ESSER Funding Update as of July 31, 2023

Written by Strategos Group | Sep 25, 2023 4:59:56 PM

In just FIVE days (from September 25, 2023), we will have reached the obligation deadline for the ESSER II fund from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA). As we near this crucial deadline, I want to provide you with an important update regarding all the stimulus funding spending (ESSER, GEER, and EANS) as of July 31, 2023.

ESSER Stimulus Spending Totals

Total ESSER Funding Remaining: $74 billion

CARES ACT: ESSER

Deadline has passed (99.6% of all funds have been spent)

CRRSA: ESSER II

Obligation deadline of 9/30/23: 84% of funding spent with $8.4 billion remaining out of $54 billion

American Rescue Plan: ESSER III

Obligation deadline of 9/30/24: 42% of funding spent with $65 billion remaining out of $122 billion

GEER II and EANS I and II Spending Totals

$3.1 billion remaining across the three funds
GEER II and EANS I obligation deadline is 9/30/23
Remember that EANS I and II funds roll over to GEER funding, creating a significant opportunity since a lot of EANS funding has not been spent on private schools.

Remember that the U.S. Department of Education has provided some flexibility to allow for pre-payment / forward-funding of contracts, as well as opportunities for states and districts to request so-called “late liquidation” of stimulus funds. Liquidation of stimulus funds must take place four months after the obligation deadline unless a waiver is granted.

Possible Deadline Extensions:

State and local education agencies may request a 14-month extension to spend CRRSA and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds as they were allowed to do under the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Education announced in a letter on Monday.

If approved, states and districts would have the flexibility of fully expending ARP funds 14 months beyond the current Jan. 28, 2025 deadline for liquidation (until late March 2026).

The Bottom Line:

It's crucial to take note of these deadlines to ensure that your organization can realize the possibilities presented by these funds. Unspent funds will revert back to the U.S. Treasury, which no state or district will want to do.

We're Here for You:

If you have any questions or need help navigating the market with regard to ESSER or other stimulus funding, please book some time here to connect with Strateos Partner Doug Mesecar. He's here to support you in making the most of these opportunities.

About the Author:

Doug ranks among the small number of education consultants who have worked as an education policymaker, entrepreneur, and executive in the private sector. He has built a track record of success with deep knowledge about what drives the K-12 market, from the economic buyer to the everyday user. A former teacher, Doug served at the U.S. Department of Education as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department and Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Office of Innovation and Improvement. He also served in the U.S. Congress as a professional staff member for the House Education and Workforce Committee. He held senior executive positions for companies serving the K-12 market, including IO Education (now Illuminate), Sylvan Learning, and Scholastic Education.

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