Union Announces Cost To Reopen US Schools: $116.5 Billion

The American Federation of Teachers, a national teachers union, has announced how much more money from the federal government must be spent to ensure that the “safe and effective reopening of America’s schools” meets all the new safety measures devised by public health experts responding to the COVID-19 epidemic.

It’s $116.5 billion. Federal spending on K-12 schools in 2019 was $40.1 billion. 

“This aid should be provided in addition to other funds included in the HEROES Act to help state and local governments generally and public education in particular,” the AFT said in a press release.