Governor Diverts COVID Relief Funds to Grant Every Teacher $125 For Supplies
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Georgia educators will soon return to their classrooms with additional funding for supplies. Governor Brian Kemp visited Ola High School in Henry County on Friday to announce a $125 grant for full-time public school teachers and staff members who provide daily instructional and supportive services to students. This grant is being funded through the COVID-19 federal relief funds allocated to the governor’s office.
Governor Kemp expressed his hope that these funds will help bridge the learning gap caused by the pandemic, as this will be the first school year since the outbreak that is not affected by remote or distance learning. He emphasized the importance of protecting children’s futures and stated that the work to support them will continue into the new school year and beyond.
The $125 grant can be used to purchase classroom materials and supplies or to implement measures that mitigate the spread of COVID-19. During the visit, Kemp spoke with Dorcas Acosta, an Ola High Spanish teacher and also the Teacher of the Year, who shared her plans for the grant. Acosta mentioned her intention to invest in manipulatives for the classroom, which include impromptu questions in Spanish that enhance students’ preparedness for real-world situations. She highlighted the importance of global competence and cultural awareness in her teaching.
This $125 disbursement follows a similar grant announced by Kemp in January and will function in the same manner. Teachers will receive a notification about the funds through the education funding platform ClassWallet in the coming days. The governor’s office did not disclose the exact cost of these payments, but the previous $125 grants amounted to over $15 million.
The funding for both sets of payments comes from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, provided by the federal government. The fund currently has $59.7 million remaining, and additional awards will be announced in the future.
Governor Kemp is engaged in a competitive election rematch with Democrat Stacey Abrams. Abrams has criticized Kemp’s focus on controlling classroom content and has called for further pay raises for educators beyond the $5,000 achieved during Kemp’s term. Her education platform aims to increase the average teacher salary in Georgia by $11,000, which she believes would position the state among the top ten states for best teacher pay.
Polls suggest a tight race between Kemp and Abrams. An 11Alive poll of 950 Georgia adults conducted from July 21 to 24 revealed a virtual tie, with Kemp receiving 45% of the vote compared to Abrams’ 44%. However, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll of 902 likely Georgia voters conducted from July 14 to 22 showed Kemp with a larger lead, receiving 48% of the vote compared to Abrams’ 43%.
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