Biden budget plan includes $8 billion for learning recovery

Even as districts brace for the expiration of federal relief funds, the Biden administration on Monday proposed a new $8 billion grant program to sustain successful programs to help students recover from pandemic learning loss, as The 74 reported.

The Academic Acceleration and Achievement Grants, part of the administration’s $7.3 trillion 2025 budget plan, target three strategies Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has put forth — combating chronic absenteeism, high-impact tutoring and extended learning after school and during the summer. 

In a call with reporters, an Education Department official said the competitive grant program would help put the recovery efforts districts launched with relief dollars “on an even faster track and sustain the improvements that states have put into place.” 

The announcement of the grant program follows extensive data showing most students haven’t caught up to pre-pandemic performance levels. But with the current fiscal year budget still delayed by partisan debate over spending for defense and the IRS, advocates admitted that passing any substantial new program will be difficult,  the 74 reported.