Midlands schools got more than $560 million in federal pandemic aid. See how much they’ve spent

South Carolina schools were given more than $3 billion by the federal government over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major carve-outs for schools were included in all three federal pandemic aid packages approved by Congress in response to the coronavirus. Those funds were called Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, or ESSER funds. School districts received the bulk of that money.

We looked at how much money Midlands school districts received from each aid package and how much they have left to spend, according to state data updated in September 2022.

The first pandemic aid package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (or the CARES Act) gave South Carolina schools nearly $200 million. It was signed into law March 27, 2020. These 13 Midlands school districts got a combined $37.8 million of that pot.

Most of that money has at least been committed to some specific purpose, a requirement of the grant, but a few districts report they still have a lot left to spend. Lexington-Richland 5, Kershaw, Saluda and Orangeburg county school districts all still report having more than 70% remaining from the first federal pool.

On the opposite end, Richland 1 and Lexington 4 school districts have spent almost all of what they received from the CARES Act.

The federal dollars did come with strings — districts had to spend it on uses that fit into specific categories. Districts across South Carolina allocated more than $68 million to buy new educational technology, for example. Another nearly $25 million was dedicated to buying cleaning supplies.

The next pandemic aid package, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) was signed in December 2020 and allocated even more federal dollars to schools. South Carolina schools received $846.4 million from that aid package. Midlands schools got $168 million.

So far, all but two Midlands districts have spent more than half of what they received from that pot of money.

Most districts again identified buying new technology as a top priority for the money. Addressing learning loss is another goal of the federal funds, as is providing schools money to update air filtration systems.

While money has been committed to certain purposes, statewide districts still have nearly $1 billion of that money to spend.

The biggest dollar infusion from the federal government came in March 2021 with the third and final pandemic aid legislation, the American Rescue Plan Act. South Carolina schools received $2.1 billion from that legislation. Midlands districts were allocated nearly $360 million. Only five Midlands school districts have even touched those funds yet.

Districts are able to spend the money on hiring and keeping staff members. More than $274 million of the $2.1 billion received statewide has been dedicated for that purpose.

You can see how much money each Midlands-area school district received from each federal aid package by hovering your mouse over the chart below.