While the stimulus checks are winding down, some Americans will see more relief in the coming weeks and months. In several states, teachers and school employees have received or will receive raises and bonuses.

These funds are being distributed as part of the education grant program provided by the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan Act, passed earlier this year. In Georgia, for example, nearly all school employees, including teachers, teacher aides, bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria staff, received a $1,000 "appreciation" bonus this spring.

School districts in several other states, including Tennessee, Texas, California, and Colorado, are offering similar incentives to teachers and staff in hopes of retaining employees and improving morale. Michigan offered $500 to teachers and $250 to faculty for hazard pay in February.

The Florida state government also approved a $1,000 bonus for teachers and principals, but the details of the payment plan appear to conflict with federal guidelines for stimulus spending. According to state officials, the payments are expected to be made in August.

The Hawaii legislature also took up a proposal to provide a one-time $2,200 bonus to teachers, but Governor David Ige vetoed the bill. A similar plan failed in Oregon.

As reported by the Associated Press, relief measures being considered for school employees and other essential workers vary widely from state to state. Some state governments used federal aid to distribute hazard pay in the early days of the pandemic to certain groups, including health care workers, prison guards, child care workers, and retail and grocery store employees.

The American Rescue Plan Act provided more aid to state and local governments to assist workers, but only a handful of states committed to actively distributing these funds (such as the aforementioned states providing teacher bonuses).

Another relief measure is the expanded child tax credit, which provides up to $3,600 per child under age 6 and up to $3,000 per child ages 6-17 for households with incomes up to $75,000 (single filers) or $150,000 (married filers) The funds will be provided to.

Half of these funds would be paid in advance (up to $300 or $250 per month, respectively) through the end of 2021; half would be paid in advance (up to $300 or $250 per month, respectively) through the end of 2021; and the other half would be paid in advance (up to $300 or $250 per month, respectively) through the end of 2021.

Families earning above the income cap will still receive some relief. The expanded child tax credit would be phased out by $50 for each $1,000 increase in annual income, and the current credit of $2,000 per child up to age 17 would continue to be available to all families.