From Tutoring to After-School Programs and Piloting Competency-Based Assessments: How North Carolina Plans to Spend Its COVID Relief Funds For Schools
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On Monday, the Department of Education finally approved North Carolina’s proposal to utilize federal COVID-19 funds for schools. In March, the state received an initial allotment of $2.4 billion from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. With this recent decision, the state will now receive an additional $1.2 billion.
The majority of this federal funding is designated to go directly to districts and schools. However, 10% of the funds, equivalent to $360 million, will be used for statewide initiatives aimed at assisting schools and students in their recovery from the pandemic.
To implement these statewide initiatives, the Department of Public Instruction plans to allocate $30 million for tutoring, $19 million for a competency-based assessment and platform, and $35 million for a grant program supporting summer school and after-school programs.
State Superintendent Catherine Truitt emphasized that North Carolina’s plan for this funding goes beyond pandemic recovery; it is about rebuilding and reimagining the education landscape in the state.
The delay in passing a budget by the state legislature has been a major hurdle to obtaining approval for the plan. The initial plan was submitted on June 22 and has since undergone several revisions.
In July, Michael Maher, the executive director of the DPI’s Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration, spoke about the challenges faced by the State Board of Education due to the lack of a budget. He explained how it is difficult to provide comprehensive support and services based on the best available data and existing programs without knowing the overall funding amount.
Despite the absence of a budget, the Department of Education granted approval to North Carolina’s plan under the condition that the state provides regular updates on spending plans to the federal government.
In order to secure approval, the state also had to establish a process for engaging stakeholders. In August, the State Board approved the formation of an advisory committee for the American Rescue Plan. This committee will consist of teachers, parents, students, and advocates, and will be appointed by the Board.
So far, the Department of Education has approved the plans of 37 states.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressed his satisfaction with the state plans, noting how they prioritize using the American Rescue Plan funds to provide crucial support to schools and communities, especially as the new academic year approaches.
This article was originally published on EducationNC.
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