Department of Education files complaint against state for withholding money from Alachua schools

The U.S. Department of Training filed a stop and desist grievance Thursday from the Florida Department of Instruction. The criticism requests the state be prevented from withholding revenue from Alachua County Public Educational institutions.

It reads in element (in full at close of write-up), “A point out could not just take into thing to consider payments under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)…in pinpointing the eligibility of any local educational agency in that State for Condition aid, or the volume of Condition support, with regard to free community schooling of small children.”

The criticism also features, “Guidance issued by the Facilities for Condition Regulate will make it distinct that K-12 educational facilities can properly run in particular person by employing layered avoidance methods. Science-based mostly methods endorse by the CDC for preventing the unfold of COVID-19 involve universal and suitable indoor masking”.

Superintendent Dr. Carlee Simon notified the U.S. Department of Education and learning on Tuesday that much more than $160,000 in condition funding was held from the district. This integrated far more than $147,000 in federal grant income, which the Alachua Universities was awarded to reduce the unfold of COVID-19 in universities.

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The condition held $455,000 from Broward County schools for the exact same motive. The move is portion of an ongoing feud between the White Residence and Republican Gov. Ron Desantis’ administration in excess of coronavirus polices in colleges.

Earlier this thirty day period, the Florida State Board of Instruction authorised strategies to withhold a month’s income from university board customers in districts with classroom mask requirements and lower general funding if those counties get a federal grant intended to offset the state’s fines.