Can Coffee Filters Fix Math Scores? A Look at PUSD's "Recovery" Spending
How is PUSD spending LREBG funds? Are gallon baggies, coffee filters, and straws the most effective use of limited recovery funds, given the drop in English and math proficiency?
Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is among the many school districts that received a Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant (LREBG) for evidence-based learning recovery initiatives through the 2027-28 school year. According to the California Department of Education website, “The LREBG was established in response to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to assist schools serving pupils in the long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including addressing pupil learning, mental health, and overall well-being.” How is PUSD spending LREBG funds? It’s not exactly easy to find out.
In a December 11, 2025, budget presentation for board members, the Business Support Services (BSS) finance department highlighted LREBG revenue, but no corresponding expenditure highlights were provided. Per Education Code Section 32526(e)(1), any school district that received LREBG funds is required to make its expenditure reports available for public viewing on its website by December 15, 2024. However, it doesn’t appear that PUSD has posted a clear, accessible report. If you’re able to find it, please let us know.
When California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) 2023 Smarter Balanced test results showed the English proficiency rate of PUSD students was 74.63% and their math skill dropped over 4% to 66.95% from 2019 to 2022, and then you have 2024 test results showing a continued decline in scores with the English proficiency rate of PUSD students who met or exceeded standards dropping to 73.54% (-1.09% change) and the math proficiency rate dropping to 65.48% (-1.47% change), PUSD priorities can be seen in a review of purchase orders from 07/01/2022 - 11/04/2025:
$86,000 two year contract for the ThoughtExchange survey service $5,000 multicultural assembly at one of the high schools Ten (10) San Diego County Office of Education Equity Conference registration fees General classroom supplies General kitchen supplies
How many hours of targeted tutoring or literacy intervention, $86,000 — the cost of a single software contract — could have been provided to the students who are currently falling behind? Are core operational expenses, or “business as usual” supplies, LREBG allowables? Are gallon baggies, coffee filters, and straws the most effective use of limited recovery funds, given the drop in English and math proficiency? Asking for taxpayers.
