COVID-19 committee seeks school relief fund expenditure records.
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Demands Transparency on COVID-19 Relief Funds for Schools
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has taken action to hold the Department of Education accountable. In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) demanded records on the disbursement of COVID-19 emergency relief funds to schools.
Addressing Learning Loss and Allocation of Funds
Chairman Wenstrup’s letter emphasized the urgent need to address the extensive learning loss caused by the pandemic. Notably, it highlighted recent reports that eighth-grade students at LeBron James’s I Promise Academy had failed to meet math proficiency standards.
Wenstrup acknowledged that Congress had allocated over $190 billion in aid to schools since the beginning of the pandemic. This funding aimed to facilitate safe school reopenings and mitigate pandemic-related learning deficits. He specifically mentioned the American Rescue Plan, which allocated $122 billion to this cause.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of these programs and the extent to which the funds have truly benefited students. With mounting evidence of academic failures and struggles to recover from pandemic-related setbacks, it is crucial to evaluate the impact of these relief funds.
Transparency and Accountability
Wenstrup highlighted the lack of restrictions on how the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds could be spent. This has led to instances where schools have used the funds for extravagant purchases, including athletic fields and promoting specific ideological agendas.
The letter demands that the Department of Education provide the committee with “recipient data collection forms” from 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Aug. 24. This information is essential for Congress to conduct a thorough assessment and ensure that the academic shortcomings of American students are properly addressed.
Chairman Wenstrup emphasized the importance of timely data release to hold the Department accountable for the administration of the funds. It is crucial to understand the extent of any misuse of funds by State Educational Agencies (SEAs) or Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and its impact on students.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Department of Education for comment on this matter.
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