Kemp Announces $800,000 For Certified Nursing Assistance Pilot Program

Governor Brian P. Kemp has announced a new program aimed at ensuring students negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have the opportunity to pursue successful careers while receiving a high-quality education.

Through the Governors Emergency Education Relief Program, more than $800,000 will be awarded for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Pilot Program.

The CNA Pilot Program will be allocated $843,000 and will allow 500 current Dual-Enrollment High School students across 10 Georgia College and Career Academy sites a grant to cover the cost of achieving a Nurse Aid Technical College Certificate (TCC), including in-person clinical training through partnering healthcare systems.

The grant will also cover the cost of completing the CNA examination administered at the end of the program that must be passed before they are allowed to work in that field.

The pilot will allow students whose schedules have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain their path toward typical on-time high school graduation while also accelerating their intended Technical College path so that both achievements can be completed simultaneously.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020.

It provides funding to supplement the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund awarded to each state under the previous CARES Act.

In other news, on Friday Kemp announced Georgia is giving every teacher a $126 supplement to help them pay for school supplies for their classrooms.

Kemp said the supplement will help teachers defray the cost of school supplies and the learning gap caused by the pandemic.

Kemp said eligible Georgia educators will receive communications from Class Wallet in the coming weeks on how to access and utilize the funds.