The FEMA Plan for Education: Educating During National Emergencies

• In Event: Underexplored Facets of Educational Leadership: Emotion, Roles, Crisis, and Time

Abstract

The CARES Act was signed into law during COVID-19, providing students with computers without taking into consideration students’ access to internet services or a guaranteed safe place to keep the expensive equipment2. In 2017 – 2018, over 1.5 million registered students in the United States were homeless (National Center for Homeless Education, p. iii). COVID-19 increased this population. We must not wait for infrastructures to be built or rebuilt, as in the case of tribal nations and Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria (“FCC”, pp. 11-12; Maitland & Peha, 2018). We must educate now. I call this the FEMA Plan for Education, and this paper outlines how a newly created department should operate nationally to provide support to all students nationwide.

Author

• April Maddy, April Maddy Consulting