Governor Urged to Include Catholic School Students in Emergency Funding

In a May 20  letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, asked the governor to consider the needs of students in Catholic schools as he decides how to use emergency funding awarded to state governors' offices to meet the needs of students and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27.

Florida's Catholic K-12 schools followed health department recommendations to close campuses and use remote learning for the last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year. The estimated cost per child to actively participate in remote learning is $460 per child plus approximately $1,200 per school. These dollars would allow each student to have a device and hotspot (where needed) in alignment with the COVID-19 Education Recovery Plan from the Florida Department of Education.

Using federal funds to improve technology and connectivity will allow schools to make the necessary upgrades to their systems that will aid them in reopening campuses, as soon as possible, following the governor's Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida's Recovery.

The U.S. bishops are also asking Congress to include Catholic schools and families in the next COVID-19 emergency aid package. Requests include: equitable access to K-12 federal funds for Catholic schools, direct funding to families for tuition aid and tax breaks for K-12 tuition payments.  Please take a moment to amplify this request to Congress and provide help for our families.