GOP discusses tying K-12 funding to in-person classes

Senate Republicans are proposing tying half of K-12 funds in the next coronavirus package to schools holding in-person classes.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who has been among a group of key negotiators on the education provisions in the forthcoming GOP bill, said Republicans are proposing $70 billion for K-12 schools.

“I think on K-12 we’re moving forward with half of the money available to all schools, and the other half available to schools that are having more of an in-person effort because they’re going to have more expenses,” Blunt said.

Asked if the administration was supportive of that, Blunt added “that’s what we’ve proposed to them. … We had a good discussion on it.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said earlier Tuesday that the forthcoming Republican bill will provide $105 billion for schools.

“This country wants its kids back in the classroom this fall learning, exploring, making friends. Their education depends on it. … This majority is preparing legislation that will send $105 billion so that educators have the resources they need to safely reopen,” McConnell said from the Senate floor.

Blunt, speaking to reporters after a closed-door caucus lunch, broke that down as $70 billion for K-12, $30 billion for higher education and another $5 billion that governors could spend on either.

How to fund schools, and what restrictions to place on the money, has been a running point of debate as Congress prepares to negotiate the next coronavirus aid package.

The administration views the resumption of in-person classes as a top priority. Trump previously threatened to defund schools that did not reopen for fall classes.

But GOP senators had indicated that they believed that schools that are doing virtual learning in the fall should have access to at least a portion of the education money in the upcoming coronavirus bill.

“I just don’t think you can come up with a national federal policy that’s a one size fits all. The circumstances are very different,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), asked about tying the education funding to schools reopening for in-person classes, told reporters on Monday evening.