RALEIGH -- Jones County Public Schools are eligible for up to $1,590,296 of assistance. Onslow County Schools are eligible for up to $24,361,635 of assistance.

The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $1.6 billion in funding for the NC Public Schools as part of the Covid relief efforts. Last week, the State announced the projected LEA allotments. Local school systems must apply for grants from earmarked funds from the Emergency Needs for Elementary and Secondary Schools of the State (ESSER II Funds).

"The students of North Carolina have suffered long enough. We are committed to doing all we can to support our schools so that our students can return to the classroom, and that parents and educators can have a piece of mind in the process," said Senator Michael Lazzara (R-Onslow, Jones). "These funds give our schools the tools they need to move forward safely as they help to get our students back on track. It won't be an easy task, but I believe, with this support, that our schools are more than capable of accomplishing this goal."

Some authorized use of funding includes:

School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards.

Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) for students to aid in regular and substantive interaction between students and their classroom instructors (including low-income and disabled students), which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.

Training and professional development for staff pertaining to sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.

Purchasing sanitation and cleaning supplies of school facilities.

Addressing learning loss among students, including low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.

Develop and implementing procedures and systems to improve preparedness and response efforts.

Providing mental health services and supports. Planning and implementing summer learning and supplemental after school program activities, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months.

Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair and replacement.