The Congressional Research Service of the U.S., Congress has estimated that the CNMI will receive $160.07 million for elementary and secondary schools for the emergency relief funds under the American Rescue Plan of President Joe Biden, according to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP).
Sablan stated his e-kilili newsletter that the Northern Marianas College should also receive about $5.77 million and that at least half of that money must go to students to help prevent hunger and other hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Marianas schools and libraries will also be eligible for help setting up WiFi hotspots and other connectivity devices for hybrid and remote learning situations from a $7.1-billion internet connectivity fund.
In Part B of the grant, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, an estimated $1.05 million will be available to support services for children with disabilities, Sablan said
He said $257,000 will also be available to support infants and toddlers with disabilities under IDEA Part C grant.
On the $160.07 million for elementary and secondary schools, among the expected uses of this money by the CNMI Public School System will be paying teachers and other staff so schools can remain open. Sablan said other uses will be for making physical changes to classrooms to ensure health safety standards are met, and helping children overcome the learning loss that occurred when schools were closed because of the pandemic.