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American Samoa awarded $45+ million in education funds from CARES Act

Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has awarded the local Eduction Department (ASDOE) more than $45.59 million under provisions of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

American Samoa’s allocations cover two programs — over $38.32 million under the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund for State Education Agencies (SEA) and more than $7.27 million for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program, according to data released separately yesterday by Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga and Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

In a May 5th letter, DeVos thanked Matagi-Tofiga for all she is “doing to lead your State Educational Agency (SEA) through this unprecedented national emergency.”

“Your are making important decisions every day to keep your students, families and teachers safe and you are tackling head on the challenges created by the COVID-19 in your school districts and schools,” DeVos wrote.

“While students and educators are facing significant disruptions and obstacles, your efforts are critical to ensuring that learning continues for all students,” she said, and gave a summary of the funding for American Samoa, which she explained is the same proportion as American Samoa received under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in fiscal year 2019.

American Samoa’s funds are part of the $153.75 million allocated to the Outlying Areas under the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) through provisions of the CARES Act. DeVos also provided to Matagi-Tofiga a fact sheet of fund allocations for the Outlying Areas, which includes American Samoa.

In her letter, DeVos explained that the ESF provides American Samoa with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools in American Samoa.

DeVos promised that her department “will not micromanage how you spend these funds, but I encourage you during these challenging times to see this unprecedented disruption as an opportunity to rethink the way students access education.”

At the same time when so many schools have closed campuses for the remainder of the current school year, “it’s important to think creatively about new delivery methods and focus on investing in the technology infrastructure and professional development and training that will help all students continue to learn through some form of remote learning,” DeVos points out.

“Students and their families are depending on your leadership to ensure that they do not fall behind,” she informed Matagi-Tofiga and provided the digital platform for ASDOE to access in order to get these funds as quickly as possible.

DeVos said USDOE will announce additional-related resources available under the CARES Act in the very near future. “We look forward to partnering with you to ensure that learning continues for all students during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

In a brief statement yesterday morning, Matagi-Tofiga acknowledged being informed of the funding and expressed gratitude to DeVos for this assistance and also her gratitude to the Congresswoman for her support.

As American Samoa’s State Education Agency (SEA), Matagi-Tofiga said she will be meeting with private schools under the federal Consolidated Grant “on our plans in moving education forward during these challenging times.”

In announcing these education funds, Aumua said in a news release yesterday morning that “CARES Act funds will be a big help in our schools and classrooms.”

“This is wonderful news, and so fitting for Teachers Appreciation Week,” she said and congratulated Matagi-Tofiga and Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga “and most of all, our teachers and students who will benefit from this federal investment in our young people’s lives.”

She also thanked US President Donald Trump and DeVos.