Scotland's poorest school kids will get a share of £215 million as part of a mission to close the country's attainment gap.
The pot of cash falls under the Government's expanded £1 billion Attainment Scotland Fund.
The record-breaking funding is the largest amount awarded in a single year to date.
Cash will be handed out between five different programmes.
Nine 'Challenge Authorities', the councils with the highest level of deprivation, will receive a share of £43 million.
A further £7 million from the Schools’ Programme will be shared between 73 additional schools with the highest concentration of pupils from areas of deprivation.
Headteachers will receive £147 million of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) which they will decide how best to invest to support disadvantaged pupils.
This includes a top up payment of £20 million, recognising the new and additional challenges schools face as a result of the pandemic.
Local authority work to help improve the attainment of care experienced young people, including through mentoring programmes, will receive up to £12 million.
A further £7 million is being invested in a number of a national programmes, including third-sector organisations, to support their targeted work to raise the attainment of young people.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:“Closing the poverty-related attainment gap and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential remains central to this Government’s work.
"Our ambition is a long-term one and we know that the challenges presented by the pandemic mean our efforts to deliver equity in education are more vital than ever.
“This first instalment of the expanded Attainment Scotland Fund, with record funding of more than £215 million, will allow headteachers, schools, councils and other partners to provide targeted help for some of our most disadvantaged pupils.
“We are providing investment across a number of diverse programmes which will benefit looked after children, support pupils in our most deprived areas and empower headteachers to invest their funding on initiatives that are right for the children in their schools.”
Visit the Scottish Government website for more details.
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