the Secretary of the Department of Education (DE), Elba Aponte Sants, reported approval and availability of $ 1,657,969.00 million from federal funds under the direct payment grant to students from the agency’s postsecondary institutions.
The main purpose of the aid is to provide emergency scholarships to students whose lives and education have been disrupted by the pandemic.
In addition, the designated secretary of the D’a anticipated that the Division of Technical Education is conducting the processes for the distribution of funds for active students who, at the time, have been affected by the pandemic emergency. About 1,475 students qualify for federal aid.
In the case of the DE, the eligible institutions are: the Technological Institute of Puerto Rico, enclosures of San Juan, Ponce, Manatí and Guayama; the School of Dies and Tools of Bayamón (ETH) and the Puerto Rico Aviation Maintenance Institute of Fajardo (PRAMI).
The Federal Department of Education (USDE) reported the availability of $ 21.2 billion for the country’s postsecondary institutions, under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF).
The ED’s Central Economic Assistance Unit is outlining the process for awarding the funds. The coronavirus aid, relief and financial security (CARES Act) grant will allow students to use this financial aid to cover the costs of materials, technology, food and accommodation, among other expenses related to the disruption. of their education. “We plan to start disbursement from February 26, 2021 and it will be by bank transfer to any student with active enrollment status during the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year,” the secretary reported.
The amount to be disbursed per student will be approximately $ 1,100. As part of the processes, students will be notified in writing and will be required to complete required documentation. Therefore, the systems have been programmed so that the sending of the notification is automatic to their email accounts, using the SIS system.