Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) by a vote of 220-211. The legislation now heads to the desk of President Joseph R. Biden where it is widely expected to be signed into law.
Key provisions of the Act
include:
- Over $126 billion dollars for public schools. The
legislation stipulates that at least 20 percent of the funding be devoted
to student learning loss.
- Over $350 billion dollars in aid for state and local
governments.
- An extension of unemployment benefits of $300 per week
in payments through September 6.
- Provides income-based $1,400-dollar individual
stimulus payments.
- Up to $10,200 in tax relief for laid off workers from
households with incomes under $150,000 a year.
Also contained in the ARP is
$7.1 billion dollars to provide direct funding for the homework gap, the term
that commonly refers to the digital divide in education that impacts many
students who lack access to devices and/or high-speed broadband when they are
out of school. The funding will follow the provisions proposed in the Emergency
Educational Connections Act which VSBA strongly supported by having the funding flow though the E-rate
program under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
While this funding will not solve the long-term homework gap problem, it is a
significant step forward in addressing connectivity issues experienced
by students during the pandemic.
To read the entire text of the
legislation, click here.
