{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","name":"Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act","description":"

Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act

This bill establishes and provides funds for grant programs to respond to safety and health risks presented by qualifying emergencies, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

Specifically, the bill authorizes (1) the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to agencies that administer Child Care Development block grants and Head Start agencies.

ED grant recipients must award subgrants to BIE schools, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education (IHEs). HHS grant recipients must award subgrants to early care and education programs.

Subgrants under each grant program must be used for certain activities, such as coordinating preparedness and response efforts with public health departments; purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean facilities to minimize the spread of infectious diseases; and providing mental health services and supports to children, students, and staff.

Additionally, ED must award grants to IHEs for creating and expanding emergency financial-aid grant programs that address the unexpected expenses related to basic needs (e.g., housing, food, and certain one-time costs) of enrolled students during a qualifying emergency. IHEs must use grant funds to make emergency financial-aid grants to eligible students.

HHS must also award supplemental grants for certain organizations to address emergency-related child traumatic stress.

ED may waive certain financial-aid requirements for students affected by qualifying emergencies. Such requirements include those related to subsidized usage limits, leaves of absence, and satisfactory progress.

The bill also authorizes ED to permit foreign IHEs to offer distance education during an emergency.

","legislationIdentifier":"S 3489","legislationType":"Bill","legislationLegalForce":"NotInForce","legislationJurisdiction":"USA","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Patty Murray","url":"https://legisdaily.com/mp/patty-murray-us"}],"about":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Education"},"keywords":"Cardiovascular and respiratory health, Child care and development, Child health, Disaster relief and insurance, Educational technology and distance education, Education of the disadvantaged, Education programs funding, Elementary and secondary education, Emergency medical services and trauma care, Employee benefits and pensions, Employee hiring, Employment discrimination and employee rights, Government information and archives, Government lending and loan guarantees, Health programs administration and funding, Health promotion and preventive care, Higher education, Indian social and development programs, Infectious and parasitic diseases, Mental health, Minority education, Preschool education, School administration, Special education, Student aid and college costs, Teaching, teachers, curricula, Temporary and part-time employment, Wages and earnings","dateModified":"2025-04-21T00:00:00.000Z","url":"https://legisdaily.com/bill/USA-116-S-3489"}

Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee