LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS LONG-TERM STUDENT NEEDS RELATED TO COVID-19
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.),and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday introduced the Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act to create a $100 billion application-based grant program over the next ten years to help accelerate academic progress and address students' social, emotional, mental, behavioral and physical health needs related to COVID-19. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, elementary and secondary public schools lacked sufficient funding and resources to provide all students with a high-quality public education. This challenge has been exacerbated by the pandemic and is likely to significantly worsen existing achievement gaps for students in low-income communities and communities of color. Students are also experiencing significant academic and mental health needs.…