House Republicans probing if COVID funds used for critical race theory in schools


Top House Republicans on Wednesday launched an investigation into whether the Education Department allowed Schools to use federal COVID-19 relief funds To try and advance Critical Race Theory (CRT) on children.

The investigation is looking to determine whether states – including New York, California and Illinois – divert pandemic federal funds toward “radical courses to inspire America’s students.”

“Republicans are investigating the use of appropriated COVID-19 relief dollars for virus mitigation and safely reopening schools,” GOP lawmakers said. said in a letter Miguel Cardona, Secretary of the Department of Education.

“Based on recent reports, the Department of Education is allowing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and related COVID Relief Funds to pay for racially biased and other progressive left-wing programs.”

House Committee on Oversight and Reform ranking member James Comer (R-KY) and Education and Labor Committee ranking member Virginia Fox (R-NC) are leading the investigation.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona received a letter from the GOP regarding concerns regarding the COVID Fund.
AP/Susan Walsh
Kentucky Representative James Comer
Kentucky Representative James Comer will assist with the investigation.
AP/Timothy D. Islay

The MPs said the Primary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund was created to help schools reopen safely amid the pandemic and address the learning loss caused by the COVID lockdown.

But they claim the money is being used to “inspire children into the fundamentals of leftist ideology.”

below Biden administration’s US rescue plan, $122 billion was set aside for the ESSER Fund last year. This was in addition to the $67.5 billion given by the Trump administration in 2020 under two separate relief packages.

The investigation comes on the back of research compiled by conservative PAC. one nation This suggests that New York and at least 12 other states planned to use the funds to implement programs, such as “Anti-Racism” TrainingWhich critics argued was tantamount to implementing CRT in schools.

“Instead of using ESSER funds to address these dramatic learning losses, some states are spending taxpayer dollars to advance progressive left-wing causes,” GOP lawmakers said Wednesday.

Representative Virginia Foxx
Rep. Virginia Foxx will also lead the COVID Fund investigation.
AP/Alex Brandon
1619
“The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” a New York Times Magazine publication from 2019 that centers around slavery, on the country’s history.
AP

“New York used part of the $9 billion it received to provide staff development on ‘culturally responsible continuing instruction’ and ‘privileges’ and to recognize ‘equity warriors’.

“At least 10 other state plans included proposals to use ESSER funds to implement racially biased curriculum and programs based on critical race theory.”

New York State funding applicationwhich was approved by the US Department of Education in August, detailed plans to offer staff training to address “important topics” including “inherent bias and structural racism” and “facilitate difficult conversations about race”. .

State DOE officials denied at the time that any funds go toward implementing the CRT, saying the assumption was “absolutely false.”

The department said the funds went towards safely returning children to individualized learning and addressing the adverse impact of COVID on economically disadvantaged students, racial and ethnic minorities and others.

doe of california $15.1 billion was awarded in federal relief funds—$1.5 billion of which the state planned to go toward training employees in “specified high-need topics,” such as “restitution practices and implicit bias training.”

Illinois awarded $5.1 billion The pandemic relief fund, which will be used to provide training for school districts, areas such as “anti-racism” and “equity”.

According to One Nation Research, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Rhode Island, Washington, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia were among other states that planned to implement elements of CRT in schools.

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