Governor DeSantis Announces Plan for Re-opening Schools in the Fall.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke from Melbourne this afternoon, where he announced the plan expecting all schools in the state to re-open in the fall, at full capacity. 

“The state intends to bring teachers and students physically back to schools in the fall,” Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, said at the news conference. 

According to the Governor, plans on the specifics to re-opening schools will be left up to local authority. “We have provided a roadmap, to announce the return of our schools to on-campus instruction.”

The plan shows that roughly $475 Million will be allotted to education-related aid funds that will come from CARES Act Funds.

Based on the plan found on the Florida Department of Education’s website, resources included in the plan are: 

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  $64 million will be provided to close achievement gaps. A four- to five-week summer program will be implemented on school campuses for K-5 students “who have identified with a substantial deficiency in reading based on assessments and teacher recommendations.”

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  $20 million will go toward reading curriculum and supplemental materials for grades K-3

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  $15 million will be dedicated to training 2,000 reading coaches as well as in-classroom support with the coaches

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  $55 million is allotted for financial assistance to the childcare providers who remained open during the COVID-19 crisis and can be used toward infrastructure, personnel costs, cleaning supplies, etc.

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  $8 million for every student graduating in the 2020-2021 school year to take the ACT, SAT free of charge

Anyone interested in the plan set forth by the Governor, and the Florida Department of Education can view/read it here.