WASHINGTON (7News) — Congress sent over $190 billion to help local school districts overcome the pandemic. The unprecedented federal funding for local schools is the largest education investment in American history. The goal was to help students recover from learning loss, support emotional well-being, and maintain health and safety in schools.
But despite the urgent need, 7News continuing investigations into the money show much is unspent. As of July, schools across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area still had significant amounts of federal funds in their accounts.
The U.S. Department of Education’s records show that D.C. Public Schools have spent 64% of their allocated $600 million.
In Virginia, schools have used over 85% of their $3.2 billion.
Maryland schools have spent about 71% of the $3 billion allocated to them.
Local school districts are among those with unspent COVID relief dollars. Prince George’s County has about a quarter of its relief funds left, totaling around $107 million, according to federal and state reporting documents. Montgomery County Public Schools has around 10% of its funds remaining, which amounts to $41 million.
MORE | Despite millions in federal money, DCPS students struggle with post-pandemic engagement
In Fairfax County, Virginia’s largest school system’s slow spending caught Governor Glenn Youngkin’s attention last year. At that time, the district still had $177 million left. However, today, Fairfax County Public Schools show 98% of the $294 million Congress allocated to them allocated or spent.
Experts suggest that the slow spending wasn’t necessarily due to a lack of interest, but rather because school districts were overwhelmed by the money.
The U.S. Department of Education has extended the deadline for spending some of these funds, potentially stretching into 2026. However, restrictions apply. Schools can no longer spend the money on staff salaries or sign new vendor contracts. Congress initially passed the American Rescue Plan with the expectation that schools would use the funds quickly, prioritizing learning recovery and health and safety.
