April 10, 2020

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your inquiry related to the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We hope that you and your family are safe and healthy. We are continuously working to provide additional information related to COVID-19; all available U.S. Department of Education (Department) information is posted on our website: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus.

The White House, the Department, and other Federal agencies have released a significant amount of guidance to support schools, educators, and families regarding COVID-19, including:

Waivers: On March 20, 2020, the Department released guidance on waivers related to student testing. On April 6, 2020, the Department released guidance on waivers and flexibility for use of formula grant funds. This information can be found on the Department’s COVID-19 webpage: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus.

Fact Sheet: On April 8. 2020, the Department released a fact sheet that addresses questions related to grant-funded salaries and wages, as well as reimbursement for travel cancellation fees: Select Questions Related to Use of Department of Education Grant Funds During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019. The fact sheet can be found here: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/factsheet-fiscal-questions.pdf.

Discretionary Grants: For information regarding upcoming discretionary grant competitions, please continue to check the Department’s Grants Information and Resources webpage. The webpage includes links to the funding forecast, the Federal Register, and Grants.gov. The page can be found here: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grants-apply.html?src=image Additional updates and guidance related to the impact of COVID-19 on discretionary grant administration will be posted on the Department’s website: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus.

State or local district: Some inquiries sent to the Department’s COVID-19@ed.gov mailbox – such as questions about school closures, school calendars, graduation requirements, or educational curriculum – are not related to Federal education policy or guidelines. In those cases, the State educational agency (SEA) is the best resource to contact. A list of SEAs and their contact information can be found here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.

Resources for continuity of learning: The Department-funded Comprehensive Centers have compiled a set of resources for continuity of learning that can be found on their website: https://www.compcenternetwork.org/resources-for-continuity-of-learning>

Other Federal agencies are also providing resources and guidance to aid parents and families during this time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced proactive flexibilities with respect to providing free and reduced-price meals during school closures and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published frequently asked questions, information and resources related to State Medicaid and the Children’s Health and Insurance Program (CHIP). The Federal Communications Commission administers programs that support internet and telecommunications access in rural communities, for low-income consumers, and schools and libraries.

Again, thank you for the reaching out to the Department. If you have an additional question related to the Department’s response to COVID-19, please send an email to COVID-19@ed.gov