U.S. Secretary DeVos awards around $180 Million to states rethinking K-12 education during COVID-19

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today more than $180 million in new grant funding will be awarded to 11 states rethinking education to better serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant will support states’ efforts to create new, innovative ways for students to continue learning in ways that meet their needs.

Awardees include Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. The awards range from $6 million to $20 million.

“Ensuring every student can continue to learn during the coronavirus pandemic requires innovation from local education leaders and a laser-like focus on doing what’s right for students,” DeVos said. “This grant will help states adapt and overcome challenges to strengthen education both now and for the longer term.”

Congress set aside 1% of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the CARES Act for grants to states with the highest coronavirus burden.

The Department of Education announced the Rethink K-12 Education Models (REM) grant competition in April 2020, inviting any state educational agency to apply. The program supports new, innovative ways to access education with an emphasis on meeting students’ needs during the coronavirus national emergency. Specifically, it called for projects to provide families with:

• Microgrants, so that states can ensure families have access to the technology and services to advance learning remotely
• Statewide virtual learning and course access programs, so that students can access a full range of subjects, even those not taught in their assigned setting
• New, field-initiated models for providing remote education to ensure that every child is learning and preparing for successful careers and lives