State makes $157.5 million available to schools

Pennsylvania has made $157.5 million in grants available to schools across the commonwealth to help address health and safety needs related to COVID-19.

The grants are being provided through the School Safety and Security Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and are for the 202021 school year.

“Schools have had to bear a significant operational and financial burden in responding to COVID-19,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in announcing the grants. “With the safety and well-being of students

at the forefront of their response, this funding is intended to ease some of that burden.”

The bulk of the funding for the grants, $150 million, is from the federal CARES Act. A total of 770 eligible school districts, career and technology centers, intermediate units, charter schools and cyber charter schools can apply for that funding.

Another $7.5 million has been allocated for non-public schools, which can apply for a grant through local intermediate units.

School entities must apply for the grants by June 30 in order to receive their money by July 15. Nonpublic schools must apply through an intermediate unit by July 8 in order to receive their money by Aug. 1.

The grant money can be used for the purchase of cleaning and sanitizing products; training and professional development of staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases; equipment purchases; modifying existing areas to support appropriate social distancing of students and staff; providing mental health services and supports; purchasing educational technology for distance learning; and other health and safety programs, items or services necessary to address the COVID-19 disaster emergency.

More information about these and other grant opportunities for schools can be found at www.pccd. pa.gov/schoolsafety.