Federal Funding to Support Schools During COVID-19

Through the CARES Act, Congress has made more than $30 billion available for education. Here’s what school districts need to know.

WHAT IS THE CARES ACT?

CARES stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security. The goal of the CARES Act, which was signed into law in March of 2020, is “to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.” 

Part of the law includes an Education Stabilization Fund of almost $30.75 billion. 

This money is divided up into three funds:

  1. Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund ($2.9 billion)
  2. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund ($13.5 billion)
  3. Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ($14.25 billion)

WHAT FEDERAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

K-12 public schools may be able to get funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. 

From the U.S. Department of Education’s April 27, 2020 press release:

“the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund provides more than $13 billion in grants that elementary and secondary schools can use for purposes that include remote learning. More specifically, the CARES Act states that local educational agencies (LEAs) may use the funding for ‘[p]urchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity).’ The application for such funds provides that, ‘The SEA (state education agency) must assure that, when applicable, it will provide technical assistance to LEAs on the use of ESSER funds for remote learning . . . .’ It also indicates the U.S. Secretary of Education’s interest in reporting on the use of funds to address ‘the digital divide, including securing access to home-based connectivity and remote-use devices . . . .’

“the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund makes approximately $3 billion in emergency block grants available to governors to decide how to best meet the needs of students. The application for such funds requests governors include information on the extent that a governor intends to use GEER funds ‘to establish, develop, improve, or expand the availability, accessibility, capacity, and use of remote learning techniques and technologies,’ especially for students with disabilities and students from low-income families.”

CAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE THE GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND OR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND TO COVER INTERNET COSTS?

Yes. When state governors apply for money from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, they must include information on how they are going to use that money “to establish, develop, improve, or expand the availability, accessibility, capacity, and use of remote learning techniques and technologies, especially for students with disabilities and students from low-income families.”

Funds in the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief Fund can be used for “immediate needs,” including “tools and resources for distance education.”

HOW CAN I ACCESS CARES MONEY FOR MY STATE OR SCHOOL DISTRICT?

State governors can apply for funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. The application is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s website. Once states have submitted the signed PDF, the Department expects to obligate the funds within three business days.

Funding to school districts is ultimately determined by state educational agencies (SEAs). SEAs can apply for funding for the purpose of providing funding to local educational agencies (LEAs). The application is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

To access funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, states must first apply to receive funds. 

From the U.S. Department of Education’s press release:

The Department implemented a streamlined process for states to apply for and receive this critical funding by cutting red tape and removing unnecessary delays. SEAs have until July 1, 2020, to apply for ESSER funds by submitting a simple signed Certification and Agreement form to ESSERF@ed.gov. The Department intends to process each submitted form within three business days of receipt. For more information, click here.

WHAT IS THE FCC DOING ABOUT THE HOMEWORK GAP?

To ensure that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 13, the FCC announced the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. 

So far, more than 700 companies and associations have signed up. The Keep Americans Connected Pledge reads as follows:

Given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on American society, [[Company Name]] pledges for the next 60 days to:

  1. not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic;
  2. waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and
  3. open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.

In addition, the FCC has compiled a list of providers’ COVID-19 offers.  You can also explore our list of the latest low-cost connectivity options.

We will keep this page updated as the FCC provides additional information.

IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE?

We don’t know.

EducationSuperHighway is advocating for the next round of stimulus funding to explicitly help school districts address the home learning gap. This funding should be made available for students’ home connectivity as quickly as possible, and we are advocating that this funding is for technology-neutral solutions. In order to address the homework gap as swiftly and efficiently as possible, multiple technology solutions (e.g. wireline and hotspots) are required and need to be eligible for federal funding support.

We will keep this page updated as the FCC provides additional information.