PA Getting $5 Billion To Get Kids Back In Classrooms

HARRISBURG, PA — Nearly $5 billion from the federal government has been earmarked to help Pennsylvania students return to the classroom after coronavirus closures, Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced.

Wolf said the state expects to receive $4.9 billion. Those funds, he said, combined with Pennsylvania's nearly complete teacher vaccine program, will help more schools reopen and more students and teachers to get back into the classroom.

"All schools have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and I commend school communities for rising to the challenge to combat the toll it has taken," Wolf said. "This extra funding is critical to help schools meet the unique needs of educating students at this time while keeping school buildings safe when students return to the classroom."

The federal money comes from the American Rescue Plan, which was approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden.

At least 90 percent of the funds will be sent to school districts and charter schools, Wolf said. Each district or school will get an amount based on federal Title I-A funds receive in 2020 under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

At least 20 percent of that money must be used to address learning loss and the social, emotional and academic needs of underrepresented students, including those from low-income families, with disabilities, English learners, migrant students and students who are homeless or in foster care.

Schools may use the rest of the money for a range of activities, including food services, professional training, technology, sanitizing and cleaning supplies, summer and after-school programs and mental health support.

"Our school communities need these additional resources to invest in instructional materials, equipment, facilities, transportation and more, and we are pleased to make these funds available to them,” said Noe Ortega, Pennsylvania's acting Secretary of Education. "These funds will provide more assistance to school communities as we continue to navigate the pandemic."

A list of fund allocations is available on the PA Department of Education website

The money must be used by September 2024. School districts and charter schools must apply to Pennsylvania Department of Education to get their allocated funds on a website expected to launch in the next few days.

Under the American Rescue Act, Pennsylvania will use the rest of the funds for interventions that address learning loss, support summer enrichment and after-school programs and help educators that don't get an allocation otherwise, like technical schools and intermediate units.