Today, Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) co-sponsored the Reopen Schools Act., H.R. 682. This bill would help get students safely back in the classroom.

“From day one, I have been adamant about getting our kids back into school,” said Garcia. “For too long we’ve neglected our children's need for in-person education and the sanctity of their mental health. We need to get our kids back in school safely and as quickly as possible. The Reopen Schools Act will incentivize schools to reopen safely so that our children no longer suffer.”

The Reopen Schools Act would make two-thirds of the $54 billion in K-12 education COVID-19 funding conditional upon the state working to have kids back in school. It would require local education agencies to submit a plan to reach at least a 50 percent in-person attendance rate. The submitted plans must include a timeline for reopening, a description of how many days during the week schools would offer in-person instruction, and an assurance that the local educational agency will offer students as much in-person instruction as is safe and practicable. If a school does not reach the 50 percent target, they will receive pro-rated funding based on their in-person attendance.