Overview
ESSER funds are considered a federal formula grant and LEAs are eligible to receive these funds through an application process through the Agency of Education (AOE). The AOE must use at least 90 percent of its ESSER Fund grant to make subgrants to LEAs by formula based on Title I, Part A allocations. Due to the nature of these funds, the Agency is approving pre-award costs for all three funds back to March 13, 2020.
AOE Guidance
- FAQ: Considerations for Using ESSER Funds to Support Summer Programs
- ARP ESSER LEA Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Checklist
- Federal Education Funding Planning Guidance
- Memo: Federal Requirement for Written Prior Approval to Purchase Equipment
- Memo: CCSSO on ESSER Funds for COVID Leave (Oct. 6, 2021)
Federal Guidance and Recommendations
- CCSSO: Restart & Recovery: Leveraging Federal COVID Relief Funding & Medicaid to Support Student & Staff Wellbeing & Connection
- CCSSO COVID Relief Factsheet
- Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Allocations: ESSER I, ESSER II and ESSER III
- U.S. Department of Education ESSER Factsheet
- US Department of Education ESSER and GEER Allowable Costs FAQ
- Use of Federal Funds to Support Educator and School Staff Workforce
FY23 ESSER Annual Performance Report
- Memo: ESSER Fund FY 2023 Annual Performance Report
- ESSER FY23 Accounting Guide
- US Dept. of Education Participant Reporting Example Reporting Scenarios
- Video: ESSER FY23 APR Kick-Off Webinar
- ESSR FY23 APR Kick-Off Webinar Slide Deck
FY22 ESSER Annual Performance Report
- ESSER and APR Office Hours will be held every Thursday from 11 a.m. -12 p.m., March 9 - April 6, 2023.
- ESSER FY22 Accounting Guide
- ESSER FY22 Annual Performance Reporting Memo
- ESSER FY22 APR Kick-Off Webinar and Slide Deck
ESSER I Funds
The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, created the $30.75 billion Education Stabilization Fund (ESF). This fund provides $13.5 billion in pandemic relief aid for K-12 schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER I) Fund. The state of Vermont received approximately $31 million in ESSER I funds, of which 10% or $3,114,836 was set aside for AOE to develop state-wide approaches to help education entities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESSER II Funds
On December 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 or CRRSA Act was signed into law. CRRSA provided significant additional funding for educational entities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER II). Similar to the earlier CARES Act, states will receive ESSER II funds based on their share of Title I funding. Ninety percent of funds received by an SEA must be allocated to LEAs based on each LEA’s Title I share, leaving 10 percent for SEA-level activities. Total award to Vermont: $126,973,363; Total award to LEAs: $114,276,027.
ESSER III Funds
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, was enacted on March 11, 2021. The ARP Act provided significant additional funding for educational entities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER III or ARP ESSER). Similar to the earlier CARES and CRRSA Acts, states will receive ESSER III funds based on their share of Title I funding. Ninety percent of funds received by an SEA must be allocated to LEAs based on each LEA’s Title I share, leaving 10 percent for SEA-level activities.Total award to Vermont: $285,164,208; Total award to LEAs: $256,647,724.