Oklahoman
Oklahoma public schools will receive $1.5 billion in stimulus funds this month, nearly doubling the amount of federal aid distributed to school districts since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act into law last week. The stimulus package includes $122.8 billion for K-12 schools nationwide.
The plan will inject 2.2 times the amount school districts received in their second stimulus allocation, according to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. The first two aid packages, approved in May and January under the Trump Administration, included $145 million and $665 million for Oklahoma schools respectively.
The funding allotted to each district is based on the amount its schools receive in federal Title I funds, as was the case with the first two stimulus packages. This means districts with the most high-need and impoverished students will receive greater allocations.
Tuesday, February 2nd 2021, 10:25 pm
By: Barry Mangold
GRADY COUNTY -
An Oklahoma school district is using a new quarantine policy that allows students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to stay in in-person classes.
Minco Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Sims said when Gov. Kevin Stitt unveiled the policy last month, he was skeptical initially.
“It always crosses your mind, Is this the right thing to do? ” Sims said. “This is no different.”
This week, Sims said a middle school student tested positive for the virus. The district confirmed about 12 other students had been exposed but have not displayed symptoms.
Nearly 86% of Oklahoma school districts will see their state funding cut this month as state dollars shift to rapidly growing virtual charter schools.
Oklahoma's education funds are distributed per student. With virtual charter schools enrollment skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic, those districts are getting a larger piece of the funding pie while other districts are seeing their slice shrink.
The latest reductions are worrisome for schools already weathering a difficult financial year, and they make federal aid even more critical, said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.
Oklahoma school finances have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But the new coronavirus relief package will be a much needed buoy for the state’s districts.
While the CARES Act was important for keeping schools afloat earlier in the pandemic, the new stimulus bill passed by Congress quadruples the amount Oklahoma school districts will receive from the federal government this time around.
About $650 million will flow into Oklahoma schools, according to an estimate by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. That represents nearly one quarter of the state’s roughly $3 billion budget for K-12 education for last year, a number that could be cut because of state budget challenges.
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While the CARES Act was important for keeping schools afloat earlier in the pandemic, the new stimulus bill passed by Congress quadruples the amount Oklahoma school districts will receive from the federal government this time around.
About $650 million will flow into Oklahoma schools, according to an estimate by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. That represents nearly one quarter of the state’s roughly $3 billion budget for K-12 education for last year, a number that could be cut because of state budget challenges.
The money can pay for a wide range of expenses like basic operations, mental health support and helping with learning loss.