letter to Secretary Cardona requesting immediate access to CARES Act funds on behalf of providing the necessary resources for Puerto Rican students. This is $ 912 million in federal funds for education.
“Today marks another big step in our progress to continue to give our students the resources they need for in-person learning, our teachers the means to provide instructional time and reopen our schools safely. “Students have gone far beyond the hurricanes of 2017 to the earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve to return to normalcy. These resources will provide you with the funds you need for the needs of our island students,” he said. Pierluisi Urruitia.
These funds include $ 390 million under the CARES Act specifically from the Emergency Relief Fund for Elementary and Secondary Schools (BE I) and the Emergency Relief Fund for Education. Governor (GEER I).
In addition, it includes funds under Title A, Part A of the Primary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and Part B of the Education for Persons with Disabilities Act, both for a total of $ 522 million.
“On behalf of our children, teachers and parents in Puerto Rico, I thank Secretary Miguel Cardona for his commitment to supporting Puerto Rico and President Biden in quickly granting Puerto Rico access to these federal funds. I hope continue to work with the USDE to continue working for our children, “the governor concluded.
Cardona said the U.S. Department of Education is looking to help Puerto Rico with the reopening of schools.