Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, public schools in Georgia will receive more than $3.8 billion in federal stimulus funds after the State Board of Education approved Superintendent Richard Woods’ recommendation to begin allocated the funds.
These funds were awarded were determined by federal law and based on the share of Title I funding for the fiscal year 2021.
School districts are required through federal legislation to set aside at least 20 percent of the funds to address student learning loss; while the remainder of the funds can be used to support at-risk students, school meals, mental and physical health, supplemental learning, distance/remote learning, facilities, equipment and core staff and services.
“These funds will help Georgia schools address learning loss and ensure the safety of students, staff, and families,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “I encourage all school districts to take advantage of these resources to continue or expand safe in-person learning options for students.”
To date this is latest allocation is the third disbursement of funding from the federal government following CARES I (May 2020), CARES II (January 2021). Contrary to previous CARES funds, school districts will NOT have to make this funding available to private/independent schools within their districts.