Utah looks to supplement COVID education funds as they expire
Jun 7, 2023, 11:08 AM | Updated: Jul 25, 2023, 9:21 am
FILE: The Utah State Board of Education building in Salt Lake City is pictured on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Photo: Deseret News
Schools are still receiving COVID funding. Learn more at 10:35 a.m. on Dave & Dujanovic.
SALT LAKE CITY — COVID education funds have come under fire by critics who claim states aren’t using them well, if at all. Utah, however, seems to be the exception.
Jessica Kjar, the cares education specialist at the State Board of Education, says the funds have been well spent in Utah. So well that she is actively working on finding ways to get more funding. She hopes schools can continue their extra programs once COVID relief funds run out next September.
“I think it’s really important to highlight that 100% of these funds are obligated. They might not have been spent yet, but there’s a use and a need for them,” said Kjar.
A couple of the most successful additions according to Kjar, are credit recovery programs and one-on-one tutoring.
“… It’s [one-on-one tutoring] giving those students that time to kind of catch up and get that one-on-one help that is needed.”
But these funds won’t last forever.
“The last day to use those is September 30, 2024. That being said, my team’s goal is to try and find other resources for these schools,” said Kjar.
Related:
- FEMA provides Utah more money for COVID-19 reimbursements
- A new COVID side-effect: Changed habits around going to school
