Joshua Solomon reports for the Times Union that on Aug. 3 Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $108 million to help schools address learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support mental health. Hochul said, “If we don’t give (young people) support now, it’ll be irreversible.... We are setting them up for a lifetime of dependency.” School officials, such as Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa were enthusiastic, saying, “Together we know we can do great things in partnership with the governor.... We can provide innovative resources to meet student needs in these unprecedented times.” Schools and cooperative educational services can apply for the funding by Aug. 18 for the first round of the program. Sixty percent of the money is promised to schools outside New York City. Hochul said she heard from a student in the Bronx that there was just one guidance counselor for 700 students with a months-long waiting list. “We’re going to fix this,” Hochul said. “We’re not going to abandon you.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.