The U.S. Department of Education has released 52 fact sheets detailing the Biden-Harris Administration's investments in public education across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This announcement coincides with the conclusion of the Department’s week-long “Fighting for Public Education” Back to School Bus Tour.
President Biden and Vice President Harris have prioritized public education since taking office, resulting in significant federal funding aimed at reopening schools safely from COVID-19 and aiding their recovery. The fact sheets illustrate how these investments are being utilized to enhance educational experiences and support students' success.
“Public education is the foundation of opportunity and social mobility in this country, and I could not be prouder of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in public education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These 52 fact sheets show tangible ways our investments have raised the bar for students and schools in every part of our country.”
The bus tour featured stops in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania under this year’s theme "Fighting for Public Education." It highlighted how communities are using federal funds to implement innovative strategies to accelerate academic success.
Key investments by the administration include $130 billion from the American Rescue Plan for addressing COVID-19 impacts on children; $60 billion to support high-need students; $53 billion for special education services; $7.6 billion for career learning opportunities; and $3 billion for language instruction programs.
Additionally, measures tackling youth mental health crises include $1 billion each for school-based mental health professionals and reducing gun violence through safe school environments. Further funding includes $253 million for community schools serving over one million students’ needs.
Efforts to strengthen teacher pipelines have seen average teacher pay projected to increase by 9.5% through school year 2023-24. Federal investments have also supported educator recruitment with an allocation of $8.6 billion through Title II-A funding.
In higher education, significant steps towards college affordability include securing a maximum Pell Grant amounting to $7,395 per student and providing extensive financial aid via American Rescue Plan funds totaling $39 billion across colleges nationwide.
The administration has also focused on delivering student debt relief by approving approximately $170 billion in relief for nearly five million borrowers.
Figures reflect aggregate investments made by the Department over federal Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 through FY 2024 with additional funding expected as new grants commence in FY 2025.
State-specific fact sheets can be accessed on the Department’s Raise the Bar: Lead the World website.
