New Jersey lawmakers are calling for a federal investigation into Newark Public Schools over allegations that the district mismanaged $287 million in COVID relief funds intended to support students during the pandemic.

The legislators claim that adults in the district behaved inappropriately with the federal funds, which were designed to help students recover from pandemic-related learning losses. According to the lawmakers, students were denied access to tutoring services that should have been funded by the relief money.

The $287 million in question represents a significant portion of federal COVID relief funding allocated to the Newark school district. These funds were part of broader federal assistance programs designed to help schools address educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Lawmakers are seeking a federal probe to determine how the funds were actually used and whether proper oversight mechanisms were in place. The investigation request suggests concerns about potential misuse of taxpayer dollars intended specifically for student support services.

Newark Public Schools has not yet publicly responded to the allegations or the call for a federal investigation. The outcome of any potential federal review could have implications for how COVID relief funds are monitored and distributed to school districts nationwide.