California schools got $23.4 billion in federal pandemic relief money. Low-income schools that got the most may be hardest hit when the funds expire this year.
After years of cash windfalls, California schools are bracing for a stretch of austerity that could jeopardize students鈥 already precarious recovery from the pandemic.
kAmp? 6?5 E@ 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? 7656C2= r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5D[ 564=:?:?8 6?C@==>6?E[ DE277 C2:D6D[ 9:C:?8 3:?86D 2?5 DE28?2?E DE2E6 7F?5:?8 D9@F=5 4@>3:?6 @G6C E96 ?6IE 76H >@?E9D E@ 4C62E6 DE66A 3F586E D9@CE72==D[ H:E9 =@H\:?4@>6 5:DEC:4ED 27764E65 E96 >@DE]k^Am
kAm鈥%96 7:D42= 4=:77 :D 8@:?8 E@ G2CJ[鈥 D2:5 |2C8F6C:E6 #@K2[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 t5F?@>:4D {23 2E v6@C86E@H? &?:G6CD:EJ] 鈥%96 5:DEC:4ED E92E 8@E E96 >@DE r~'xs C6=:67 5@==2CD[ E9@D6 E92E 92G6 E96 >@DE =@H\:?4@>6 DEF56?ED[ 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 7246 E96 3:886DE =@DD6D]鈥漦^Am
kAmx? 9:D 3F586E AC@A@D2= C6=62D65 :? y2?F2CJ[ v@G] v2G:? }6HD@> =2C86=J DA2C65 D49@@=D[ <66A:?8 :?E24E A@AF=2C :?:E:2E:G6D =:<6 EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6?[ F?:G6CD2= D49@@= >62=D[ 4@>>F?:EJ D49@@=D 2?5 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2>D] w6 AC@A@D65 5:AA:?8 :?E@ C6D6CG6D 2?5 56=2J:?8 D@>6 6IA6?D6D E@ >2<6 FA 2 AC@;64E65 >F=E:3:==:@?\5@==2C D9@CE72==]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 6I24E ?F>36CD 2C6 D9:7E:?8] %96 {68:D=2E:G6 p?2=JDE鈥橠 ~77:46 AC65:4E65 E92E E96 D9@CE72== >2J 36 >F49 9:896C E92? }6HD@> 42=4F=2E65 2?5 4FED H:== 36 F?2G@:523=6] }6HD@> H:== C6=62D6 2 C6G:D65 3F586E :? |2J[ 2?5 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 92D F?E:= yF?6 `d E@ A2DD 2 7:?2= 3F586E]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ 7656C2= r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5:?8 7@C D49@@=D H:== 6?5 :? $6AE6>36C] x? 2 D6C:6D @7 8C2?ED <?@H? 2D t=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 $64@?52CJ $49@@= t>6C86?4J #6=:67[ E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 82G6 r2=:7@C?:2 D49@@=D Sab]c 3:==:@? E@ A2J 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 2:C AFC:7:6CD E@ 27E6C\D49@@= EFE@C:?8]k^Am
