After months of delays, state leaders announced this week that Texas would start distributing $11.2 billion in federal aid to help students recover from learning loss during the pandemic. It comes after some Democrats and school leaders pressed Gov. Greg Abbott to begin distributing the money that was approved for use months ago.
Emily Donaldson is a reporter for The Dallas Morning News Education Lab. She told Texas Standard that Texas had been slow to distribute the funding, compared to other states. But now that the state is picking up the pace, the money can go toward things like additional classes and mental health services to help catch kids up for the next school year.