LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 19, 2021) — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) has issued the following statement on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement today of the Michigan COVID Recovery Plan, which includes utilizing $1.7 billion in federal funds through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) and $300 million in state funds to support education:
“Despite the educational challenges caused by the pandemic, our teachers and administrators have done an incredible job developing creative ways to instruct students. This $2 billion investment into our schools is critical support that will ensure education is accessible to all Michigan students and help repair some of the shortfalls and inequities revealed over the past several months.”
The money will be used to help schools meet the Governor’s goal of providing every student with an in-person learning opportunity by March 1 and address the learning loss that has occurred due to the pandemic. It will be distributed via a formula that recognizes the additional costs associated with supporting students in poverty and students with special education needs.
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