RESOURCES TO COMBAT FALSE NARRATIVE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE

ACTIONS TAKEN
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

$30 billion in CARES Act funds made available in 30 days
7 major flexibilities provided ahead of CARES Act
o Testing waivers for states
o Funding flexibilities to use federal dollars for COVID-19 response
o Extended deadline for CTE state plans to be submitted
o Allowed for a student loan holiday and 0% interest
o Directed all employers to halt wage garnishments for student loan borrowers
o Worked with treasury to end and refund treasury offsets for student loan borrowers
5 proactive measures taken to protect students’ privacy rights and civil rights
16 calls with Governors
51 calls with State Education Commissioners/Superintendents
11 number of interviews
2 press briefings
7 number of roundtables
12 number of conference calls
3 number of calls with higher education leaders

DETAILS BELOW
Financial support and regulatory flexibilities:
• On March 20, 2020, the Secretary announced a streamlined process for states to submit waivers
to opt out of federal standardized testing requirements for this school year under the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act.
• On April 1, 2020, the Secretary announced a deadline extension for states to submit career and
technical education (CTE) plans for FY 2020-2023 required under Perkins V.
• On April 6, 2020, the Secretary provided states with flexibilities to allow schools to repurpose
existing K-12 education funds for technology infrastructure and teacher training on distance
learning, among other flexibilities to move resources to areas of highest need.
• On April 14, 2020, the Secretary announced the Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund and
that there were be “few bureaucratic strings attached” so that governors would be empowered
to best serve students in the ways that will work best in their state, based on local needs.
• On April 14, 2020, the Secretary announced flexibilities to allow education programs to donate or
loan unused personal protective equipment and other medical supplies that were purchased with
federal grant funding to public health agencies, private nonprofit hospitals, and other licensed
health providers.
• On April 23, 2020, the Secretary announced the $13.2 billion was available under the CARES Act
to state and local educational agencies under the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency
Relief Fund, to use for immediate needs, such as tools and resources for distance education,
ensuring student health and safety, and developing and implementing plans for the next school
year. Local leaders were once again empowered with flexibility to determine how to use their
ESSER funds, as long as they are used in ways that comply with applicable federal education laws.

 RESOURCES TO COMBAT FALSE NARRATIVE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE
•

On April 27, 2020, the Secretary announced two grant competitions worth $307.5 million,
provided by the CARES Act, for states to use to create adaptable, innovative learning opportunities
for K-12 and postsecondary learners in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.

Higher Ed Students/Institutions:
• The Higher Education Relief Fund, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act, provided over $13.95 billion to postsecondary students and institutions.
o On April 9, 2020, the Secretary made available $6.2 billion for colleges and universities to
provide students direct emergency cash grants to assist them with expenses related to
disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including course materials,
technology, food, housing, health care, and childcare.
o On April 21, 2020, the Secretary allocated $6.2 billion to institutions of higher education
to cover costs related to the COVID-19 national emergency.
o On April 30, 2020, the Secretary made available approximately $1.4 billion to Minority
Serving Institutions (including HBCUs), institutions that serve low-income students, and
institutions that to date have not otherwise received $500,000 in relief funds.
• Before the CARES Act was signed into law, on March 20, 2020, the Secretary provided relief to
millions of borrowers by suspending federally held student loan payments and setting interest
rates at 0% for a period of at least 60 days. Following passage of the CARES Act, this action was
extended through September 30, 2020.
• Before the CARES Act was signed into law, on March 25, 2020, the Department of Education
announced it would halt all collection actions and wage garnishments for at least 60 days to
provide federal student loan borrowers with additional relief.
• On April 20, 2020, the Department of Education disbursed $13 million to Howard University and
$7 million to Gallaudet University to help these institutions address the challenges associated with
the coronavirus.
Protecting Students’ Rights:
• On March 12, 2020, the Secretary issued guidance providing clarity on the privacy rights of
students under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• On March 17, 2020, the Office for Civil Rights, under the Secretary’s direction, released a webinar
and a fact sheet to assist education leaders as they make distance learning accessible to students
with disabilities, and also advised the leaders of their responsibilities under civil rights laws.
• On March 21, 2020, the Department, under the Secretary’s direction, issued a fact sheet clarifying
that federal law should not be used to prevent schools from offering distance learning
opportunities to all students, including students with disabilities.
• On April 27, 2020, the Secretary reaffirmed her long-held position that individualized education
must take place for all students, including students with disabilities during the national emergency
and did not recommend Congress pass any additional waiver authority concerning the Free
Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) requirements of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• On May 18, 2020, the Department, under the Secretary’s direction, published a fact sheet
outlining states’ responsibilities to English learners and their parents during extended school
closures.

