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.
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."
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) — Revised December 7, 2022
USED ESSER FAQs (Use of Funds for COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing)
USED ESSER FAQs (Maintenance of Equity Requirements) — Revised December 29, 2021
USED ESSER FAQs (Prevent, Prepare for or Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic)
USED ESSER FAQs (Use of Funds for Student Transportation)
Letter from Secretary Miguel A. Cardona, December 16, 2021 (Re: Use of ESSER III funds to support educators)
FY23 Maintenance of Equity for Massachusetts Districts
Massachusetts ESSER-III FY23 District-Level Maintenance of Equity Policy
FY22 Maintenance of Equity for Massachusetts Schools The federal government provides Maintenance of Equity exemptions for districts in which there are no aggregate reductions in combined State and local per-pupil funding, among other reasons. As such, all districts in MA in FY22 were exempt.
FY22 Maintenance of Equity for Massachusetts Districts
Massachusetts ESSER-III FY22 District-Level Maintenance of Equity Policy
Last Updated: February 22, 2023
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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