Matt Barnum, Chalkbeat

Schools are starting to ramp down federally funded catch-up efforts, even though students have not yet fully recovered academically from pandemic-era disruptions.

There has been no effort from the federal government to systematically track school openings and COVID outbreaks. That means we are often relying on data from those who volunteer it, and lack good information about how schools that have reopened might differ from those that have not.

“I am certainly encouraged to see a state leader deciding to shield its high-poverty districts from the bulk of these cuts,” said one expert.