Arizona education department reveals plan for $1B in federal COVID aid

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education on Wednesday revealed how more than $1 billion in new federal COVID-19 relief funds will be allocated.

Every public district and charter school in Arizona will be eligible to receive at least $150,000, with the minimum increased to $175,000 for rural schools and $200,000 for the most remote areas.

“Typically, our small, rural and remote schools are too often left behind when resources are allocated. That’s why I prioritized ensuring that every public school — regardless of size or location — had access to federal relief funding,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said in a press release.

The largest allocations are for the Tucson Unified School District ($76.4 million) and Mesa Public Schools ($70.2 million).

Arizona schools received $1.084 billion in the coronavirus relief act that was enacted in December. The funding is meant to help schools prevent the spread of COVID-19 and recover from the impact of the pandemic.

The education department will provide school leaders with information about applying for the funds and how to use the money next week.

Details about the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, including a downloadable spreadsheet of the allocation amounts for 640-plus districts and charter schools, are available on the education department’s website.

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