Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

PROGRAM OFFICE

Office of State and Grantee Relations, OESECFDA NUMBER

84.425D

PROGRAM TYPE

Formula Grant

Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). Signed into law on March 20, 2021, the Department awarded these grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the Nation.

ESSER Fund awards to SEAs are in the same proportion as each State received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, in fiscal year 2019.

January 5, 2021 – ESSER II

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provides an additional $54.3 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund).

ESSER II Fund awards to SEAs are in the same proportion as each State received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, in fiscal year 2020.

Cover Letter to Commissioners

CRRSA ESSER II Methodology and Allocation Table

ESSER II Fact Sheet

March 11, 2021 – American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It is an unprecedented $1.9 trillion package of assistance measures, including $122 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund. Funds are provided to State educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Nation’s students.

ARP ESSER Fund awards to SEAs are in the same proportion as each State received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, in fiscal year 2020.

October 9, 2020 – Equitable Services Update

Updated FAQs for CARES Act Equitable Services

September 25, 2020 – Equitable Services Update

Secretary DeVos Letter to Chief State School Officers

September 9, 2020 CARES Act Update

On July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding equitable services under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. (The rule is available at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-01/pdf/2020-14224.pdf). On September 4, 2020, in NAACP v. DeVos, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an opinion and an order vacating the IFR. Accordingly, the IFR is no longer in effect.

If you have any questions Email: ESSERF@ED.gov

Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Think an institution is misusing or abusing ED funds? Do not let CARES Act Funding for Schools and Students end up in the wrong hands. File a complaint online with our Inspector General (OIG) or call their Hotline.