Florida steers $289M in COVID relief funding towards helping close student learning gaps

HIALEAH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday morning announced millions in additional funding for Florida schools for a wide range of initiatives.

During a news conference in Hialeah, Gov. DeSantis said he’s putting $289 million of federal COVID-19 relief money towards programs he says will help close learning gaps.

It includes:

• $105M for after school, weekend and summer learning camps
• $47M to buy new English, math, civics and holocaust education curriculum
• $50M for reading intervention

It also includes millions more for STEM programs, parent mentorship and student mental health.

“And so we’re excited about what this funding can do. Any type of achievement gap, you know, we want to work on addressing,” DeSantis said.

The governor said he will have more education announcements in the coming weeks.