Case Studies: How 11 States Are Using Emergency Federal Funds To Make Improvements In College And Career Access

By Georgia Heyward, Matt Robinson & Betheny Gross, The 74 Million

June 6, 2021

The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER I and II) gave states $4.25 billion in discretionary federal dollars to support K–12 schools, higher education, and workforce initiatives. These were welcome resources, coming just as the pandemic accelerated unemployment and exacerbated declining college enrollment, hitting those from low-income backgrounds hardest.

As of May 1, about $1.5 billion remained from GEER I and II; only eight states had used even a portion of their GEER II funds. And governors still have time to use new American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars to invest in initiatives that prepare youth for the workforce, like Connecticut is doing through summer internships and college and career navigation tools. If governors act boldly and creatively, remaining GEER and ARP funds can lay the groundwork for closing opportunity gaps through education and workforce initiatives.

Most states are not yet putting youth hit hardest by the pandemic on a path to success. Instead, they are investing in one-time college scholarships or short-term supports that will end once funds run out — such as a traveling bus with academic resources.

Policymakers can look to their peers in the 11 states that have used GEER to fund programs focused on long-term, systemic improvements to college and career access. These forward-thinking states awarded grants to colleges for initiatives that enroll and retain underrepresented youth, increased access to college and career learning through online platforms, awarded competitive grants to drive systemic change, and promoted learning and collaboration across education entities.

So far, states have spent $472.3 million in GEER funding on college and career readiness — more than on remote learning and academic and social-emotional support.

Of the $2.75 billion spent on GEER I and II, college and career access is the second-largest spending category behind general operating grants:

While college and career access is a common investment, the majority of states have used GEER funding to meet immediate needs, like setting up remote learning or offering pass-through grants to K–12 and higher education. This spending makes sense as an emergency response, but half of the states that have dedicated GEER II funds are still distributing grants directly to districts and institutions of higher education — with limited direction or oversight.

Of the states that focused GEER appropriations on short-term, limited programs, seven used GEER funds for scholarships to help youth access college, like Texas, which spent $103.5 million on one-time scholarship grants. Arizona used funds from GEER I to launch the Graduation Alliance this spring, which provides counseling and academic coaching to disengaged youth, but only for six months.

We did identify 11 states that invested in initiatives that are designed to outlast the pandemic and have the potential to address long-standing gaps in college and career access:

1. Helping postsecondary institutions enroll and retain underrepresented youth in college

Some states are doing more than investing in scholarships by helping higher education make systemic changes.

2. Building online platforms that expand access to college and career counseling

States like Virginia used GEER funds to expand online course platforms. But the states listed below went one step further by increasing access to advanced courses that will help prepare youth for college and careers.

3. Launching competitive grants to drive systemic change:

Instead of operating grants, states allocated grants to make impactful innovations

4. Promoting collaboration and learning across education entities:

Partnerships and collaboration facilitate learning and new ways of working.

Only eight governors have used even a portion of their GEER II funds, and ARP allows for a great deal of flexibility over state dollars. States should use at least a portion of their remaining funds to expand access to sustainable, long-term initiatives that promote high-quality, high-value college and career pathways.

As legislators, advocacy organizations, and governor’s offices consider how to dedicate their remaining federal funds, college and career access will likely top the list. States can learn from forward-thinking peers that have used their discretionary funds to put youth most impacted by the pandemic on a path toward opportunity while closing historic gaps in access so youth can continue benefiting from these investments long after the pandemic is over.

States have a historic opportunity to invest in initiatives that will lead to systemic change and address long-standing inequities. As we adjust to a post-COVID education system, this is what should be the top priority—not well-meaning but short-term programs. States must think beyond immediate recovery and reimagine systems to put students on a path towards successful college and career readiness.

Georgia Heyward is a research analyst at the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Her work focuses on career and college readiness, rural and urban improvement initiatives, state policy, and community and family engagement in reform efforts.

Matt Robinson is the associate policy director for Innovation at ExcelinEd. His policy areas include reimagining learning, course access, and digital access and equity.

Betheny Gross is associate director at the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Dr. Gross oversees CRPE’s research initiatives, leading analyses of personalized learning initiatives, public school choice, out-of-school learning, and district transformation and improvement.

The 74 Million is a non-profit, non-partisan news site that covers the challenges and opportunities of educating America's 74 million children.