April 7, 2020
Your Daily ISD News & Updates
Welcome to the MAISA Daily InSiDe Update.
MAISA will be providing this resource of critical topics each day. Please reach out to sfranck@gomaisa.org if you have additional items to add.
Congress Passes 3rd Federal Relief Package
John Hopkins University has published a CARES Act analysis document, outlining a third Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act, which includes approximately $2 trillion and was signed on Friday, March 27, 2020. The massive relief package includes checks to households, funding for distressed industries, small business loans and grants, and funding for K-12 and higher education ( H.R. 748 ).

In the document (the first 6 pages are the critical part) it looks like the timeline could take a while for funding to get to schools.

The CARES Act includes the following timeline for funding allocation:
  • The Secretary of Education must issue a notice inviting applications within 30 days of enactment of the bill.
  • The Secretary must approve or deny a state’s application within 30 days of receipt.
  • The SEAs and Governors must award funds within one year.
  • Funds are available at the Federal level for LEAs until September 30, 2021.

The State of Michigan has not received any of this funding yet, so unfortunately, there are no set allocations, allowable cost guidelines, etc. 

SEILN Update
MAISA's Special Education Instructional Leadership Network (SEILN), gave a written update to both MAISA and MAASE today regarding special education guidance.  It is important to note that their first priority was working with GELN on the MAISA Remote Learning Guidance for Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plans , knowing all students are general education students first. 

With that guidance published, the focus has shifted to the implementation of IEPs within a Continuous Learning Plan. As OSE mentioned last week, one way to document that is through a Contingency Learning Plan. There are more details in the full update , but the good news is that additional guidance will be released this week from both the Office of Special Education and MAISA on this topic.