Education Recovery Benefits

In a new report, I make the case for Governors using a portion of their American Rescue Plan funds to provide direct support to low-income parents who faced economic hardship created by school closures and whose children need additional support for their academic recovery and well-being.

The $350 billion of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, a new program under the American Rescue Plan, provides unprecedented flexible funding to help state and local governments respond to their communities’ public health challenges and economic needs created by the pandemic. Among the allowable uses of funds are programs and strategies to address the education and well-being needs of children in disproportionately impacted populations and communities.

Governors, mayors, and other state and local leaders should consider using the funds to establish individual Education Recovery Benefits that provide low-income families with direct financial assistance to address the inequities exacerbated by closed schools and poor-quality remote learning.

This paper describes why Education Recovery Benefits fit the statutory goals of this program and the design considerations for state and local leaders in establishing a program. For example, potential eligible services could include:

• Private or public school tuition and fees; 

• Homeschooling curriculum and resources; 

• Technology and online services; 

• Transportation to school, tutoring, therapy, or supplemental educational services; 

• Online learning courses and pro-grams; 

• Tutoring; 

• Supplemental educational services, including those offered by learning pods; 

• Therapies, including those delivered in person and those offered through telemedicine; 

• Mental and behavioral health services; 

• Enrichment programs, summer camps, or after-school programs; and 

• Specialized resources, such as culturally responsive books. 

School closures disrupted millions of students’ lives and created economic hardship for many parents. State and local government leaders are responding with numerous efforts including high-dosage tutoring, intensive summer school programs, additional school counselors and social workers, and enrichment programs. 

An education recovery benefit program is simply another tool in the recovery toolbox that can provide parents with the flexible financial assistance needed to address the academic and well-being challenges their children face. No one knows their children’s needs better than parents do. Providing direct support to these underserved parents will help address the deep disparities school closures created.