Burns: Cambria County schools to see $53.6 million in COVID-19 relief funding

Funding to help schools address academic loss due to pandemic

EBENSBURG, March 30 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today announced that schools in Cambria County will be receiving an estimated $53.6 million to help address academic shortfalls due to the pandemic as part of the latest federal rescue plan.

"With Cambria County Schools receiving over $53 million, there should be no talk of a property tax increase,” Burns said. “Whenever we have this kind of massive federal spending, it is important that the process be open and transparent on exactly how each school will spend these tax dollars. You better believe I’ll be keeping my eye on the state’s spending plan.”

Under the American Rescue Act of 2021, the funding must be used by September 2024. School districts and charter schools must apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to obtain their allocated funds. The application process will be posted on the PDE website in the coming days.

It is estimated that the funding for Cambria County schools will be:

  • Blacklick Valley SD – $3,245,020.
  • Cambria Heights SD – $1,846,705.
  • Central Cambria SD – $2,497,000.
  • Conemaugh Valley SD – $2,061,830.
  • Ferndale Area SD – $2,484,952.
  • Forest Hills SD – $3,341,568.
  • Greater Johnstown SD – $25,354,635.
  • Glendale SD – $1,549,898.
  • Northern Cambria SD – $2,238,165.
  • Penn Cambria SD – $3,126,652.
  • Portage Area SD – $1,896,331.
  • Richland SD – $2,006,295.
  • Westmont Hilltop SD – $1,987,640.

School districts and charter schools must use at least 20 percent of this money to address learning loss and the social, emotional, and academic needs of underrepresented students, including students from low-income families, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.

Schools can use the rest of the funding for a wide range of activities, including food service; professional training; technology purchases; sanitization and cleaning supplies; summer and after-school programs; and mental health supports.