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The Creation of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
To help address the new and ever-changing demands of education in a post-pandemic world, the Federal Government created several funding streams. Together these funds make up the larger ESSER Fund: The CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act, the CRRSA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations) Act, and the ARP (American Rescue Plan).
In order for the funds to have the greatest impact on students, schools, and educators, it’s important for administrators to be intentional about how they will use the aid. If schools plan effectively, they can use the ESSER funding to not only address current needs, but they can also prepare themselves with the knowledge and resources required to endure another similarly tumultuous time in the future.
In order for the funds to have the greatest impact on students, schools, and educators, it’s important for administrators to be intentional about how they will use the aid. If schools plan effectively, they can use the ESSER funding to not only address current needs, but they can also prepare themselves with the knowledge and resources required to endure another similarly tumultuous time in the future.
What is the ESSER Fund?
Before discussing what to do with your ESSER Funds, let’s first take a look at where these monies originated and for what they are intended.
Although 2020 ushered in a year of untold hardship, it (and this following years) have also seen the largest investment in K–12 education in U.S. history. The ESSER funds that schools can now apply for is the direct result of three massive aid acts passed in 2020 and 2021:
Although 2020 ushered in a year of untold hardship, it (and this following years) have also seen the largest investment in K–12 education in U.S. history. The ESSER funds that schools can now apply for is the direct result of three massive aid acts passed in 2020 and 2021:
- The CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act
- Passed in March 2020
- Provided approximately 13 billion dollars for K–12 education
- Placed a large focus on making sure all students had access to learning, especially with regards to technology infrastructure, curriculum, and resources for remote learning
- The CRRSA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations) Act
- Passed in December 2020
- Provided approximately 54 billion dollars for K–12 education
- Designed to ensure that principals and schools have resources to address the COVID-19 pandemic (and all the challenges it entails)
- It also tried to address “learning loss” due to the interruptions in education caused by the pandemic.
- The ARP (American Rescue Plan)
- Passed in March 2021
- Provided approximately 123 billion dollars for K–12 education (allocated using the Title I formula)
- This most recent stream was specifically intended to help schools reopen, address student “learning loss,” and help students catch up on what they missed during this tumultuous year.
- Both the CRRSA and the ARP also allocated specific money to non-public schools. This EANS (Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools) sets aside 2.75 billion dollars to support students in these school settings (with priority going to schools that serve low-income students).
This ESSER funding will ultimately help schools and districts meet the needs of their students now and prepare for the needs they might have in the future
How Schools Are Spending Their ESSER FundsHere are the top five ways school districts have used their ESSER COVID-relief funds so far.
Ashburn, Virginia — A new report from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) provides insights into school district spending priorities, decisions, challenges, and success stories regarding federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) I, II, and III COVID-relief funds.
The report, “How Have School Districts Spent ESSER Funds So Far?” shares findings from ASBO’s February 2022 survey of U.S. school district finance leaders. School business professionals were asked to share enrollment and attendance trends during COVID-19; ESSER I, II, and III expenditures for various spending categories; top spending challenges; and other financial information. Responses were received from more than 150 school districts across 35 states.
The top five ESSER spend categories overall were technology and broadband investments, addressing learning loss, purchasing PPE/supplies and training to mitigate viral spread, mental health services, and supporting specific student populations.
Top ESSER 1 Spend Categories
The report, “How Have School Districts Spent ESSER Funds So Far?” shares findings from ASBO’s February 2022 survey of U.S. school district finance leaders. School business professionals were asked to share enrollment and attendance trends during COVID-19; ESSER I, II, and III expenditures for various spending categories; top spending challenges; and other financial information. Responses were received from more than 150 school districts across 35 states.
The top five ESSER spend categories overall were technology and broadband investments, addressing learning loss, purchasing PPE/supplies and training to mitigate viral spread, mental health services, and supporting specific student populations.
Top ESSER 1 Spend Categories
- Purchasing PPE/supplies and training to mitigate viral spread: 71%
Related: COVID-19’s ‘Silver Linings’ for School Safety and Security - Technology and broadband investments: 69%
- District emergency response and planning: 41%
- Technology and broadband investments: 62%
- Addressing learning loss: 56%
- Purchasing PPE/supplies and training to mitigate viral spread: 49%
- Addressing learning loss: 54%
- Mental health services: 36%
- Supporting specific student populations: 29%