State Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-18th, recently announced $457,018 in funding has been awarded to local school districts to help schools provide compensatory education services for students with special needs who may have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts and may face additional challenges through the new academic year.

“This funding through the CARES Act will assist our school districts in providing additional support and services for students with special needs, who have been hit particularly hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Boscola said.

The following school districts will be awarded funding:

• Catasauqua Area School District - $13,525.91

• Whitehall-Coplay School District - $23,423.68

• Northampton Area School District - $66,869.46

• Bethlehem Area School District - $177,268.37

• East Penn School District - $102,622.51

• Salisbury Township School District - $28,553.97

• Easton Area School District - $31,034.18

• Saucon Valley School District - $5,335.58

• Wilson Area School District - $8,384.92

The Special Education COVID-19 Impact Mitigation grant will provide $15 million statewide in financial support to local education agencies to:

• Provide enhanced synchronous (real-time) instruction to bolster remote services and supports for students with complex needs

• Provide services and supports to students with disabilities who experienced a loss in skills and behavior and/or a lack of progress due to the mandatory school closures

Grant amounts were calculated using an allocation formula based on the number of students with complex special education needs within each local education agency.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds, which can be used toward the safe reopening of schools in light of COVID-19.

Contributed article