Iowa will receive more than $17.68 million in federal funding through a federal “Rethink K-12 Education Models” grant, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. The funding is part of more than $180 million awarded to 11 states aimed at supporting innovative ways to access education with an emphasis on meeting students’ needs during the coronavirus national emergency. Iowa’s funding will be used to support statewide virtual learning and course access programs, which is one of three priorities of the grant program. Congress set aside 1% of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the CARES Act for grants to states with the highest coronavirus burden. The Department of Education announced the Rethink K-12 Education Models grant competition in April, inviting any state educational agency to apply.