Boston.com: New legislation from Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey aims to address the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey introduced legislation Wednesday that would create an application-based grant program to administer $100 billion in funding over the next 10 years to address the social, emotional, mental, and physical health needs of students related to impacts from COVID-19 and aid in accelerating academic progress. 

The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2021, which would be administered by the Department of Education, was also introduced by Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both of Connecticut. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges faced by elementary and secondary schools already lacking in the funding and resources needed to provide for students, according to the lawmakers. With growing concerns that the COVID-19 outbreak is causing students to experience “learning loss,” creating increased mental health needs, and worsening the achievement gaps for students in low-income communities and communities of color, the proposed legislation aims to encourage evidence-based programs to support students suffering those impacts of the pandemic.

“Even before this public health crisis, many students faced inequity in our public school system — and COVID-19 has only exacerbated this problem, especially for students in low-income communities and communities of color who have been hit hard by this pandemic,” Warren said in a statement.  

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