The American Rescue Plan stipulates that 20% of an LEA’s total ESSER III award must be reserved to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or extended school year programs.
The liquidation extension does not allow for additional time for spending ESSER funds. Late liquidation is only for:
Please submit your proposal by July 19th. Additional Liquidation Extension guidance will come out soon.
In 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three separate COVID-19 federal relief packages.
These packages delivered millions of dollars directly to schools and districts and, separately, provided the Arizona Department of Education with discretionary and required set aside ESSER funds to dedicate toward statewide strategic projects and investments that will support schools' recovery needs and increase learning opportunities for students through 2024.
A new Budget Narrative Guidance document has been created to support LEAs with completing the budget section of their FY20 Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Grant applications.
The CARES Act provides for a high degree of flexibility for local uses of ESSER Funds to local support COVID-19 response efforts. However, an appropriate level of detail is required within the budget to ensure accountability and transparency for these grant funds.
Please send any questions you may have to [email protected]
Thank you!
Two training and Q&A opportunities for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Grant are being held this week.
The first, on June 2ndfrom 1PM-2:30PM will be hosted through a collaboration with Arizona School Administrators (ASA), Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) and Arizona School Board Association (ASBA).
The second will be hosted by the Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council (GPEMC) on June 5thfrom 9AM-10AM.
Detailed registration information for both events may be found below.
Reminder, all ESSER Fund Grant Resources and Guidance Documents are now available on the ADE ESSER Fund website. Attendees are encouraged to review these materials in advance and bring questions they may have with them to these sessions.
Questions regarding the ESSER Fund Grant may be sent to [email protected]
ASA, AASBO and ASBA Webinar On The CARES Act Funding Application Process
Click Here to Register: https://tinyurl.com/y85s6hfh
GPEMC Curriculum Council Meeting on CARES Act
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/97818240568?pwd=VXhKT215RTl1RENlMWFqZDVIUjNyQT09
Meeting ID: 978 1824 0568 Password: 7cKRj2
May 29, 2020
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has received funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide new Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund grants to LEAs to support local relief, preparation and prevention, and recovery needs and efforts in response to COVID-19.
90% ($249 million) of Arizona’s total ESSER Fund award ($277 million) must be sub-granted to LEAs based on the proportionate share of Title I-A funds they received in FY20. ADE is also choosing to fund LEAs that are not Title I-A using approximately half of ADE’s State Education Agency set-aside funds for state-level activities.
Thank you for all you are doing to support our students, educators and communities! ADE is once again humbled by the leadership and spirit of service demonstrated by our schools. We look forward to continuing to support you all through these recovery efforts.
ESSER Application
Who is eligible to apply?
All non-profit district and charter LEAs may apply for these funds.
How will eligible LEAs apply for grant funds?
Grant applications are now available for LEAs on the ADE Grants Management (GME) system for the FY20 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Grant.
Where can I go for more information?
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Grant website has information and resources to support LEAs with the grant application process, to include guidance documents and recorded webinars that will walk LEAs through the online grant application on GME. Questions may be sent to [email protected].
Under the CARES Act, the U.S. Secretary of Education has increased authority to provide education waivers related to assessments, accountability, and reporting requirements. Arizona has submitted and received approval for two waivers:
Fiscal Waiver
ADE will now be able to do the following:
If your LEA would like to take advantage of this new flexibility for FY20 Title IV-A funds, please contact your Title IV-A Specialist.
Please also see the following FAQ for the FY20 Fiscal Waiver: ADE FY20 CARES Act Fiscal Waiver FAQ
Assessment and Accountability Waiver
The following are now waived for ADE for SY19-20:
This fact sheet from the US Department of Education responds to frequently asked questions related to the use of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education during the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with respect to compensation, travel, and conference costs that are otherwise allowable costs under applicable program statutes and regulations. If you have additional questions or comments related to these questions and answers, please contact your Department program officers or send your questions to the following email address: [email protected]