Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released updated guidance in its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Programs and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Programs.
The updated FAQs document includes new or additional information on topics such as:
- LEA requirements for reviewing and updating their safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plans;
- Allowable uses for the 20 percent of ARP ESSER funds for addressing learning loss;
- Disposition rules for LEAs to follow regarding equipment and supplies purchases with ESSER/GEER funds;
- Allowable use of funds, state approval processes, and other requirements when using ESSER/GEER funds for construction projects and capital expenditures;
- Federal reporting requirements for using funds to purchase land, construct buildings, and make building improvements;
- Whether LEAs can use funds for athletic facilities;
- Allowable uses of funds for climate resiliency to mitigate natural disaster-related damage to buildings and infrastructure;
- Whether funds can be used for miscellaneous reasons such as: paying for utilities and fuel; student activity fees; providing safe/supportive learning environments; installing surveillance technology for security purposes; supporting multilingual learners; supporting student mental health; resolving unpaid meal debt; etc.;
- Whether ESSER/GEER funds may be used as incentive payments for parents and students to encourage/increase attendance at school;
- Allowable uses of funds for supporting and stabilizing the educator workforce; and
- Clarity on when federal funds need to be obligated and liquidated by districts.
View the updated FAQ document here.
If you have questions that are not answered in the updated FAQs, ED requests stakeholders to please e-mail ESSERF@ed.gov for questions related to ESSER or GEERF@ed.gov for questions related to GEER.
We would like to thank ASBO International for all they do to advocate for SBOs in Washington D.C.