- Skip to main content
- About Us
- Contact Us
- FAQs
-  Language Assistance ****    - English
  - español
  - 中文: 繁體版
  - Việt-ngữ
  - 한국어
  - Tagalog
  - Русский 

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

        - Student Loans
        - Grants
        - Laws
        - Data

# Education Department Provides Nearly $4 Billion in Pandemic Relief Aid and Other Grants to Puerto Rico Department of Education as Secretary Cardona Visits the Commonwealth  

# Education Department Provides Nearly $4 Billion in Pandemic Relief Aid and Other Grants to Puerto Rico Department of Education as Secretary Cardona Visits the Commonwealth  

June 28, 2021

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -  	More Resources	En Español (Spanish)      
U.S. Secretary of Education  Miguel Cardona today informed The Honorable Pedro Pierluisi, Governor of the  Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and The Honorable Eliezer Ramos, Interim Secretary  of Education, that the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) now has full  access to all federal education pandemic relief funds earmarked for the  Commonwealth and other education program grant dollars. The additional funds  available as of today, totaling nearly $4 billion, include:
- $2 billion       from the American Rescue Plan Act;  
- $1.2       billion from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental       Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA); and  
- $662       million in FY 2020 program grants.  

In the letter to  Governor Pierluisi and Interim Secretary of Education Ramos,  Secretary Cardona wrote:

“I wish to personally affirm  the Department’s commitment to working collaboratively with Puerto Rico  and PRDE so that we can attain our shared goal of educational excellence for  the children, students and youth of the  Commonwealth. We acknowledge your commitment and progress in  strengthening academic services and financial management. I know that by  working together, we will deliver on this fundamental promise.”

Today’s announcement comes as  Secretary Cardona begins a visit to Puerto Rico where he  will meet with government and educational leaders and students of the  Commonwealth. Secretary Cardona is the first member of President  Biden’s Cabinet to visit Puerto Rico, and during the trip, he will  reinforce the Biden Administration’s commitment to the island and its continued  support for Puerto Rico’s K-12 and higher education students, educators, and  families.

“*Me siento orgulloso*, I am honored to be in  Puerto Rico—the island of my roots—as the federal government releases critical  funds to support Puerto Rico’s efforts to safely reopen its schools for  in-person learning and to provide all students on the island with the  opportunity to pursue their passions and achieve their dreams,” said U.S.  Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Today’s announcement reinforces the  Biden Administration’s strong partnership with the island and underscores our  shared commitment to supporting Puerto Rico’s students, educators, and  families. I look forward to the progress we will continue to make together now,  and in the weeks and months ahead.”

Today’s announcement follows  a series of actions the Biden Administration took in its first  months in office to support Puerto Rico students, educators, and  families. As part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Puerto Rico was  allocated nearly $3 billion in ARP Elementary and Secondary School  Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to support their efforts to reopen K-12  schools safely and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it  most.

On March 22, Secretary  Cardona sent a letter to  Governor Pierluisi informing him that the Department had provided the  Commonwealth immediate access to $912 million in federal education funds, which  had not been available to Puerto Rico as a result of previously imposed grant  conditions.

The release of those funds  marked a commitment from the Department and the Biden-Harris  Administration in supporting Puerto Rico.  It also recognized the notable progress ;the  Commonwealth has made in taking steps to ensure sound fiscal  management of federal education funds while working  to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the natural disasters that  have impacted students, families, and educators across the  island.

And most recently in early  June, the Department released $210 million in ESSER II funds  to Puerto Rico, awarded under the Coronavirus Response and Relief  Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. Those federal resources  enabled PRDE to  implement a robust summer learning and enrichment program  through its Summer Academy. As with all students nationwide,  the summer presents a key opportunity for school and community  partners in Puerto Rico to accelerate learning and provide new  avenues for students to safely engage with each other.

Today’s release of nearly $4  billion in funds represents all of the remaining funding that had previously  not been available to Puerto Rico, including both pandemic relief funds and  annual program grants. The Department has worked in partnership with Puerto  Rico to put in place enhanced oversight and accountability measures to ensure  that these resources result in impactful programs for the students of the  Commonwealth and are spent in compliance with the applicable laws and other  requirements. PRDE recently finalized the agreement with its selected third-party  fiduciary agent (TPFA) and the TPFA is ready to perform financial management  duties. The Department remains eager to provide needed resources and support to  the Commonwealth’s schools and students in the wake of the pandemic.
   -  Tags: CoronavirusAmerican Rescue PlanPress Releases
          How Do I Find...?    - Student loans, forgiveness
- Higher Education Rulemaking
- College accreditation
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- FAFSA
- 1098, tax forms
- More...
      Information About...    - Elevating Teaching
- Early Learning
- Engage Every Student
- Unlocking Career Success
- Cybersecurity
Search press releasesSearch for:      Find By Month    - February 2024 
- January 2024 
- December 2023 
- November 2023 
- October 2023 
- September 2023 
- August 2023 
- July 2023 
- June 2023 
- May 2023 
- April 2023 
- March 2023 
- All Press Releases
             
*Our mission* is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
- Student Loans
- Repaying Loans
- Defaulted Loans
- Loan Forgiveness
- Loan Servicers
- Grants & Programs
- Apply for Pell Grants
- Grants Forecast
- Apply for a Grant
- Laws & Guidance
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- Civil Rights
- IDEA Website
- Data & Research
- Education Statistics
- Postsecondary Education Data
- ED Data Express
- Nation's Report Card
- What Works Clearinghouse
- Open Data Platform
- COVID Relief Data
- About Us
- Contact Us
- ED Offices
- Jobs
- Press Releases
- FAQs
- Recursos en español
- Budget, Performance
- Privacy Program
- Homeroom Blog
- Notices
- FOIA
- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility
- Security
- Information Quality
- Inspector General
- Whitehouse.gov
- USA.gov
- Benefits.gov
- Regulations.gov