Bernards Schools Get $3.6M In Federal Coronavirus Aid

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township School District received just over $3.6 million in federal aid to help offset the costs of coping with the coronavirus pandemic.

The federal government has poured some $190 billion into the nation's schools since March 2020, which is more than four times what the U.S. Education Department spends on K-12 schools in a typical year.

About $4 billion of that total went to New Jersey schools, according to an analysis by the Associated Press.

Relying on data published or provided by states and the federal government, the AP also tallied how much money was granted to nearly every school district in the state and country.

Here is a breakdown of how much Somerset County schools received in federal aid (listed by the school district, the total amount of aid, funding per student):

• Bedminster Township School District (522 pupils): $728,272 or $1,395.16 per student
• Bernards Township School District (5,154 pupils): $3,622,599 or $702.87 per student
• Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District (8,542 pupils): $2,761,968 or $323.34 per student
• Franklin Township School District (7,212 pupils): $3,711,469 or $514.62 per student
• Green Brook Township School District (770 pupils): $503,732 or $654.20 per student
• Hillsborough Township School District (7,489 pupils): $1,906,108 or $254.52 per student
• Manville School District (1,601 pupils): $3,553,567 or $2,219.59 per student
• Montgomery School District (4,701 pupils): $3,350,885 or $712.80 per student
• North Plainfield School District (3,456 pupils): $7,844,909 or $2,269.94 per student
• Somerset County VoTech (309 pupils): $725,756 or $2,348.72 per student
• Somerset Hills Regional School District (1,953 pupils): $823,099 or $421.45 per student
• Somerville School District (2,333 pupils): $4,432,899 or $1,900.09 per student
• Warren Township School District (1,604 pupils): $655,189 or $408.47 per student
• Watchung Borough School District (604 pupils): $456,574 or $755.92 per student
• Watchung Hills Regional School District (1,983 pupils): $593,706 or $299.40 per student

Three of the biggest sources of federal aid came in March and December 2020 and March 2021.

About $13.2 billion was allocated through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which was part of the March 2020 CARES Act. It was followed by another $54.3 billion in December 2020.

Nearly $122 billion in aid was given to states in March 2021 from the federal government, with most of it going to local education agencies.

See the full list of schools compiled by the AP.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.