DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Tom Ahart has joined 61 other superintendents in signing a letter asking Congress to carve out funding for public school districts.
The group of big city superintendents wants $200 billion to offset the costs of meal services for students and the transition to home-based learning during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The superintendents are also urging support for disabilities education, Title I programs, technology, and school infrastructure.
They say local school systems are experiencing a significant revenue shortage because of declines in state and local revenues
The letter specifically calls fro $175 billion for Educational Stabilization Funds to be distributed to the local level through the Title I formula, as well as $13 billion for the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and $12 billion in additional Title I program funding.