Texas school district leaders have yet to detail specific plans for the stimulus funds, in large part because they don’t know how much they will receive or when the funding will arrive. However, several superintendents have identified the main priorities, such as hiring more staff, extending the school day or year, modernizing ventilation systems and granting retention bonuses.

“The state of Texas is ensuring our public schools have the resources to help Texas students recover from learning loss related to COVID-19,” Abbott, a Republican, said in a statement.

The decision of Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Dade Phelan ends a heated debate over federal stimulus funding for schools. The trio did not elaborate on Wednesday how they plan to spend an estimated $ 7 billion in stimulus funds remaining due to Texas schools as they continue to navigate federal demands and political waters surrounding money.

In a message to school administrators, Texas Education Agency officials also confirmed that they would not withhold public funding for schools as part of the stimulus spending plan, easing the fear of many education leaders.

State officials paid schools in Texas about $ 1 billion from the first stimulus package, but cut state funding by a similar amount to pay for other costs, such as the technology for students. The third stimulus package, which includes the $ 11.2 billion pledged Wednesday in schools, contains provisions that have made it harder for Texas leaders to divert state education funding.

“Funding is provided, in addition to all other sources of funding for school systems, and will not be supplanted at the state level,” TEA officials wrote to administrators.

Texas’ top Republicans faced off increasing calls in recent weeks educators, public school advocates and Democratic lawmakers to release federal stimulus funds directly to schools, with few strings attached. They argued that local educators – as opposed to Texas Education Agency officials and state lawmakers – know how to best spend this money on students who are struggling academically, behaviorally and emotionally in the midst of the pandemic.

State officials responded to those demands on Wednesday with the $ 11 billion tranche of stimulus funds, although later than some educators and lawmakers wished.

State Representative Eddie Rodriguez D-Austin said it was a “good day” knowing that school districts could finally plan the extra money, although he warned that the Democratic caucus – and possibly some Republicans – will continue to push for the rest of the K-12 education stimulus fund.

“There’s going to be some pressure,” said Rodriguez, who drafted a state budget amendment last week to speed up the distribution of school stimulus funds. “It’s not over at all.”

Some school principals reacted cautiously, saying they were waiting for details. Others were effusive.

“With these funds, we are able to proactively address the loss of student learning and support children’s mental health due to the protracted pandemic. We continue to hope that all funds will be released in a timely manner, ”said San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez.

Brian Woods, the superintendent of Northside ISD, the largest district in the San Antonio area, applauded state leaders and said the funding “comes at a critical time for educators considering beyond this school year to meet the needs of students through summer programs, tutoring, before / after school programs, Saturday school and other efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “

Wednesday’s decision was “a late but very substantial progress,” said U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, D-San Antonio, but he criticized the state’s lack of movement on the $ 7 billion uncommitted. Doggett led the Texas Democratic Congressional delegation to send a letter to the US Department of Education earlier this month condemning heads of state for freezing funds.

“The future of our children is no place to cut corners and abuse federal educational aid for non-educational purposes,” Doggett said in a statement.

The Texas Association of School Administrators also hailed the decision as “much appreciated” and “consistent with the intent of these federal funds,” while issuing a similar warning.

“This will give schools statewide the opportunity and targeted resources needed to help Texas students start recovering from COVID-19 learning loss as early as this summer,” said Kevin Brown, principal. TASA executive, in a statement.

“Our students and school staff have suffered many hardships over the past year, and recovery will take several years. These resources are critical and we will continue to work with state leaders to ensure that the remaining (stimulus) funds are also channeled to school districts as additional funding. “

In his statement, Abbott said he would work with Patrick, Phelan and four state lawmakers to resolve any “open questions” about the state’s education stimulus funds before the end of the session. legislative next month. An Abbott spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TEA officials on Wednesday released each district’s share of the $ 11 billion, warning that only two-thirds of the money will be available immediately. The remaining third will arrive after the US Department of Education approves Texas’ written plan for the money.

The funds will flow in proportions similar to the federal government’s Title I, meaning that public school districts with a higher percentage of students from low-income families will receive a larger share of the money.

State public schools reported approximately $ 53.4 billion in total operating costs in 2018-19, the most recent year for which data is available.

Editor-in-chief Danya Perez contributed to this report. [email protected]; [email protected]