EdTech: How to Use Federal Education Funds to Ease STEM Learning Loss

The past two school years have been unprecedented in their difficulty. Students feel it. Teachers and administration feel it. But thankfully, the U.S. government is providing federal funds to help state and local education agencies meet all their students’ increased learning needs.

In this episode of the Marketscale EdTech podcast, host Shelby Skrhak sat down with two experts on educational funding, Dr. Karen Ingram and Mitchelle Kelley of iStation, to discuss how these federal funds may be used.

The federal funds we’re talking about relate to the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief, or ESSER, fund, which provides $122 billion in relief for pre-K-12 schools. The Department of Education is encouraging state and local education agencies to use these funds for reopening schools and addressing the academic, social, emotional, mental health and safety needs of their students.

But there are specific criteria that state and local education agencies must meet to use these funds. These funds relate to learning loss or unfinished learning and cover how schools can measure learning loss, administer high-quality assessments, provide information to parents and improve student attendance and engagement.

A recent study by iStation found that learning loss, in particular, has been significant and unprecedented.

“Our study shows COVID-19 school closures have contributed to as much as two months of learning loss in reading and four to five months of learning loss in math. This is in addition to the regular one to two months of loss students usually experience during the summer months,” Kelley said. “The losses were most significant in math and became more pronounced at higher grade levels. Second graders, for example, saw one month of learning loss in math, third graders saw two months and fourth graders saw five months of loss.”

Kelley and Ingram say data will be critical to determine students’ academic levels as they return to the classroom.

“We need to understand what this data does,” Ingram said. “When we think about administrators, it empowers schools to strategize professional development. Data helps teachers feel empowered, because they can target specific needs for students. And then, of course, students feel empowered, because they take ownership of their learning.”

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Goldey-Beacom College
Workforce Success and Innovation-Driven Growth with President Keith of Goldey-Beacom College
September 3, 2025

As higher education institutions face declining enrollments and increasing pressure from employers for skills-based learning, small colleges are rethinking their missions. A whopping 70% of U.S. employers say they struggle to find workers with the right skills, and credential-based programs are gaining traction as a solution. At the intersection of tradition and transformation, Goldey-Beacom College…

Read More
healthcare workforce development
Transforming Healthcare Workforce Development: Sustainable Solutions Through Early Engagement, Access, and Leadership
September 3, 2025

Healthcare systems continue to face intense workforce challenges, with nursing at the center of concern. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034—faster than the average growth across all jobs in the U.S. economy. While this growth reflects rising demand for…

Read More
consumer brands
Consumer Brand Growth Formula: Value Proposition, Platform Strategy, and Wellness Integration
September 3, 2025

Building consumer brands today requires more than clever marketing; it demands brand trust. Consumers want proof that products work, delivered at prices that feel accessible. That shift has raised the bar for founders, especially as 86% of consumers say authenticity influences which brands they support—with Gen Z placing even greater emphasis on it. Credibility…

Read More
career
The Key to Career Equity? Boundaries, Balance, and Knowing Your Strengths
September 2, 2025

Career paths aren’t always linear. Many professionals find themselves navigating shifts between industries and roles, discovering that success often comes down to setting boundaries, balancing responsibilities, and leaning on core strengths. So, what does it look like to build professional equity not by chasing titles, but by leaning into what you do best? How…

Read More