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Albuquerque schools used federal pandemic funds for staff anti-racism training, report says
Albuquerque Public Schools allocated federal relief money toward staff diversity training, according to Fox News.
The short version
- Albuquerque Public Schools spent nearly $700,000 on anti-racism staff training, utilizing federal American Rescue Plan funds, according to documents obtained by conservative group America First Legal.[Fox News]
- More than 700 staff members attended the sessions through July 2022, though district officials stated a proposed student training component was never put into effect.[Fox News]
- District representatives defended the spending as an effort to boost attendance and academic performance, while critics argued the funds were diverted from direct student learning loss recovery.[Fox News]
- School district officials noted they could not immediately verify exact spending totals from federal pandemic relief funds without access to records.[Fox News]
Key facts
- Albuquerque Public Schools approved $336,500 in 2021 and ultimately spent nearly $700,000 in federal pandemic funds on anti-racism training programs, according to records obtained by America First Legal.[Fox News]
- By July 2022, at least 721 district staff members had participated in training provided through the Anti-Racism Training Institute of the Southwest.[Fox News]
- District officials proposed adding a student component to the training program in 2022, but stated it was never implemented.[Fox News]
- The district stated the programs were intended to support student attendance and academic achievement.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- School district officials could not immediately confirm the exact total spent or what portion came directly from federal COVID relief funds due to lack of immediate access to records.[Fox News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.