kAm%92E 7F?5:?8 H2D 5:DEC:3FE65 32D65 @? E96 ?F>36C @7 =@H\:?4@>6 DEF56?ED 5:DEC:4ED 92G6] s:DEC:4ED H:E9 =@ED @7 =@H\:?4@>6 DEF56?ED 8@E >@C6 >@?6J[ H9:49 >62?D E96J鈥== =@D6 E96 >@DE H96? E96 7F?5:?8 6?5D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 A2?56>:4[ D49@@=D E6?565 E@ DA6?5 E96 >@?6J @? @?6\E:>6 6IA6?D6D[ =:<6 E23=6ED 2?5 (:\u: 9@E DA@ED 7@C DEF56?ED 2EE6?5:?8 D49@@= C6>@E6=J] qFE 2D D49@@=D C6@A6?65[ E96J DE2CE65 DA6?5:?8 >@?6J @? @?8@:?8 AC@8C2>D :?E6?565 E@ 96=A DEF56?ED 42E49 FA 24256>:42==J 2?5 C64@G6C 7C@> E96 >6?E2= 962=E9 92C5D9:AD @7 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8] %92E 4@F=5 :?4=F56 EFE@CD[ =@?86C D49@@= 52JD[ @C DF>>6C 2?5 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm$2? q6C?2C5:?@ r:EJ &?:7:65 $49@@= s:DEC:4E FD65 Sg >:==:@? @7 :ED Sab_ >:==:@? :? r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5D E@ 3667 FA :ED 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2>] %92?<D E@ E96 6IEC2 7F?5:?8[ E96 5:DEC:4E 92D 366? 23=6 E@ @776C 7C66 27E6C\D49@@= 24E:G:E:6D[ EFE@C:?8[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 DFAA@CE 2E 6G6CJ D49@@=]k^Am
k9bmz66A:?8 E96 鈥楧A2C<=6 :? <:5D鈥 6J6D鈥檏^9bm
kAm|:2 r@@A6C[ 2 A2C6?E H:E9 E9C66 49:=5C6? :? $2? q6C?2C5:?@ r:EJ &?:7:65[ D2:5 96C 49:=5C6?鈥橠 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2> 92D 366? 2 =:76D2G6C] x? 724E[ :E鈥橠 E96 >2:? C62D@? E96J H2?E E@ 8@ E@ D49@@=[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96J ?@E @?=J 36?67:E 7C@> EFE@C:?8[ 3FE E96J 86E E@ 6?;@J 32==6E 2?5 24E:?8 =6DD@?D[ 7:6=5 EC:AD E@ D4:6?46 >FD6F>D 2?5 s:D?6J=2?5[ C@3@E:4D 4=2DD6D[ A6C7@C>2?46D 3J 7@=<=@C:4@ 52?46 EC@FA6D[ 2?5 @E96C 7F? 24E:G:E:6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ @?6 @7 r@@A6C鈥橠 52F89E6CD H2D H:E95C2H? 2?5 56AC6DD65[ 3FE E96 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2> 96=A65 96C C64@??64E H:E9 7C:6?5D 2?5 72== :? =@G6 H:E9 D49@@= 282:?] z66A:?8 E96 AC@8C2> :?E24E D9@F=5 36 2 AC:@C:EJ[ r@@A6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥%96 <:5D H6C6 6IA@D65 E@ D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 4F=EFC2= E9:?8D[鈥 D96 D2:5] 鈥渪7 2 AC@8C2> :D H@C<:?8 7@C <:5D 2?5 H6鈥機6 D66:?8 8@@5 @FE4@>6D[ x E9:?< :E鈥橠 D@>6E9:?8 H6 ?665 E@ <66A] ]]] (6 D9@F=5?鈥橢 =@D6 E92E DA2C<=6 :? <:5D鈥 6J6D]鈥漦^Am
k9bmp 3F586E C64<@?:?8 7@C D@>6 5:DEC:4EDk^9bm
kAmqFE D@>6 5:DEC:4ED鈥 FD6 @7 r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5D 4@F=5 H@CD6? E96:C 3F586E AC@DA64ED[ #@K2 D2:5] s:DEC:4ED E92E :?G6DE65 @?6\E:>6 7F?5D :? @?8@:?8 6IA6?D6D[ DF49 2D ?6H DE277[ C2:D6D 2?5 3@?FD6D[ >:89E 36 962565 7@C 2 C64<@?:?8] }2E:@?H:56[ D49@@= DE277 :?4C62D65 aT D:?46 E96 A2?56>:4 H9:=6 6?C@==>6?E 564C62D65 aT[ 244@C5:?8 E@ v6@C86E@H?鈥橠 t5F?@>:4D {23]k^Am
