WATCH — How Can School Leaders Ensure COVID Relief Funds Drive All Classrooms Towards Equity?

With school systems beginning to spend an unprecedented $125 billion in pandemic aid, how well are states fulfilling their obligation to ensure the money goes toward helping the most disadvantaged children recover from COVID-19’s disruptions?

That was the key issue behind a special Jan. 26 panel discussion moderated by The 74’s Beth Hawkins and presented in conjunction with Education Reform Now. Among the central questions: Are state plans ambitious enough to help students recover missed learning? Do the plans incorporate evidence-based solutions and reflect the priorities of parents, educators and stakeholders? If the response in your community is lackluster, how can you succeed in holding officials accountable? What specific improvements can you demand? 

You can stream the replay above (if not displaying properly, find the full video right here); panelists include Nicholas Munyan-Penney, senior policy analyst, Education Reform Now; New Jersey state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz; Terra Wallin, associate director for P-12 federal policy, The Education Trust; Shirline Wilson, director, Education Reform Now Washington; and Dr. Christine Pitts, resident policy fellow, Center on Reinventing Public Education.

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