Bethlehem (August 7, 2020)- State Senator Lisa M. Boscola announced today that the Commonwealth has approved $2,264,382 in education funding for secondary and post-secondary educational institutions through the through Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“It’s critical that the Commonwealth assist our school districts and colleges to ensure that all students are able to have continuity in their education and institutions are able to implement public health and safety plans to ensure the welfare of their students,” Boscola said. “These funds through the CARES Act will provide critical resources to meet these goals.”
Continuing of Education Equity Grants for secondary institutions include:
- Bethlehem Area School District – $398,450;
- Catasauqua Area School District – $34,000;
- Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 – $24,700.
Grants for public health and safety plans include:
- Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School – $155,803;
- Career Institute of Technology – $98,773
- Lafayette College – $64,929;
- Lehigh University – $103,168;
- Lehigh Career and Technical Institute – $359,611
- Lehigh Carbon Community College – $408,624;
- Moravian College – $89,641;
- Northampton Community College – $526,683.
The Continuing of Education Equity Grant (CEEG) for the 2020-21 academic year though GEER is designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are currently limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education. The Pennsylvania Department of Education is now allocating $13 million dollars.
These grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets, and internet hot spots, or used towards providing instructional materials, such as paper lessons and coursework. Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.
For the vocational and technical schools/institutes and colleges and universities, the GEER funds assist with the implementation of public health and safety plans to aid their ability to resume operations in the fall. The funding will be used to help keep students, faculty, and staff safe and assist institutions in meeting the challenges of providing instruction during COVID-19 Pandemic.
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