WHAT IS IT, HOW DOES IT WORK, AND WHO DOES IT HELP?
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) is a federal stimulus program of the American Rescue Plan that helps public schools pay for extra support for students, teachers, and health-related building improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic. These projects and purchases support our district families with programs that help close the remote learning gap, provide our teachers with new skills and resources, and ensure that our facilities and vehicles are cleaner and healthier than ever!
ESSER funds are held at the state level in finite amounts. School districts can request to use their allocated ESSER funds for specific projects. ESSER funds have been made available in three stages — ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III. The program began in 2020 and requires ESSER III to be expended by September 2024.
ESSER funding comes with strict rules and regulations about use of funds. It is intended to supplement district resources and in particular add short-term support for very specific needs.