Press Releases

On Friday, House Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) joined a letter led by Reps. Banks (R-IN) and Tiffany (R-WI) requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on how states and school districts have used federal CARES Act funding to reopen elementary and secondary schools. The letter follows a recent report which recommended this action. 
 
In the letter, the Members write: “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to American education. Many of the nation’s school districts have been closed to in-person learning since the spring and some school districts have not announced any plan or timeline for reopening in 2021.” The Members continue: “…Congress and the American people want assurances that funds are being used to address the urgent need to reopen schools and support remote learning while schools are closed. With the possibility of additional education relief funding, more information is necessary for Congress to determine whether funds allocated to school systems are meeting the needs of students and parents.”  
 
BACKGROUND: In March, Congress provided more than $16 billion in emergency funding for education through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The Department of Education recently launched a portal to provide better transparency related to how states and school districts are using these resources. This report will provide additional details about the information contained in this portal and the extent to which states and school districts have used these taxpayer funds to safely reopen schools.  
 
To read the full letter to the GAO and a list of signatories, click here.