As school districts nationwide face a federal funding cliff, government researchers from independent think tanks around the country met in Worcester, Massachusetts to discuss how municipalities and states are preparing.
Since 1914, the Governmental Research Association has been connecting researchers from across the country working to improve their communities, according to their website. The Worcester Regional Research Bureau hosted the GRA’s annual conference.
During the pandemic, the federal government issued three tranches of funding totaling $190 billion for school districts. Districts spent this money on everything from one-time costs like HVAC upgrades to recurring costs to address learning loss and the wellness of students.