SECRETARY LEVEL ENGAGEMENTS

 RESOURCES TO COMBAT FALSE NARRATIVE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE
March 17-20
Phone Call with Jillian Balow, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wyoming (3/16)
Phone Call with Governor Eric Holcomb, Indiana (3/18)
Phone Call with Michael Johnson, Commissioner of Education, Alaska (3/19)
Phone Call with Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of Education, New Hampshire (3/19)
Phone Call with Molly Spearman, State Superintendent of Education, South Carolina (3/19)
Phone Call with Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of Education, Florida (3/19)
Conference Call with Chief State School Officers (3/20)
Conference Call with Education Stakeholders (3/20)
March 23-27
Phone Call with Richard Woods, State Superintendent, Georgia (3/23)
Phone Call with Elsie Arntzen, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Montana (3/23)
Phone Call with Sherri Ybarra, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Idaho (3/23)
Phone Call with Carey Wright, State Superintendent of Education, Mississippi (3/23)
Phone Call with Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oklahoma (3/24)
Phone Call with Eric Mackey, Secretary of Education, Alabama (3/24)
Phone Call with Kristen Baesler, Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Dakota (3/25)
Phone Call with Ben Jones, Secretary of Education, South Dakota (3/25)
Phone Call with Katy Anthes, Commissioner of Education, Colorado (3/25)
Education Stakeholders Conference Call with the Vice President (3/25)
Home School Legal Defense Association Conference Call (3/26)
Phone Call with Matthew Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education, Nebraska (3/26)
Phone Call with Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nevada (3/26)
White House Coronavirus Task Force Press Briefing with the President and Vice President (3/27)
March 30-April 3
Higher Education Stakeholders Conference Call (3/31)
Phone Call with Kathy Hoffman, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona (3/31)
Phone Call with Syndee Dickson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah (3/31)
Phone Call with Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education, Texas (3/31)
Phone Call with Ann Lebo, Director of Education, Iowa (3/31)
Skype Meeting with Arizona State University Leadership (4/1)
Phone Call with Paolo DeMaria, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ohio (4/1)
Phone Call with Margie Vandeven, Commissioner of Education, Missouri (4/3)
Phone Call with Miguel Cardona, Commissioner of Education, Connecticut (4/3)
Phone Call with Susan Bunting, Secretary of Education, Delaware (4/3)
Phone Call with Austin Beutner, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District (4/3)
Print Interview with Rick Hess for Education Week (4/3)
April 6-10
Philanthropy Roundtable Stakeholders Video Call (4/8)
Radio Interview with Paul W. Smith (4/8)
CARES Act Conference Call with Higher Education Stakeholders (4/9)
Press Call about the CARES Act (4/9)
Phone Call with Michael Rice, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan (4/9)
Interview with Glenn Beck (Recorded 4/9; Aired 4/10)
Phone Call with Christina Kishimoto, Commissioner of Education, Hawaii (4/10)

