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A school district may use Eleemtnary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds for the broad range of activities.  It is important to note, that all uses of funds must be to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In addition to resources for a safe and healthy environment, the funding can support the academic needs of students including social, emotional, mental health needs.   

The activities that are listed in section 18003(d) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, section 313(d) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and section 2001(e) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act that an Local Education Agency (LEA) may support with ESSER funds include:

1. Any activity authorized by the following federally funded programs:
   1. Title I, Part A – Education of the Disadvantaged
   2. Title I, Part C – Migrant Education
   3. Title I, Part D – Education for Neglected and Delinquent Students
   4. Title II, Part A – Supporting Effective Instruction (professional development for Teachers, Principals, and educational support staff)
   5. Title III- Supporting English Language Learners
   6. Title V - Rural education advancement programs
   7. Title IX - Homeless Education (McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act)
   8. IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
   9. Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).
   10. Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
2. Coordinating preparedness and response efforts of LEAs with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments, and other relevant agencies, to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
3. Providing principals and other school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
4. Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, students with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care, including how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population.
5. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs.
6. Training and professional development for staff of the LEA on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
7. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of the LEA, including buildings operated by such LEA.
8. Planning for, coordinating, and implementing activities during long-term closures, including providing meals to eligible students, providing technology for online learning to all students, providing guidance for carrying out requirements under the IDEA and ensuring other education services can continue to be provided consistent with all Federal, State, and local requirements.
9. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students.
10. Providing mental health services and supports, including through the implementation of evidence based full-service community schools.
11. Addressing learning loss among students, including low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care, of the local educational agency, including by
    1. administering and using high-quality assessments;
    2. implementing evidence-based activities to meet the comprehensive needs of students;
    3. providing information and assistance to parents and families on how they can effectively support students, including in a distance learning environment; and
    4. tracking student attendance and improving student engagement in distance education.
12. Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and enrichment and supplemental after-school programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.
13. School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs. This includes HVAC upgrades to improve indoor air quality.
14. Developing strategies and implementing public health protocols including, to the greatest extent possible, and not inconsistent with state law, policies in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff.
15. Learning and enrichment programs and/or intensive tutoring to accelerate learning with an emphasis on students most impacted by the pandemic.
16. The hiring of counselors, social workers, school psychologists, nurses, and other staff that support students’ physical and mental health and social and emotional development.
17. Implementing full-service community schools.
18. Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the local educational agency.

If there are any questions, please call the Federal Educational Programs department at (904)390-2123.