The nation’s school leaders are warning of an “educational catastrophe” if they don’t receive federal aid to offset losses from the coronavirus pandemic.
Their comments came in a letter to Congress from the Council of the Great City Schools, according to a story posted by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Wednesday.
They said public schools need an estimated $200 billion in aid or could be faced with laying off 275,000 teachers nationwide.
The letter was signed by Orange County, Florida, Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins, who serves as the group’s secretary-treasurer. It was also signed by about 60 other school leaders, including those representing districts in Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and New York City.
The newspaper noted schools in much of the country have been shut down since mid-March in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Broward County, Florida, Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie had said last week that Florida public schools could face cuts up to 25% as a result of losses sparked by the coronavirus.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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