News Analysis
The federal government poured $190 billion into state coffers in 2020 and 2021 to help schools deal with the effects of COVID-19 on the nation’s education system.
While some school districts quickly spent the funds on things like tutoring, teacher salaries, school bus wifi, and new HVAC systems, other districts have struggled to determine the best use for the money to meet federal program deadlines.
As the first of three spending deadlines approaches, a report examines the way the nation’s largest school districts have used the money so far and how much remains unspent.
Relief Funding for Education
As the rate of COVID-19 infections rose in early 2020, Congress created the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), to help the nation prepare for the threat to school operations….