RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Schools in North Carolina face a “funding cliff” this fall as money from the federal government to help get through and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic will run out. It’s an issue state lawmakers looked at Monday.
Dr. Michael Maher, deputy state superintendent, said in total, the state received nearly $6 billion in funding. The last round of that came through the American Rescue Plan, which brought $3.6 billion to the state.
Maher said the Department of Public Instruction is meeting with local school leaders now to address the issue, asking them, “What is your plan for October of 2024 when the funds run out?”
Schools used the funding in a variety of ways, including paying hiring and retention bonuses, upgrading HVAC systems, summer school programs and buying devices like Chromebooks for students to use.
Of the state’s 115 school districts, 89 of them have told …