Chiefs for Change, a bipartisan network of state and district education leaders, today released the following statement on the HEROES Act.
The funding for K-12 education included in the HEROES Act proposed today is urgently needed. Educators across the country are working tirelessly to respond to the pressing challenges of COVID-19 and plan for when schools reopen. This measure would provide flexible funding that can be used to accelerate student learning; offer counseling and mental health services; cover the cost of sanitizing buildings and school buses; support professional development for teachers; and carry out other priorities. The bill also includes money specifically for child nutrition programs as well as dedicated funding for computers and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, and expanded broadband to support remote learning. In the coming weeks, we will get a clearer picture of what schools need as states prepare budgets based on the dramatic economic fallout of the pandemic. We appreciate policymakers’ continued support for America’s students.
