Little directs $99M more in federal COVID funds to schools

In an attempt to arrest COVID-19’s financial impact on Idaho children, Gov. Brad Little announced Friday he's funneling an additional $99 million from federal emergency funds to K-12 education.

“The stresses on our kids, families and educators right now are enormous,” Little said in a Friday press conference. “The global pandemic has put the spotlight on schools and their critical importance to families, students, communities, our economy and our entire state.”

Last week, the Treasury Department clarified its stipulations to open up additional ways in which each state’s allocation of federal CARES Act funds can be used toward education. For example, Treasury is now presuming that up to $500 per student is going to districts to help schools safely re-open. That wider flexibility is what gave the Little administration more flexibility to redirect the funds.

“The mechanics are, we still have to comply with Treasury guidance,” Little said. “It has to be COVID-related. We have to be cognizant of the strings that are on these dollars. Obviously new programs wouldn’t (qualify). It (has to be) something that’s been impacted by COVID. But there will be flexibility as it goes out to the districts.”

The extra $99 million now brings Idaho’s spending of federal emergency coronavirus legislation toward education up to $197 million. Those funds almost completely erase budget cuts to education in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on state revenues, but those new funds have been directed toward COVID costs unforeseen in 2019, when the state Legislature formulated its 2020 budget.

The funds will be divided up to each district so local school boards and administrators can determine the best use for each community’s schools.