The Wall Street Journal: Billions in School Covid-Relief Funds Remain Unspent

The Wall Street Journal, May 18, 2022, Billions in School Covid-Relief Funds Remain Unspent

U.S. school districts are struggling to spend billions of dollars in federal pandemic-relief money before the funding expires.

Districts have yet to spend 93% of $122 billion sunk into the K-12 education system last year as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Education.

The money, the largest-ever disbursement of federal funding for American schools, is meant to address learning loss, mental-health problems and other issues in schools caused by the pandemic. Districts are spending the money on teachers, counselors, technology, after-school programs and upgrades to school facilities.