Public schools in the US face financial challenges as $190 billion in federal pandemic aid runs out, impacting teacher pay and school infrastructure. A school in the Bronx utilizes aid to support students' social and emotional health. Challenges post-pandemic include behavior issues and reduced support for special education. Declining enrollment and funding create difficulties for school districts. Underfunding and rising housing values further strain school finances. The pandemic's impact on learning and budget concerns highlight the need for ongoing support programs.
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Quick takeaways
Public schools are facing significant budget shortfalls as federal pandemic aid expires next year, leading to potential layoffs, teacher burnout, and school closures.
Declining enrollment and fixed costs contribute to funding problems, forcing school districts to consider difficult decisions like layoffs and closures.
Deep dives
Schools face budget shortfalls as pandemic aid expires
As the pandemic aid provided by the US government to struggling public schools expires next year, school districts are facing significant budget shortfalls. Many schools used a considerable portion of the aid for recurring expenses, such as tutoring and salaries. Now, school officials are concerned about how they will sustain these programs without the cushion of stimulus aid. Teacher salaries have also been affected, with the average salary in the 2021-2022 school year being the lowest on an inflation-adjusted basis since 1985-1986. The expiration of the aid may lead to layoffs, teacher burnout, and potential school closures.
Enrollment declines worsen the funding problem
Declining enrollment in many school districts across the country exacerbates the funding problem. While fewer students can lead to lower costs in some areas, such as building maintenance, schools still face fixed costs that do not decrease. This includes expenses like janitors, electricity, and other infrastructure costs. As a result, school districts are left with significant shortfalls. The projections for enrollment show a continued decline in student numbers, and some school districts may be forced to consider difficult decisions like layoffs and school closures.
Strategies to fill the funding gap
School districts are taking various approaches to address the budget shortfalls. Some districts are relying on increased property tax revenue due to rising housing values. However, this solution is not uniform across all districts and can contribute to further enrollment declines. Additionally, school districts such as Los Angeles have opted to give significant raises to teachers to combat the growing teacher shortage. However, finding sustainable solutions remains a significant challenge, and many school districts are looking to the federal government for additional assistance to prevent severe budget cuts.
Public schools across the US are getting ready for a financial blow next year, when $190 billion in federal pandemic aid runs out. Bloomberg’s Shruti Singh and Nic Querolo join this episode to discuss the challenges facing school districts, including teacher burnout. And Charles Ebea, a school counselor in the Bronx, New York, shares his perspective.