Schools across the country are preparing to see their budgets shift from flush to strained as billions of pandemic aid runs out in less than a year, putting at risk staffing and programs added with Covid-relief funds.<\/p>\n
The 2023-24 school year represents the last full year in which districts can spend down what remains of the $180 billion in federal Covid-19 aid. High-poverty districts typically received more emergency relief, so now face steeper cuts as the money runs out.<\/p>\n
In New York City, which received $7 billion in education aid, the state comptroller projects that the schools will run short of money to continue to fund prekindergarten expansion and a widely attended summer program. In Los Angeles, the district is funding more than 2,000 staff positions this year with the federal aid, while its budget office is warning of a \u201cstructural deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the moment, schools largely remain flush. But they\u00a0are barreling toward a fiscal cliff<\/a>\u00a0at the same time\u00a0students remain behind academically<\/a>. That means officials are attempting a high-stakes balancing act: spending the remaining Covid-relief funds effectively, while trying to limit disruptive budget cuts in later years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Billions in pandemic education aid runs out in under a year, posing a risk for schools that added staffing and programs with the Covid relief https:\/\/t.co\/IM6bGBN2Q5<\/a><\/p>\n — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n