School Finance Leaders Provide Insights into Use of K-12 Stimulus Funds

The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBOI) released a report with findings from a 2022 survey of U.S. school district finance leaders representing 150 school districts. The survey provides details on the usage of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) K-12 stimulus funds. School finance leaders also provided insights on their top spending challenges, decisions, and accomplishments. Providing access to technology and broadband, addressing learning loss, purchasing personal protective equipment and related supplies, providing students mental health services, and targeting support to specific student populations were the top expenditures. Common challenges included sustainably spending the funds, balancing multiple competing priorities, workforce shortages, supply chain issues, and spending timelines. The report includes success stories related to ESSER funds supporting students. The report was released on the heels of a U.S. Department of Education (ED) Summit hosted by Secretary Cardona titled: From Recovery to Thriving, where state and district leaders shared highlights from their work to reopen and maintain K-12 school services in the 2021-2022 school year. 

Read the ASBOI report here.

View the Summit video here.