In a House Education and Labor Committee hearing Monday, lawmakers predicted the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could widen racial funding gaps between wealthy and low-income public school districts.
Reports cited by committee members suggest public schools already have a $23 billion racial funding gap between districts serving predominantly students of color compared to districts with a majority of white students. According to Education Trust, school districts with the largest populations of Black, Latino, or American Indian students receive approximately $1,800, or 13%, less per student in state and local funding than those with fewest students of color.
