New Jersey plans to funnel $1.2 billion to mostly low-income school districts and for mental health programs, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday. His administration will also seek a federal waiver for statewide assessments this spring.
The use of federal coronavirus relief funds should help give school communities flexibility and support, Murphy said, to "best meet the individual needs of their students during this challenging time."
He has noted many times in the past how virtual schooling has added a new layer of stress on students and their families.
"Educators and students have endured a great deal over the past 11 months,” acting Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan said in a statement. “These additional federal funds will support targeted initiatives to enhance academic enrichment and mental health interventions for all students and educators.”