U.S. Education Department awarded $13.1 million to Virgin Islands schools recovery program

The Virgin Islands Department of Education received $13.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education under the Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations program, according to a Government House announcement published May 17, 2018.

Government House said Gov. Kenneth Mapp learned of the award during a phone call that week with U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

The funds were to be administered by the Virgin Islands Department of Education to public, private and parochial schools in the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix districts to help cover the costs of restarting school operations and restoring learning environments after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Government House said the award was the first in a multi-phase process intended to provide initial funding, with additional assistance available through future applications.

According to the announcement, Congress appropriated about $2.5 billion for the Restart program and the Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students program for disaster-affected areas in Texas, Puerto Rico, California and the Virgin Islands.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/us-dept-of-education-sends-additional-aid-for-vi-schools-private-and-parochial-schools-eligible-for-assistance/