“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed using federal coronavirus funding to replace some state education dollars — prompting several nonprofit groups to push back.

Eleven education advocates and social services organizations asked the governor Wednesday to provide all of the nearly $4 billion in federal relief earmarked for school districts across the state. Congress approved that aid in December as part of a second coronavirus relief package. Due to the pandemic, state and local governments continue to struggle with lost revenue and budget deficits, even as costs increase.

“While some education stimulus funding will flow to the localities, we need every dollar,” the organizations wrote in an open letter to Cuomo, citing the importance of addressing potential learning loss and students’ social and emotional needs, and to make sure children in homeless shelters, those with disabilities, and English learners have support services in place.”