Even as the Biden administration has begun pushing for the next recovery package, educators are still sorting out the details of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, otherwise known as "CARES Act 2."
On the six-month anniversary of the signing of the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Education has launched on online portal intended to show how much states have spent of their education allocations for K-12 districts and colleges and universities.
Indiana's University of Evansville is developing its online education and learning efforts thanks to a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment. The university will use the funds to "implement major initiatives that will enhance the campus as well as the online learning environment," according to a news announcement.
A federal higher education open textbook pilot program is kicking off after a public-comment period that ended in April. The U.S. Department of Education recently published details about how to apply for funding in the Federal Register. Consortia of colleges and universities are being invited to develop programs to produce open educational resources under grants that will range in size from $500,000 to $2 million.
The U.S. Department of Education is funding efforts in eight states to provide students with opportunities to develop new skills in high-demand areas. The $126 million in grants awarded to winners of the Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grant Program came out of the Education Stabilization Fund portion of the CARES Act.
The American Council on Education has announced a $900,000 competition designed to identify blockchain-based solutions that will help underserved learners document their skills and credentials and share them with potential employers.
Nonprofit Education Design Lab has launched a $2.5 million Community College Growth Engine Fund, devoted to helping community colleges across the United States create short-term credentials that connect workers with in-demand jobs and industries.
Two organizations have received sizable grants to continue their education reform work in the midst of the challenges posted by COVID-19.
At Fox Valley Technical College, students are using virtual reality to safely explore the inner workings of a diesel engine — while it is running.
The University of California, Merced is addressing food insecurity on campus with a program that allows students to donate unused meal plan funds to peers.