Hi everyone, Happy Inauguration Day. Below are some updates on policy news as we begin a new administration. COVID relief: President Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion COVID-relief package<https://files.acg-analytics.com/wl/?id=Pq2XqxoXYSnA4J5BoaAYGA836CiZxnPs>, which includes $170 billion in funding for education. Some of the education funding includes: · $170 billion for K-12 and higher education (about twice of what Congress has already enacted in K-12 relief). · $35 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – will support public colleges and both public and private HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions to provide online learning and emergency grants to students. · $5 billion for Governors to support education that has been hardest hit by COVID-19. These funds can be used for PreK through higher education. · $350 billion in state and local fiscal relief Administration – immediate actions: While most plans for education require congressional action, some can be accomplished immediately through administrative action. Incoming Chief of Staff Ron Klain released a memo<https://bluevirginia.us/2021/01/memo-from-incoming-white-house-chief-of-staff-ron-klain-on-the-first-ten-days-of-the-administration> outlining actions for the first 10 days – one includes asking “the Department of Education to extend existing pause on student loan payments and interest for millions of Americans with federal student loans.” The current moratorium expires 1/31, and this policy was not included in the COVID-relief proposal presented last week. Transition: The transition team announced that Cindy Marten, Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, will be nominated as Deputy Secretary of Education. She has been a superintendent for seven years, has been a principal, and was a classroom teacher for 17 years. Her background was as a literacy specialist. Social media: Below are three sample tweets provided by CEF that you can modify as appropriate. Charts referenced are attached to this email. o The pandemic has raised education costs dramatically, increasing the need for more federal education support. The Biden Administration proposed to provide an additional $170 billion for education for COVID-relief #5cents4edfunding [chart to attach: 2021 0114 Education Relief Funding] o Education funding matters now more than ever as schools, colleges, child care, and others grapple with new costs and needs. Follow @edfunding for fact sheets, charts, and advocacy to tell Congress why education funding matters to you. #HearOurEdStories [chart to attach: 2021 0114 Education Relief Funding] o The Biden Administration supports $350 million in COVID-relief for state & local spending for teachers, first responders, and other priorities. About 40% of state funding supports education #5cents4edfunding [chart to attach: Proposed Education and State-Local Funding 1.14.21] Best, Michele MICHELE DIECUCH | Senior Director of Programs Pronouns: She, Her, Hers ________________________________ ProLiteracy<http://www.proliteracy.org/> | 101 Wyoming St. | Syracuse, NY 13204 p 315.214.2576 | f 315.422.6369 | mdiecuch@proliteracy.org<mailto:mdiecuch@proliteracy.org> Find us and follow us on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProLiteracy/59618669707> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/#!/ProLitWorld>. Help ProLiteracy advance the cause of adult literacy.<http://www.proliteracy.org/give> [2021-01-PL-EmailSignatures-Q3-WHF-1110]<https://www.proliteracy.org/write-her-future>