WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen John Sarbanes, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $3,582,069 in federal funding to reimburse the Montgomery County Education Department for pandemic-related expenses incurred by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system. Funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as authorized through Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

The funding refunds expenses incurred over an 8 month period from November 2020 to June 2021 in which the Montgomery County Education Department purchased and distributed PPE such as masks, nitrile gloves, safety goggles, digital thermometers, and more.

“Keeping our students, educators and staff safe as schools reopened, after the most severe days of the pandemic, was one of the highest priorities for our communities,” the lawmakers said. “We are proud to announce this federal funding which reimburses MCPS for the measures taken to safely reopen schools. Team Maryland will continue to secure federal funds for counties statewide to keep our communities safe.” 

Previously, Team Maryland secured more than $389 million for Montgomery County Public Schools through three rounds of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF). This Department of Education program provides funding to help schools respond to the pandemic by addressing learning losses incurred, supporting low income students, investing in school facility repairs and more.

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