The Reporter's Notebook

The feds will come for you, Iowa

US Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona issued letters to Florida and Texas on August 13, 2021. These letters caution the anti-mask, anti-science governors that their anti-mask anti-science polices just might be problematic. From the letters:

sound familiar?

And;

See that last bit? Continuity of service (for kids with IEPs especially) - this last part is particularly important. There are consequences when you take federal money and then do everything possible to jeopardize the health and safety of kids and communities:

“The Department will continue to closely review and monitor whether Texas is meeting all of its Federal fiscal requirements.”

My cat as Feds - Shelley as well, Iowa DOE/IDPH

The USDED must do this same thing with Iowa. Iowa is arguably the OG of anti-masking statutes and have done nothing but thwart CDC guidance left right and center*.

Last year for background: (CARES ACT ESSER original announcement from USGOV:) Original attestation by Dir. Lebo here: https://oese.ed.gov/files/2020/06/Iowa-ESSER-Fund-Cert-Redacted.pdf - 10/2020 - and maybe related? via CARES is COVID GEER grant (signed off by Reynolds) and -- Original ESSER Awards page with some narrative documents, etc: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilization-fund/elementary-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund/esser-certifications-agreements/

ESSER/ARP - award page https://oese.ed.gov/offices/american-rescue-plan/american-rescue-plan-elementary-and-secondary-school-emergency-relief/stateplans/

April 21 - US DOE issues ESSER ARP State Plan document and other templates to request fund allocated to Iowa (this is the document that Dir. Lebo signs off)  
April 23 - Garcia/Lebo letter RE: ESSER - walking away from $95mm (letter to CDC program directors) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20694728-letter-to-ashley-treharne-elc-project-officer?embed=true&responsive=false&sidebar=false
May 14 --Garcia /Lebo letter to schools - that they won't require quarantine for students who are exposed to positive COVID individual (attached)
June 7 - (attached and linked) Lebo signed plan submitted to US DOE: https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/06/Iowa-ARP-ESSER-State-Plan.pdf - Page 10 is where the really obvious stuff about mitigation/test/trace/etc., in schools w/ reliance on Test Iowa as a ready source of testing widely available     and that they continue to advise schools on proper quarantine and isolation 
July 21 - US DOE award letter and release of ⅓ remaining funds (attached)

RESOURCES—-Contact DOE:

report suspected fraud/waste: