Additional federal money is being allocated to school districts across the state to help with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday said he is dedicating $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools.
The money can be used to support food programs, make technological improvements, address learning loss among students, make repairs to school facilities and to improve indoor air quality.
“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 in a news release. “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 funds are available through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER II, which Congress passed in December. In all, $54 billion was allocated to school districts across the country through the package.
Allocations already are determined for each school across the state based on a formula that considers the number of low-income students served by school facilities. Still, officials must apply for funds through the state Department of Education’s website before they receive monthly payments.
According to the state Education Department website, Pittsburgh Public Schools is one of the top recipients with $50.1 million. Philadelphia schools will receive the most, with $565.9 million, followed by the Reading School District with $51.6 million.
After Pittsburgh’s schools, top allocations in Allegheny County went to Woodland Hills with $7 million and Penn Hills with $5.7 million.
Top allocations in Westmoreland County include Greensburg Salem with $3.5 million, Hempfield Area with $2.6 million and Derry Area with $2 million.
A full list of funds allocated to schools across the state, including in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, can be found on the state Education Department website, education.pa.gov, and searching for ESSER II allocations.
All money received by districts must be used by September 2023.
“Additional, much needed support is on its way to Pennsylvania schools,” Noe Ortega, acting secretary for the state Education Department, said in the release. “These funds will provide critical assistance to school communities as they continue to navigate covid-19.”
Ortega added that while these funds will help during the recovery and reopening of schools, additional funds will be needed to address other issues that occurred over the past year.
“We are thankful for the bipartisan effort to support school communities during this time, but PDE will be advocating for additional action from Congress in the days, weeks and months ahead, and I encourage educators to join us in raising their voices,” Ortega said.
