$30 Million In Federal Pandemic Relief Coming To Some Oklahoma Private Schools

Some of Oklahoma’s private schools are getting $30 million in federal pandemic relief money.

Joy Hofmeister, the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, said the funds will help boost schools struggling to meet the increased costs of operation during the pandemic.

"First there are allocated amounts for public schools, but there have always been additional amounts for non-public schools," Hofmeister said.

Hofmeister said this money comes from the second stimulus bill. It is different from the first round of relief because this time, the state is in charge of distributing the money.

In the Tulsa area, The Saints Peter and Paul school got the most, at more than $2 million. Other schools like Marquette, Monte Cassino and Holy Family were in the range of $150,000 to $725,000.

Hofmeister said this money will also help prepare schools across the state that are expecting a boom in summer school enrollment.

"As they prepare to meet the needs of students who've had a year of disruption this school year," Hofmeister said.

She said funding has been given to both public and private schools to prepare for the summer, but the funding will also extend into the next year's plan.