Rep. Wild Highlights American Rescue Plan During Virtual Events with Parents and Educators

This week, Rep. Susan Wild convened two Facebook Lives with educators and parents to discuss the path to physically reopening schools and the resources within the American Rescue Plan to help school districts in the Lehigh Valley. A portion of her introductory remarks are included below.

“As a parent, I can only imagine how challenging the last year has been. There is nothing more important that we do as a country as providing for the next generation, and your work and sacrifice does not go unnoticed,” said Rep. Wild.

“I am proud that two weeks ago, Congress passed - and President Biden signed - the American Rescue Plan, a critical relief package that provides an urgent lifeline to families across the Lehigh Valley by ensuring we can get students back in the classroom, vaccines into our community, and our economy back on track. 

“The bill includes $130 billion in funding to get schools open safely, keep schools open safely, and make up for valuable learning time our kids have lost in the classroom. Pennsylvania elementary and secondary schools will receive approximately $5 billion in funding through the American Rescue Plan.

“We know this money will go a long way to getting educators and communities the resources they need so that schools can physically reopen full-time as quickly and safely as possible.”

The full video from her event with educators is available here, and the full video from the event with parents is available here.

Estimates of the funding allocation for school districts in Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district are below. Under the American Rescue Plan, federal funding is being allocated based on the Title I-A funding formula, which supports schools with a high percentage of low-income students.