Kosierowski announces more than $104K in grant awards to multiple school districts

HARRISBURG, Aug. 20 – State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, announced today more than $104,000 was awarded to seven area school districts to enhance educational services for special education students who may be negatively impacted by pandemic mitigation measures.

“As parents, educators and administrators look toward welcoming back students, they do so understanding children with special needs are going to need extra considerations and help adjusting to the school experience,” said Kosierowski. “These dollars will help provide additional materials and support that’s needed for our already underfunded special needs programs. Because of these dollars, special needs students will be better positioned to get acclimated with, and most importantly, become comfortable with, the vast changes made to their learning environments and educational experience.”

The following school districts received Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grants:

  • Abington Heights School District: $15,238.
  • Carbondale School District: $24,425.
  • Forest City School District: $5,000.
  • Lakeland School District: $13,502.
  • Mid Valley School District: $17,393.
  • Old Forge School District: $5,671.
  • Riverside School District: $22,985.
     

According to Kosierowski, these funds are to be used for:

  • Providing enhanced real-time instruction to bolster remote services and supports for students with complex needs.
  • Providing services and supports to students with disabilities who experienced a loss in skills and behavior and/or a lack of progress due to the mandatory school closures. 

Grant amounts were calculated using an allocation formula based on the number of students with complex special education needs within each local education agency.

Click here for a full list of grant recipients.