A new Arizona government program will award up to $7,000 to the families of eligible children at risk of being deprived of in-person learning to cover the cost of switching schools, childcare, or transportation.
Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday the creation of the Open for Learning Recovery Benefit program to give students and their families access to in-person education if their local schools close “for even one day” due to COVID-19.
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“In Arizona, we’re going to ensure continued access to in-person learning,” Ducey said. “Everyone agrees that schools should stay open and kids need to be in the classroom. With this announcement, we are making sure parents and families have options if a school closes its doors.”
Ducey has pushed for returning to full in-person education since March 2021 after many schools were shuttered for over a year due to the pandemic. The program allows the Arizona Department of Economic Security to provide the funds for eligible families the resources they need to get their children to the kind of education the families deem best, according to the governor.
“Parents are best suited to make decisions about their child’s education. In-person learning is vital for the development, well-being, and educational needs of K-12 students,” Ducey said. “We will continue to work with families, public health experts, and school leaders to ensure our kids can stay in the classroom and parents have a choice — always.”
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Arizona’s approach is “data driven,” with the press release citing new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that schools implement “test-to-stay” policies to ensure that healthy students are not quarantined for possible exposure.
The announcement comes as schools across the country are switching back to remote learning amid a new surge in cases fueled by the omicron variant. Teachers unions in major cities, including Boston and Chicago, have threatened to strike, and teachers have refused to come to work for what they say are unsafe working conditions.
