Understanding Available ESSER Funding

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund emerged as an important part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

In three allocations, ESSER made nearly $200 billion available to local school districts to use for programs designed to enable students to get back on track physically, emotionally, socially and academically after many schools transitioned to remote learning at the height of the pandemic. A significant portion of ESSER funding remains unspent, and the time to do that is running out.

Any ESSER funding that hasn’t been allocated by Sept. 30, 2024 and spent by Jan. 31, 2025 must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

Note: On Aug. 20, 2024, the website K12dive.com reported that the U.S. Department of Education had approved 14-month extensions for all state education agencies that had requested an extension. States and districts with spending extensions have until March 30, 2026, to liquidate their allocations.

ESSER Amounts and Spend-by Deadlines

ESSER I (also known as CARES Act):

ESSER II (also known as CRRSA):

ESSER III (also known as American Rescue Plan):

$13.23 billion

$54.31 billion

$121.97 billion

Spent by Sept. 30, 2022

Spent by Sept. 30, 2023

Allocated by Sept. 30, 2024; Spent by Jan. 31, 2025 **See Above Note About Extensions**

Resources: ESSER Funding Remaining

Visit the following links for to see how much ESSER funding your school district received and how much overall ESSER funding in each state remains unspent. Click on your state to see state and district level information.

Accessing Your District’s Federal Funds

In February, 2023, IHT hosted a webinar featuring Arizona Department of Education specialist Keri Schoeff to explain federal funding and how teachers can request it to purchase IHT ZONE heart rate monitors.