What does Covid-19 Relief Funding Mean for Children?

As the new year begins, we are once again facing school closures, resulting in thousands of students missing out on valuable in-class instruction. The cause of these closures is said to be the inability to manage the new Omicron variant, but schools are yet to demonstrate lack of funds as reason for not implementing measures to safely reopening. So, what other than politicians and teachers unions are holding them back?

Congress has already appropriated $180 billion in federal relief funding to assist states in opening schools, keeping schools open, and addressing the achievement losses for students. The COVID-19 federal relief funds could and should have been used toward mitigation, protection of students for future viruses, and preventative strategies to help make schools safe. Rather than spending like Milwaukee where there are plans to spend $24 million on Social Emotional Learning and an additional $100,000 for Anti-racism and Bias Professional Development.

After all, our Nation’s children are the ones who suffer the most from school closures. The most common cause of learning loss is missing school. The term learning loss refers to “any specific or general loss of knowledge and skills or to reversals in academic progress, most commonly due to extended gaps or discontinuities in a student’s education.” Missing school days impedes skill improvement and leads to a reduction in the learning levels of students. The pandemic’s effect on student learning is severe and sadly, data shows that minority children are disproportionately impacted by schools closures and learning loss…. (Excerpts from America First Policy Institute)