ESSER and EANS Funding Deadline is Quickly Approaching
Over the last four years, government funding for schools has helped fill the gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools purchased new furniture that complied with distancing regulations, hired additional staff to recover from pandemic learning loss and made costly transportation and infrastructure accommodations.
The final deadline to use ESSER and EANS funds is September 30, 2024. By this time, all remaining ESSER and EANS funds must be spent or obligated to be spent (special permission is needed for the obligation extension).
The Basics
EANS stands for Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools. Non-public schools typically rely on private grants for funding, but Congress pushed for EANS to aid them in the aftermath of the COVID crisis.
Two federal EANS funding acts were approved totaling $5.5 billion - the CRRSA EANS and the ARP EANS. The deadline for the CRRSA EANS funding has passed; the deadline for spending ARP EANS funds is September 30, 2024.
ESSER stands for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. The U.S. Department of Education approved the federal relief program to assist public schools as they recover from education disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three federal ESSER funding acts were approved totaling $122.8 billion. The ESSER 3, or ARP, is the only active funding; the deadline for spending the ESSER 3 is September 30, 2024.
Who Administers the Funding?
The State Education Agency (SEA) from each state is responsible for administering ESSER and EANS funds. Typically, the SEA is that state's Department of Education. The state's governor is the grantee and is responsible for oversight.
How Must ESSER/EANS Funds Be Spent?
The government does not provide hard-fast rules on what products or services are covered by EANS and ESSER funding. In general, funds can be used to help schools bounce back from COVID-19 learning loss, as well as cover costs schools have or will incur because of the pandemic. Such areas include:
- Adaptations to existing furniture like protective barriers, as well as additional desks, tables, chairs and other furniture to allow for proper distancing.
- Additional handwashing stations, cleaning supplies and equipment and other hygiene-related products.
- More staff for increased cleaning, support and for catching up on learning loss from the pandemic.
- More equipment and supplies, like headphones, that are used by one student instead of shared classroom resources.
- Mobile options for classrooms furniture so desks and chairs can be distanced.
- Outdoor furniture so students can learn in an environment that has a lower spread of germs.
To help facilitate funding approval, provide documentation and data that shows how the equipment and services aid in your school's rebound from COVID-related learning loss as well as the protection of students and staff.
Contact Us and We Can Help
Our team is happy to assist you with your questions about ESSER/EANS funding. Give us a call today at (877) 839-3330. You can also chat with a member of our team and they will gladly point you in the right direction.
Resources:
Catapult Learning
Achieve 3000
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities