Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today Kentucky was allocated $1,184,385,074 to support education and childcare during the coronavirus pandemic. The federal funding, distributed by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was made available by the additional, targeted COVID-19 rescue legislation Senator McConnell negotiated and led to enactment in December.  

The Department of Education designated two areas of funding for Kentucky schools, students and families: 

  • $928,274,720 from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund; and
  • $60,147,596 from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, including $40,817,799 specifically allocated for private schools in Kentucky. 

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Childcare also designated Kentucky to receive $195,962,758 to support childcare centers. 

“The best place for Kentucky’s next generation to grow and thrive is in the classroom. Leading scientists and researchers have shown schools can safely re-open with smart adjustments to keep students, teachers and personnel healthy. With this further investment of nearly $1.2 billion, Kentucky school districts can make the classroom a safe and nurturing place once again,” said Senator McConnell. “Even as Kentucky has made the vaccination of teachers a top priority, the CDC announced vaccination should not be a prerequisite for a healthy re-opening. Politicians from the Biden Administration down to the local school boards must listen to the science instead of the whims of Big Labor and get American education back on track.” 

“Over the last year, we have seen incredible bipartisan cooperation in fighting this virus.” Senator McConnell continued. “Unfortunately, President Biden and Washington Democrats have signaled a preference for advancing their far-left agenda over addressing the urgent needs of Kentucky families. I hope they return to the serious approach that developed vaccines in record time, saved millions of jobs and brought us to the cusp of beating the coronavirus for good.” 

In addition to today’s funding, Senator McConnell also announced last year Kentucky received almost $478 million to support childcare providers, K-12 schools, colleges, universities and their students from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act, which started in Senator McConnell’s office, made a $13 billion impact in Kentucky to combat the COVID-19 crisis and support families, workers, and healthcare heroes. 

In January, Kentucky received almost $87 million to distribute vaccine doses from legislation Senator McConnell supported.

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