Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — The Department of Education (PDE) announced a $75 million grant allocation aimed at promoting environmental remediation and improvement at educational institutions across Pennsylvania.
“Preparing and developing the next generation of successful Pennsylvanians starts with ensuring all students have a safe and healthy learning environment,” said Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. He emphasized that these grants will help school districts make necessary renovations and repairs to buildings and learning spaces to ensure safe air, clean water, and comfortable classrooms for students and staff.
This effort is consistent with the growing recognition that the physical environment can have a profound impact on children's development and learning outcomes. PDE aims to reduce cumulative exposure throughout childhood by removing lead, asbestos, and other environmental contaminants from schools. This move is thought to lead to improved cognitive function and overall health in children, increasing their chances of academic and career success.
As its name suggests, the Public School Environmental Restoration Grant Program focuses on remediating and mitigating environmental hazards in schools and creating the safe and healthy learning environments that students and staff deserve. The 2023-24 budget allocates $75 million for the program, which is open to school districts, career technical centers (CTCs), and charter schools.
PDE will accept applications from May 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. Schools can apply for funding to reduce or remediate environmental hazards, including but not limited to lead in water sources, asbestos, and mold in school buildings. Businesses can apply for funding for eligible expenses incurred after July 1, 2023, using PDE's School Construction Maintenance Management (SCMM) system, which can be accessed through MyPDESuite.
Additionally, the 2023-24 budget allocated $100 million to the Department of Community and Economic Development's Public School Facilities Improvement Grant Program. The program provides eligible schools with grants for heating and air conditioning upgrades, window replacements, lead and asbestos abatement, and other improvement projects. Applications for this program will open on March 1st.
This significant investment in improving school environments represents an important step toward ensuring healthier, safer, and more beneficial learning spaces for Pennsylvania students. By addressing these critical infrastructure needs, states are investing not only in school buildings but also in future generations.
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