Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER Funds) are federal funds designed to award subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the impact the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the country.

An LEA is a local school district or designated charter school.

The funds enacted under three different legislative actions are all aimed at addressing the impact of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools. However, when school districts get access to the funds, and how long the funding is available varies, as well as a few additional requirements.

A full breakdown of the primary differences is available here or on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

LEAs have flexibility to determine how best to use ESSER funds to respond to the impacts of the pandemic. A few recommendations to consider include prioritizing funds to reopen schools for full-time instruction for all students, maintain safe in-person operations, advance educational equity and build capacity. However, districts cannot add multiple positions or give raises with ESSER funding, because these efforts are not sustainable beyond the grant.

GCS received $20,919,803 from ESSER I, $88,491,537 from ESSER II. Two-thirds of the anticipated $198,231,440 from ESSER III has been received. That adds up to $307,642,780 expected before the end of September 2024.

Guilford County Schools will address gaps and loss in academic access and achievement as students recover from the pandemic, seizing the opportunity to reimagine public education to ensure our students experience greater college and career success.

We believe the purpose of public schools is to transform learning and life outcomes for all students. Our planning priorities include: accelerating learning; closing the digital divide; creating strong postsecondary pathways; investing in instructional materials and resources; investing in staff capacity; investing in student support services; recruiting, retaining and rewarding highly effective staff; and reopening schools and keeping them open.

You may find more information regarding what to expect here. While some ESSER funds will be used for HVAC and air ventilation priority projects, the Guilford County Commissioners remain the primary funding body for school capital improvement projects.

A breakdown of programs and anticipated spending for each priority may be found in GCS’ ESSER Investment Plan. However, plans may need to be adjusted throughout the duration of the grants.

GCS formed a local task force consisting of more than 150 members county-wide who developed recommendations throughout the district’s COVID response efforts, including how the district could best use the federal funding. Task force members include principals, teachers, parents and elected officials. 

More information on the taskforce, including its members may be found here.

GCS and the task force worked to focus these one-time funds on investments that have evidence-based research to support effectiveness, and that will either be sustainable beyond the grant expiration or will have a defined life-cycle.

Yes. The Department of Education will monitor the use of ESSER funds. The Department’s Office of the Inspector General may audit program implementation, as may any other federal agency, commission, or department in the lawful exercise of its jurisdiction and authority.

The U.S. Department of Education awards grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), who then distribute the funds to LEAs in their state. SEAs must provide no less than 90% of total ESSER funds to its LEAs.

More detailed information regarding the federal funds may be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.

Information regarding North Carolina’s COVID Funds may be found on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction COVID Funds website.

Updates on GCS’ projects funded by ESSER, may be found on the district’s dashboard, by clicking here.