Dekalb to get largest share of school funds from federal relief package

Districts will split more than $3.8 billion, based on size, need.

School districts in Georgia will soon receive just over $3.8 billion in federal stimulus funds.

The amount is from the state’s $4.25 billion share of the $122 billion portion of the American Rescue Plan dedicated to kindergarten through high school education. President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion legislation this month. The money is being distributed largely using a formula for federal school funds to address poverty, known as Title 1.

Gwinnett County, the state’s largest district, will get $282.4 million. The other three largest districts — Cobb, Dekalb and Fulton counties— are getting $160.6 million, $313.2 million and $168.8 million respectively. Dekalb’s outsized portion is due to its poverty rate.

Likewise, Atlanta Public Schools, which is half the size of those districts but with a high poverty rate, gets $201.4 million. Clayton County, which alsohas relatively high poverty, gets $170.5 million.

The state education board approved the disbursal list Thursday. The state Department of Education is required to hold back $425 million to spend on various programs, from summer enrichment to after-school care.

School districts must spend a fifth of this money on remediation of learning loss during the COVID19 pandemic. There are few limits on the rest of the money.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

Total package signed by President Biden on March 11 Amount earmarked for K-12 education Georgia’s total K-12 education allocation Amount being disbursed to school districts $1.9 trillion $122 billion $4,249,371,244 $3,824,434,120

METRO ATLANTA SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOCATIONS

Atlanta $201,373,053 Clayton County $170,508,371 Cobb County $160,600,790 Dekalb County $313,231,738 Fulton County $168,838,062 Gwinnett County $282,404,800 SOURCE: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION