It is tempting to think of these last ESSER funds as one-time expenditures to address limited, one-time needs. A better way to consider these funds would be as a down payment on sustainable strategies.

The school districts would have to prove they raised as much money as they could through local taxes and not cut employees since last year, the legislation says.

Science teachers in several Madison County, Ind., area districts have used resources from NASA, supplemental lesson plans, games and other methods to help their students appreciate and learn from the eclipse.

House Bill 112 would require all superintendent contracts to include performance evaluations based on the English and math scores for K-3 students, along with other student growth factors.