Responding to a WPRI-12 analysis showing that many of the state’s largest school districts have not begun spending their allocations of the $333.1 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding received by Rhode Island districts, RIPEC President and CEO Michael DiBiase called for greater urgency and transparency surrounding the funds. “It should be the highest priority to direct ESSER funds to more teaching and learning to help bring students up to where they should be,” he said.