Education Funding Explainer

What the American Rescue Plan Means for Schools

By Andrew Ujifusa — April 5, 2021 5:37
What the American Rescue Plan Means for Schools

The COVID-19 relief package signed by President Joe Biden in March can be used on anything from education technology to mental health services in order to help address the needs of students and educators.
It’s the third pandemic aid deal with money for K-12 education, and in the past year, Congress has provided schools nearly $200 billion in COVID-19 relief.
Here’s a breakdown of how schools can use the latest round of federal relief money, timelines and requirements, and what it all means for getting and keeping schools open.

Read Next

President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package, in the Oval Office of the White House on March 11, 2021.
President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package, in the Oval Office of the White House on March 11, 2021.
Andrew Harnik/AP

Andrew Ujifusa was an assistant editor who covered national education policy and politics.
Related Tags:

Video

Curriculum Video These Two Key Questions Form the Heart of Digital Literacy Instruction
Crucial lessons around digital literacy and digital safety can be framed around these two questions.
1 min read
School Climate & Safety Video Obama Ed. Sec. John King: How to Make School Safe for Students With Trauma
A former education secretary has some suggestions for making schools a safe space for students dealing with trauma.
Teaching Profession Video In This School, Teachers Dance Their Stress Away
This New York charter school offers teachers a Friday afternoon dance class to decompress from the week and connect with each other.
Teaching Profession Video How the National Teacher of the Year Puts Students First
The 2025 National Teacher of the Year shares what she believes makes a good teacher, and how she brings that to her classroom.
2:21