How States Can Soften the Fall From the Fiscal Cliff

Kane and Godfrey: States have always had the ability to hold back some federal Title I dollars for priorities like tutoring. It’s time they do it.

January 28 marked the last day that schools could spend most of their federal COVID-relief funds—the largest one-time education appropriation in history. The very next day, the nation’s report card delivered sobering news: Student achievement largely remains stagnant or in decline. With pandemic relief dollars largely gone and academic recovery still elusive, schools are entering a defining moment—one that calls for bold action in the wake of severe budget cuts.

Fortunately, federal funding structures include a little-used tool for sustaining student support programs. Title I, which provides billions in funding for schools serving low-income students, includes a provision allowing states to set aside up to 3 percent of their allocations for direct student services, including tutoring and other high-impact interventions. This funding could be a lifeline to the all-too-recently defunded programs making the biggest impact on the most vulnerable students. 

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