Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) supported the Ohio Controlling Board’s decision to appropriate about $262 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds for education and child care response against Covid-19.
“We are seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases among school-age children, and these funds will give schools and child care providers additional resources they desperately need,” said Sykes, who is a sitting member of the Controlling Board. “After two years of disrupted classroom time, it’s crucial that schools have what they need to continue providing high-quality education while keeping students safe.”
These funds come from federal Covid-19 relief dollars, which were granted in addition to the usual federal financial support for education and child care. The Controlling Board appropriated $100,000,000 in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds at today’s meeting, which will all be used to reimburse schools for coronavirus-related expenses. The Controlling Board also appropriated $161,467,893 from the Child Care Federal line item today. The funds will be used to support licensed child care providers, to increase the early childhood workforce, to increase access to childcare for working Ohioans, and for mental health care services for young children.
Additional distribution details for these funds can be found here.
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