Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has designated $37.4 million to organizations across the state that support learning initiatives as educators and students work to address the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of the funding – which comes from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds – is going to The Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Department of Early Care and Learning. Each of these organizations will receive up to $12 million.
GEER funding is awarded for the purpose of providing local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other education-related entities with emergency assistance in response to COVID-19. The total of additional funding available to award is $59.7 million.
“With input from parents, students, and educators alike from all across Georgia, we worked diligently to get our schools back open and return to in-person learning safely following the pandemic,” said Kemp. “We know there is still more work to do when it comes to recovering from pandemic-driven learning loss in our classrooms. That’s why I’m thankful to know that these additional funds — on top of the historic investments we’ve made in K-12 education — will both put students first and help set them on a renewed path of learning success.”
Kemp’s $12 million allotment to the Boys & Girls Clubs is on top of the $15 million allotted in GEERs I funding last year which went to helping thousands of youth throughout the state return to grade-level achievement standards. Through the initial funding, the Boys & Girls Clubs provided more than 21,000 children with intensive academic enrichment and tutoring to get back on track after the learning disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The results were positive, according to information provided by the Governor’s office. Among those who participated in the programs, more than 86 percent improved test scores in Math and English Language Arts; 94 percent of 5th-to-12th graders were on grade level for the 2021-22 school year, and 100 percent of high school seniors applied to trade school, military or postsecondary education institutions.
Kemp also awarded up to $12 million for the Department of Early Care and Learning’s (DECAL) Summer Transition Program for the summer of 2023. DECAL offers two types of Summer Transition Programs in June and July. Each program offers high-quality instruction with a focus
on language, literacy, and math and are designed to reduce the achievement gap. Of the two programs, one is designed specifically for students whose home language is Spanish.
Kemp said these funds will help ensure those just beginning their learning careers will not be impeded by the lingering academic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
More than $9 million has been designated to the State Department of Education to support several special programs, including Special Needs Teaching Resources (an estimated $6.5 million); Special Needs Equipment Grant for Georgia’s State Schools (approximately $900,000): and Hearing/Vision Loss for Infants and Elementary-aged Students ($1.7 million).
The Georgia Public Library Service will receive $2.3 million in the form of grant administered by the Georgia Public Library Service, to replenish the connectivity and remote learning devices in public libraries throughout the state. These funds are designed to further connect students to academic resources that might not otherwise be available as they endeavor to accelerate learning achievement.
The Georgia Alliance of YMCAs will receive $2 million in the YMCA’s Learning Loss Program through Y facilities across the state.
