Detailed Explanation of the K-12 Funding Request in the American Rescue Plan
October 14, 2021
February 5, 2021
On February 5, 2021, the Biden Administration released additional information on the President's latest $1.9 trillion COVID-19 economic relief proposal dubbed a Detailed Explanation of the K-12 Funding Request in the American Rescue Plan. Specifically, this document serves as the Administration's justification to Congress to appropriate $145 billion in K-12 education funding to support LEA's safely reopening. As good news, the plan differed from the initial details of Biden's $130B K-12 education proposal during the campaign trail.
As a justification for the higher request in funding from Congress, the President based his new proposal on CDC cost estimates associated with safely operating school districts during the 2020-2021 academic year, an approximation of the costs for school districts to avoid lay-offs into the next school year, and an estimate of the additional costs around the academic and social-emotional needs of students that have resulted from the pandemic. We've included an overview of a breakdown in allowable uses of K-12 funding in the chart below.
Allowable Use of Funding | Cost in Billions of $ | Estimate Source |
To avoid Lay-offs Closes budget holes so districts can avoid lay-offs this school year and next.
| 60 | Learning Policy Institute, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, National Conference of State Legislatures |
To provide for physical barriers and other materials CDC recommends to help keep students safe | 3.5 | CDC |
To provide additional custodial staff members | 14 | CDC |
To support additional Transportation Investments that provide for social distancing on buses | 14 | CDC |
To provide PPE for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch | 6 | AFT,CDC, American Association of School Business Professionals |
To support activities around promoting social distancing by reducing class size | 50 | AFT |
To provide a nurse to the 25% of schools without one | 3 | American School Nurse Association |
To extend learning time & support for students through tutoring or summer school | 29 | Learning Policy Institute |
To provide the additional school counselors and psychologists | 10 | American School Counselor Association |
Activities around the digital divide | 7 | Census Pulse Survey Data |
To provide wrap-around services and supports to students and families through Community Schools | .1 | Internal |
To advance equity and evidence based polices to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic | 2 | Internal |
Total Need | 199 | N/A |
Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 133) | - 54 | N/A |
Net Funding ` | 145 | N/A |