The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 in an effort to provide emergency assistance and healthcare response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Educational institutions were included in funding as part of the bill to support teaching and learning. While there is guidance on how the funding is to be spent, it is left up to the local institution to prioritize needs to be funded. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve preparedness and response efforts of institutions, purchasing educational technology that aids in interaction between students and teachers, and providing mental health services are all considered essential and must be addressed.

As of January 14, 2021, additional funding is now available to higher education institutions for improvements to learning environments. This page was designed as a planning tool to help educational decision makers ensure that their institution is appropriately equipped to enable each and every student to achieve and succeed.