 RESOURCES TO COMBAT FALSE NARRATIVE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE
Phone Call with Carmen Ayala, State Superintendent of Education, Illinois (4/10)
April 13-17
Phone Call with Michael Rice, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan (4/13)
Phone Call with Jillian Balow, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wyoming (4/13)
Phone Call with Molly Spearman, State Superintendent of Education, South Carolina (4/13)
Phone Call with Michael Johnson, Commissioner of Education, Alaska (4/13)
Phone Call with Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District (4/14)
Radio Interview with Lars Larson (4/14)
Phone Call with Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina (4/15)
Phone Call with Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee, (4/15)
Phone Call with Governor Chris Sununu, New Hampshire (4/15)
Phone Call with Governor Mike Dunleavy, Alaska (4/15)
Phone Call with Governor Eric Holcomb, Indiana (4/15)
Phone Call with Governor Tate Reeves, Mississippi (4/16)
Phone Call with Governor Jared Polis, Colorado (4/16)
Phone Call with Governor Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma (4/16)
Phone Call with Beth Scioneaux, Acting State Superintendent of Education, Louisiana (4/16)
Phone Call with Karen Salmon, Superintendent of Schools, Maryland (4/16)
Phone Call with Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana (4/17)
Phone Call with Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, California (4/17)
Phone Call with Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona (4/17)
April 20-24
Phone Call with Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida (4/20)
Radio Interview with John Fredericks (4/20)
Higher Education Stakeholders Conference Call (4/21)
Phone Call with Marc Tessier-Lavigne, President, Stanford University (4/22)
Phone Call with William Harvey, President, Hampton University (4/22)
CCSSO Conference Call (4/23)
K-12 Education Stakeholders Conference Call (4/23)
Phone Call with Mary Cathryn Ricker, Commissioner of Education, Minnesota (4/23)
Phone Call with Shannon Tahoe, Interim Commissioner of Education, New York (4/23)
White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC) Conference Call (4/24)
Phone Call with Governor Greg Abbott, Texas (4/24)
Phone Call with Jeff Riley, Commissioner of Education, Massachusetts (4/24)
April 27-May 1
Radio Interview with David Webb (4/27)
TV Interview with Greta Van Susteren (4/27)
Phone Call with Angelica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Education, Rhode Island (4/29)
Phone Call with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archdiocese of New York (4/30)
CARES Act Video Call with Higher Education Stakeholders (4/30)
Video Conference with Scripps National Spelling Bee Finalists (5/1)
May 4-May 8
Phone Call with Bishop Michael Barber, Diocese of Oakland (5/4)
Phone Call with James Lane, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia (5/5)

 RESOURCES TO COMBAT FALSE NARRATIVE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Member Webinar (5/5)
TV Interview with Martha McCallum (5/6)
Radio Interview with Alex Marlow (5/7)
White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Meeting (5/8)
May 11-15
Virtual Higher Education Roundtable with Vice President Pence (5/13)
Phone Call with Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts (5/14)
Phone Call with Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island (5/14)
Phone Call with Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland (5/14)
Print Interview with Rick Hess for Education Week (5/14)
Phone Call with Michael Johnson, Commissioner of Education, Alaska (5/15)
Phone Call with Elsie Arntzen, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Montana (5/15)
Phone Call with Kristen Baesler, Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Dakota (5/15)
Phone Call with Ann Lebo, Director of Education, Iowa (5/15)
May 18-22
Cabinet Meeting (5/19)
Radio Interview with Cardinal Timothy Dolan (5/19)
Phone Call with Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oklahoma (5/20)
Phone Call with Susan Bunting, Secretary of Education, Delaware (5/20)
Phone Call with Eric Mackey, Secretary of Education, Alabama (5/20)
K-12 Leaders and Innovators Video Call (5/21)
Phone Call with Michael Rice, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan (5/22)
Commencement Address to the Nation’s Graduating Class of 2020 with President Donald Trump (5/22)
May 26-29
Phone Call with Randy Watson, Commissioner of Education, Kansas (5/29)
Phone Call with Karen Salmon, Superintendent of Schools, Maryland (5/29)