Even when it comes to COVID-19 relief funding for schools, there are winners and losers.
A recent Bridge Michigan analysis by Ron French found funds received and expected to be received by Michigan school districts in federal COVID relief can vary by more than 100-fold on a per-student basis.
Cumulative federal aid allocated to Michigan districts in two stimulus packages passed by Congress in 2020, totaling more than $1.8 billion, averages $1,272 per student. But Bridgeâs analysis found the per-pupil amounts ranged wildly, from $13,232 per student in Flint City School District to $69 per student in Northville Public Schools in Wayne County.
There are 189 school districts and charter schools receiving federal relief funds equivalent to more than $2,000 per student, and 41 getting less than $200 per student. The reason: School COVID relief funding that passed Congress in 2020 was tied to Title I guidelines, which provides funds to help low-income students, French reported.