Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, was enacted on March 11, 2021. The ARP Act provides additional funding for school districts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Education portion of ARP is known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III or ARP ESSER) Fund. The purpose of the ESSER III fund is to support the safe reopening and sustaining safe operations of schools while meeting students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

State ESSER III Plan

• ARP ESSER Massachusetts State Plan — Approved by USED 7/7/2021

Massachusetts' ARP ESSER (ESSER III) plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Education on July 7, 2021. For those of you who gave feedback, thank you. You made our plan stronger. The ESSER III program runs through September 30, 2024. Should you wish to provide new or additional feedback between now and then, please email federalgrantprograms@mass.gov with subject line: "ESSER III feedback."

ESSER III Resources for Program Directors

• All materials needed to apply for ESSER III funds are posted with the grant RFP

• ESSER III allocation amounts by district

• Quick Reference Guide: District Preparation for ESSER III — July 2021

• ESSER III Webinar

• USED ARP ESSER Fact Sheet

• USED ESSER FAQs (Use of Funds)

• USED ESSER FAQs (Use of Funds for COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing)

• USED ESSER FAQs (Maintenance of Equity Requirements)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act provide resources to school districts to address the impact the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. This supplemental funding opportunity, the Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief II (ESSER II) Fund, is intended to help school districts safely reopen schools, and measure and effectively address significant learning loss. In addition, in an effort to build capacity of public school districts and communities to facilitate integrated coordination of school and community-based resources, DESE is providing an additional $10,000 to each district for student mental health services and supports.

ESSER II Resources for Program Directors

All materials needed to apply for ESSER II funds are posted with the grant RFP.

• ESSER II Webinar

• ESSER II Allocations

• ESSER II Quick Reference Guide

• ESSER II Frequently Asked Questions

• USED ESSER II Fact Sheet

• CCSSO Common Use of Funds Questions for ESSER II

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief I (ESSER I) Fund, authorized under section 18003 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), provides districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. Districts must provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools as required under the CARES Act.

ESSER I Resources for Program Directors

• All materials needed to apply for ESSER I funds are posted with the grant RFP

• ESSER I allocation amounts by district

• ESSER I Quick Reference Guide

• Federal Grants Frequently Asked Questions regarding COVID-19 — Updated 11/20/2020

• ESSER I Webinar

• COVID-19 Information and Resources for Schools

• Fact Sheet: Use of US Department of Education grant funds for employee compensation and cancelled activities or travel