Led by the Center for American Progress, this letter urges Congress to provide at least $175 billion for the Education Stabilization Fund and $50 billion for higher education, as well as $4 billion for an Emergency Connectivity Fund administered through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-rate program. The letter also argues for the expansion of nutrition assistance programs for students and families; funding for extended learning opportunities to help students make up for lost learning time; and future funding that takes into account that students may need additional academic, social-emotional, and physical supports as they return to school. Finally, it recommends the inclusion of a maintenance of equity requirement as well as language explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on factors including, but not limited to, age, disability, sex (such as sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), race, color, national origin, immigration status, veteran status, and religion.
Read the full letter here.