Local education agencies put $2.4 billion toward physical and health safety efforts from the federal government’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund — launched to provide K–12 support during the pandemic — in fiscal year 2021. They also have plans to spend an additional $18.5 billion on these efforts, according to the Department of Education.
However, with deadlines rapidly approaching to spend remaining ESSER funds, many districts may need to look for other ways to pay for future physical security improvements.
Some states have designated funding specifically for school…