Covid-19 relief bill includes $130 billion for K-12 schools

The $1.9 trillion package also provides $40 billion for higher education institutions.

The $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill signed into law by President Joe Biden includes about $130 billion for K-12 schools.

The Washington Post reports that the money is intended to help school districts reopen after many of them missed a year of in-person instruction because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Funds would be allocated to improve school building ventilation systems, reduce class sizes, acquire personal protective equipment and put social distancing into place.

Colleges and other higher-education institutions would receive almost $40 billion. That money could help support financial aid grants to prevent hunger, homelessness or other challenges for students during the pandemic.

Additional funds would go to child-care providers through the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. The bill also sets aside $1 billion for the Head Start program, which provides early-childhood education, health and nutrition services to low-income children and families.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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