As Students Return, What Did Federal Pandemic Aid Accomplish?

In this Real Clear Education article, Manno highlights CALDER research showing that ESSER pandemic relief funds contributed to academic recovery, particularly in mathematics, though the effects were modest. CALDER’s analysis of nearly 5,000 districts found that every additional $1,000 in ESSER spending led to statistically significant gains in math achievement and accounted for an estimated 18% of math recovery and 12% of reading recovery during the 2022-23 school year. The article uses these findings to argue that federal aid can support student learning when it translates into additional educational resources, especially in higher-poverty districts. Read the full article below.