kAm$2=2C:6D 7@C 6I:DE:?8 E62496CD 92G6 C:D6?[ E@@] s:DEC:4ED :? $2? uC2?4:D4@[ ~2<=2?5[ $2? s:68@ 2?5 {@D p?86=6D 鈥 2== @7 H9:49 92G6 564=:?:?8 6?C@==>6?E 鈥 28C665 E@ 967EJ E62496C C2:D6D 2?5 3@?FD6D :? E96 A2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ E96 7:D42= @FE=@@< :D ?@E 2D 5:C6 2D :E H2D 5FC:?8 E96 a__g C646DD:@?[ D2:5 yF=:6? {27@CEF?6[ 2 C6D62C49 76==@H 2E E96 !F3=:4 !@=:4J x?DE:EFE6 @7 r2=:7@C?:2] $49@@= 7F?5:?8 86?6C2==J :? r2=:7@C?:2 92D C:D6? 5C2>2E:42==J D:?46 E96?[ =:7E:?8 r2=:7@C?:2 7C@> E96 3@EE@> 92=7 @7 DE2E6D :? D49@@= 7F?5:?8 E@ 23@G6 E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286] x? 255:E:@?[ E96 DE2E6鈥橠 D9:7E E@ E96 {@42= r@?EC@= uF?5:?8 u@C>F=2 2 564256 28@ 92D AC@G:565 >@C6 >@?6J 7@C DEF56?ED H:E9 9:896C ?665D[ 2=E9@F89 :?6BF:E:6D A6CD:DE]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E 5@6D?鈥橢 >62? E96D6 4FED H@?鈥橢 9FCE[ {27@CEF?6 D2:5[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 >@DE 27764E65 3J E96 A2?56>:4] {@H\:?4@>6[ q=24< 2?5 {2E:?@ DEF56?ED 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J 3@C6 E96 3CF?E @7 D49@@= 4=@DFC6D[ C6D62C49 92D D9@H?[ 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ DF776C 64@?@>:42==J 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4[ =6DD =:<6=J E@ 92G6 256BF2E6 E649?@=@8J 2E 9@>6[ 2?5 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 92G6 2 A2C6?E 2G2:=23=6 E@ 96=A E96> H:E9 5:DE2?46 =62C?:?8]k^Am
kAm鈥渪E鈥橠 ?@E =:<6 E96 vC62E #646DD:@?[ 3FE x E9:?< E96 492==6?86D 2C6 8C62E6C ?@H[鈥 {27@CEF?6 D2:5] 鈥減 =@E @7 E96 24256>:4 AC@8C6DD H6 >256 H2D 6C2D65 3J E96 A2?56>:4]鈥漦^Am
kAm#@K2 H@CC:6D E92E 2C8F>6?ED @G6C A@E6?E:2= 4FED :? E96 ?6IE J62C H:== 64=:AD6 4@?46C? @G6C =62C?:?8 =@DD] !@E6?E:2= D49@@= 4=@DFC6D 2?5 E62496C =2J@77D H:== :?6G:E23=J 6=:4:E =@F5 AC@E6DED[ 3FE D49@@= 3@2C5D D9@F=5 DE2J 7@4FD65 @? D6CG:46D E92E 5:C64E=J 96=A DEF56?ED[ DF49 2D >2E9 EFE@C:?8 2?5 =:E6C24J[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥$@>6 5:DEC:4ED H:== 36 7@4FD:?8 @? DE277 C6E6?E:@? :?DE625 @7 <:5D鈥 ?665D[鈥 #@K2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96D6 564:D:@?D >2J 36 D@ 5:G:D:G6 E92E #@K2 AC65:4ED 2 9:89 C2E6 @7 EFC?@G6C 2>@?8 D49@@= 25>:?:DEC2E@CD 2?5 3@2C5 >6>36CD F?H:==:?8 E@ >2<6 F?A@AF=2C 564:D:@?D] $96 2=D@ 6IA64ED E@ D66 D@>6 5:DEC:4ED C67FD6 E@ >2<6 DF77:4:6?E 4FED 2?5 C:D< :?D@=G6?4J @C DE2E6 E2<6@G6C]k^Am
k9bm!=2??:?8 A2JD @77 :? uC6D?@k^9bm
kAmuC6D?@ &?:7:65 $49@@= s:DEC:4E :D 2>@?8 E96 5:DEC:4ED 724:?8 2 5@F3=6 H92>>J @7 564=:?:?8 6?C@==>6?E 2?5 2 =2C86 =@DD @7 C6=:67 7F?5D] %96 f_[___\DEF56?E 5:DEC:4E C646:G65 >@C6 E92? Sfgf >:==:@? :? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= C6=:67 >@?6J[ @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 2==@E>6?ED :? r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 5:DEC:4E H2D 42C67F= E@ 3F:=5 C6D6CG6D[ C6=J @? DE2E6 8C2?ED H96? A@DD:3=6 2?5 ?@E @G6C=J :?G6DE :? @?8@:?8 DE277 D2=2C:6D] x?DE625[ :E FD65 >@DE @7 :ED >@?6J E@ EC2:? E62496CD :? >2E9 2?5 =:E6C24J[ 6IE6?5 E96 D49@@= 52J[ 2?5 AC@G:56 2 9:89\BF2=:EJ DF>>6C AC@8C2>] xE 2=D@ 3C@F89E :? D@4:2= H@C<6CD[ C6DE@C2E:G6 ;FDE:46 4@F?D6=@CD[ 2EE6?52?46 DA64:2=:DED 2?5 @E96C DE277 E@ 3@@DE DEF56?ED鈥 >6?E2= 962=E9]k^Am
