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

Student Well-Being Video These Simple Classroom Exercises Can Improve Student Behavior
Incorporating yoga and mindfulness practices in the classroom has helped these students recover from the trauma of Hurricane Helene.
1 min read
Victoria Jorden, a 3rd grade teacher at Gray Court-Ownings School, leads students through a yoga exercise during class in Gray Court, S.C., on Dec. 10, 2024.
Victoria Jorden, a 3rd grade teacher at Gray Court-Ownings School, leads students through a yoga exercise during class in Gray Court, S.C., on Dec. 10, 2024.
Evan Griffith for Education Week
Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Use Dance to Boost Engagement and Learning
From physics to math, this dance teacher shows how incorporating movement can increase student engagement and understanding.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Annie Mulligan for Education Week
Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Activities to Build Classroom Culture and Connection
This theatre teacher incorporates movement into his lessons to enhance student connection. Here's how other teachers can do the same.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Kim Raff for Education Week
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Take Classroom Lessons Into the Wild
This Wisconsin district utilizes its school forest to translate classroom lessons into the outdoors.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Ackerman + Gruber for Education Week