SchoolSafetyFundingArticle A Huge Investment in California’s Children and their Safety

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Note: This Guidance is no longer in effect and is for historical purposes only. ​​​​

A Huge Investment in California’s Children and their Safety

6/29/2021

​Teacher teaching in front of a black-board with mask


  • Over $25 billion in federal and state funds are available for California schools to get back to full in-person learning. 
  • State and federal funds available to schools include:

    • STATE FUNDING: Governor Newsom and the California Legislature passed a law (Assembly Bill 86) on March 5, 2021 to provide $6.6 billion total to schools for in-person instruction ($2 billion) and expanded learning opportunities ($4.6 billion). 

    • FEDERAL FUNDING: U.S. Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III Funds) and the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER I Fund) to provide California with over $21 billion to address the impact of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools. California also got $1.2 billion to support COVID-19 testing for teachers, staff and students (CDC funding). 

Children in a classroom raising their hands

  • School districts can receive state and federal money to address many needs to make sure students and teachers can safely return to full in-person instruction for the 2021-22 school year. 
  • Examples of how school funds can be used include:
      • COVID-19 testing
      • Cleaning and disinfecting
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Ventilation and other school site improvements
      • Hiring of extra teachers and staff
      • Summer instruction
      • Extra instruction to help catch up from learning loss
      • Social emotional/mental health services
  • Schools must get public input from parents, school employees, and others in their school community on their spending plans for most of the state and federal funds.


​​Originally published on June 29, 2021