kAm%96 :?G6DE>6?ED 92G6 2AA2C6?E=J A2:5 @77] %96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED >66E:?8 r2=:7@C?:2鈥橠 >2E9 36?49>2C< C@D6 2=>@DE b A6C46?E286 A@:?ED =2DE J62C[ 6G6? 2D E96 DE2E6 2G6C286 C6>2:?65 F?492?865] p?5 49C@?:4 23D6?E66:D> 76== D:8?:7:42?E=J[ 7C@> d`T :? a_aa E@ bdT =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ uC6D?@ &?:7:65 6IA64ED E@ >2<6 D@>6 4FED[ AC@323=J 27764E:?8 E96 5:DEC:4E @77:46 3FE ?@E D49@@=D 5:C64E=J 鈥 2E =62DE 2E 7:CDE[ D2:5 E96 5:DEC:4E鈥橠 49:67 7:?2?4:2= @77:46C[ !2EC:4< y6?D6?]k^Am
kAm鈥渪E鈥橠 =:<6 H6鈥機6 :? 2 3@2E 2?5 H6 42? D66 2 DE@C> 4@>:?8[鈥 y6?D6? D2:5] 鈥(6鈥機6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 52D965 282:?DE E96 C@4<D 3FE H6 DE:== ?665 E@ 7:?5 2 D276 92C3@C]鈥漦^Am
kAm$2? q6C?2C5:?@ r:EJ &?:7:65[ 2>@?8 r2=:7@C?:2鈥橠 =@H6DE\:?4@>6 5:DEC:4ED[ 2=D@ C646:G65 2 9:89 C6=:67 7F?5:?8 A2J@FEi Sab_ >:==:@? 7@C ce[___ DEF56?ED] qFE E96 5:DEC:4E :D?鈥橢 2?E:4:A2E:?8 2 7:?2?4:2= 5:D2DE6C @?46 E96 7F?5:?8 6IA:C6D] xE A=2?D E@ D9:7E D@>6 @7 :ED DE2E6 3=@4< 8C2?E >@?6J E@ A2J 7@C AC@8C2>D 7F?565 H:E9 C6=:67 >@?6J[ H96C6 ?646DD2CJ[ 2?5 92D 366? 4@?D6CG2E:G6 H:E9 A=2??:?8] xE鈥橠 2=D@ 4=@D6=J >@?:E@C:?8 E96 DE2E6 3F586E 2?5 64@?@>:4 @FE=@@<[ D2:5 pDD@4:2E6 $FA6C:?E6?56?E %6CCJ r@>?:4<]k^Am
kAmqFE E96C6鈥橠 DE:== =:<6=J E@ 36 D@>6 4FED[ 2?5 E96 5:DEC:4E H:== 92G6 E@ =@@< 4=@D6=J 2E H92E AC@8C2>D 92G6 366? 67764E:G6 2?5 H9:49 5:5?鈥橢 =:G6 FA E@ 6IA64E2E:@?D] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2>[ 2 鈥淐6D:56?E 8F6DE E62496C鈥 AC@8C2> 925 A@D:E:G6 C6DF=ED[ r@>?:4< D2:5] %96 5:DEC:4E 9:C65 DF3DE:EFE6 E62496CD E@ H@C< @?6\@?\@?6 @C :? D>2== 8C@FAD H:E9 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 E96 7FCE96DE 369:?5] %96 Sc]d >:==:@? AC@8C2>[ H9:49 H2D 2E 6G6CJ D49@@=[ C6DF=E65 :? 9:896C E6DE D4@C6D 2>@?8 E96 9:896DE\?665D DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAm$@ 72C[ :E =@@<D =:<6 E96 5:DEC:4E H:== 36 23=6 E@ <66A 3@E9 AC@8C2>D[ 2E =62DE 7@C E96 ?6IE 76H J62CD[ r@>?:4< D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥!6@A=6 42== :E 2 Wt=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 $64@?52CJ $49@@= t>6C86?4J #6=:67X 4=:77 3642FD6 E96 >@?6J ;FDE 6?5D[鈥 r@>?:4< D2:5] 鈥渜FE 7@C FD :E H:== 9@A67F==J 36 2 86?E=6 D=@A6]鈥漦^Am