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Improve Air Quality In Schools With ESSER Funds
Learn More About Using Your School District's ESSER Funds For Your Needed Infrastructure Updates To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Your Schools.
Improving air quality has been a goal of schools across the country, especially in the age of COVID-19. High air quality goes well beyond just pandemic-related concerns; however, improving air quality in schools leads to better learning environments, reduces absenteeism and sick leave, and enhances staff productivity. Unfortunately, many schools do not have the resources to upgrade and maintain the infrastructure required for high-quality air.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to upgrade school infrastructure to improve air quality in schools. This gives school districts the rare opportunity to bring the facilities across their school districts up-to-date. The funds available to school districts are the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), and America Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Act.
School districts across the country now have access to billions of dollars in aid. Administrators can use these funds to upgrade their school’s aging infrastructure and improve indoor environmental quality and air quality.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to upgrade school infrastructure to improve air quality in schools. This gives school districts the rare opportunity to bring the facilities across their school districts up-to-date. The funds available to school districts are the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), and America Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Act.
School districts across the country now have access to billions of dollars in aid. Administrators can use these funds to upgrade their school’s aging infrastructure and improve indoor environmental quality and air quality.
ESSER Funds Overview and Timeline
Even though the ESSER Fund was created through federal government legislation, the federal government is not in charge of distributing these funds. ESSER Funds are dispersed through each state. States must allocate 90% of ESSER funds to school districts and charter schools.
States are then tasked with distributing the funds in the form of grants to Local Education (LEA) Agencies. States award grants to K-12 public school districts and other charter schools that qualify as LEAs. School districts send grant applications through the state’s Department of Education website. Grants are then awarded through contracts for projects that are approved.
ESSER funds are “use it or lose it.” States must award grants within one year, or they have to return the funds for reallocation. ESSER has allocation deadlines in 2021, 2022, and 2023. These funds can be used for school repairs and improvements, such as ventilation projects that improve indoor air quality.
Below is an overview and timeline of the ESSER schedule of funding, deadlines, and obligations for K-12 schools.
States are then tasked with distributing the funds in the form of grants to Local Education (LEA) Agencies. States award grants to K-12 public school districts and other charter schools that qualify as LEAs. School districts send grant applications through the state’s Department of Education website. Grants are then awarded through contracts for projects that are approved.
ESSER funds are “use it or lose it.” States must award grants within one year, or they have to return the funds for reallocation. ESSER has allocation deadlines in 2021, 2022, and 2023. These funds can be used for school repairs and improvements, such as ventilation projects that improve indoor air quality.
Below is an overview and timeline of the ESSER schedule of funding, deadlines, and obligations for K-12 schools.
School districts must take advantage of these ESSER funds and improve their schools’ infrastructure. Because of ESSER, schools are now able to:
● Perform inspections
● Test and maintain their HVAC systems
● Invest in HEPA filters for air systems
● Purchase new air purification units and installations
● Service and upgrade HVAC systems to improve air quality
● Perform inspections
● Test and maintain their HVAC systems
● Invest in HEPA filters for air systems
● Purchase new air purification units and installations
● Service and upgrade HVAC systems to improve air quality
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Improve School Air Quality with ESSER
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Government agencies recommend that school districts work to improve indoor air quality. Upgrading filtration and improving ventilation will result in better air quality indoors. Additionally, upgrading HVAC systems distribute fresh air inside the building, prevents condensation buildup, and reduce contaminants. The EPA has put together a "The Framework for Effective School IAQ Management: Six Key Drivers," which can help school districts, administrators, facility personnel, etc., to address appropriately and manage indoor air quality throughout schools.
"The Framework for Effective School IAQ Management" Source: U.S Environmental Protection Agency
School districts can utilize these funds to improve aging building infrastructure, but decision-makers may be overwhelmed by the number of solutions available and the time constraints. Decision-makers have to make the right long-term choice when it comes to building infrastructure.
Esser Funds available per average school classroom in the USA:
There are about $113.4 Billion ESSER funds available for schools to spend by 2024, with is about $45.500 per classroom.
Now follow the rule, endorsed by EPA: Measure, Assess and Track:
Now follow the rule, endorsed by EPA: Measure, Assess and Track:
and even implement simple actions like window or door openings at a one time cost of less than $200 per classroom (less than 1/2% of ESSER allocation per school) and you have achieved a significant part of assuring good air quality to any classroom in the nation.
When appropriating the ESSER funds congress has left school quite a lot of freedom to spend the funds, but it was very clear to every congressmen voting for the funds, that air quality in classrooms is a fundamental need and should be part of any programs school should adopt. In Europe, countries like Germany, Austria, Denmark and other just required school to use funding for that prupose, and approved devices that are now offered by SAS Smart Air Systems for US schools.
When appropriating the ESSER funds congress has left school quite a lot of freedom to spend the funds, but it was very clear to every congressmen voting for the funds, that air quality in classrooms is a fundamental need and should be part of any programs school should adopt. In Europe, countries like Germany, Austria, Denmark and other just required school to use funding for that prupose, and approved devices that are now offered by SAS Smart Air Systems for US schools.