Title: Federal Aid to U.S. Schools Shows Modest Impact on Student Recovery In the last three years, U.S. schools have received a substantial amount of federal aid, with $190 billion allocated for pandemic relief. The largest portion, $122 billion, was provided in 2021 to support student recovery. However, recent studies indicate that while the funding contributed to progress, its impact was not as significant as anticipated. Two separate studies, involving researchers from Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, and the University of Washington, analyzed test results from the 2022-23 school year and found that for every $1,000 in federal aid spent, there was only a small improvement in math and reading scores for third- through eighth-grade students in about 30 states. The Biden administration hailed the results as evidence of the aid's effectiveness in helping students regain ground, but economists and education policy experts noted that the overall impact was modest. They highlighted that previous research has shown greater returns from investments in areas such as smaller class sizes. The studies also raised concerns about the lack of oversight on how the federal aid was utilized, with few restrictions and minimal tracking of spending. While some districts focused on effective strategies like small group tutoring and mental health support, others used the funds for regular operations or building renovations. Despite the aid's limitations, experts acknowledged that it did help close some of the gaps that emerged during the pandemic, particularly in low-income school districts. However, the studies indicated that a much larger amount of aid would have been needed for all students to fully catch up. In conclusion, while the federal aid had a positive impact, its overall effectiveness was limited, and questions remain about the allocation and oversight of the funds.