CARES Act Funds Must Benefit Private Schools Equitably Says USDOE
June 26, 2020
According to the Catholic News Agency, “Federal coronavirus aid to private schools is now enforceable by law.” This notice comes after “concerns that Catholic and other non-public schools were being excluded from sufficient epidemic relief funds to support protective equipment for students and teachers, cleaning, training in remote education, and distance education tools.” However, critics, including Executive Director of the School Superintendents Association, Daniel A. Domenech, claim that allowing private schools to count all of their students while seeking funds is anything but equitable. The “previous standard based on Title I eligibility of private school students “aligns with both the clear intent of Congress in the CARES Act as well as the applicable underlying statute in the Every Student Succeeds Act,” said Domenech.