Last week I published an estimate of the money that has gone to elementary and secondary schools under the two, major, federal COVID-19 relief measures that have already been enacted, and would go to them under President Biden’s proposed, $1.9 trillion bill. My goal is to identify whether total relief would exceed need and whether funding is being spread equally between public and private schools. I also said this is a rough estimate and I would refine and correct it as needed.

Today I have my first refinement: A reader reminded me that charter schools received about $1.3 billion in CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program dollars, which I had overlooked. Charter schools are schools of choice, but they are also public schools, so I have added $1.3 billion to the public‐​school CARES Act column. That moves public school aid per‐​pupil from $3,920 to $3,945, which eclipses estimated need even more than before. Remember, though, that Paycheck Protection funds have to be repaid if schools do not meet usage requirements.

Estimate of COVID K12 relief 21620