The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund is administered by the United States Department of Education. ESSER funds were distributed "to address diverse needs arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, or to emerge stronger post-pandemic, including responding to students' social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs and continuing to provide educational services as States and school administrative units (SAUs) respond to and recover from the pandemic." (Frequently Asked Questions, updated December 2022). Additional information about the three federal emergency relief acts can be found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilization-fund/elementary-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund.
Any use of ESSER funds must be “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to” the COVID-19 pandemic while being necessary and reasonable for the performance of the ESSER award. This means that transferring funds to a rainy-day fund, bridging a budget shortfall that is not related to the pandemic, and providing matching funds for other federal programs are not allowable.
Allocations
- CARES Allocations
- CRRSA Allocations
- ARP Allocations
Information
| Last Updated (year-month-day) |
Category | File Name / Topic | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-21 | Webinar Liquidation Extension | Federal Emergency Relief Programs October 21, 2024 Updated Webinar - ARP ESSER Extension to Liquidation | |
| 2024-10-3 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief Programs October 2024 Office Hour - ARP ESSER Deadlines and Invoicing | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-9-5 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief September 2024 Office Hour - ARP ESSER Deadlines and Invoicing | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-6-26 | Office Hour for Late Liquidation (repeat) | Federal Emergency Relief Office Hour on Late Liquidation of ESSER | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-6-6 | Office Hours | Federal Emergency Relief Programs June 2024 Office Hour | |
| 2024-5-3 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief Programs May 2024 Office Hour | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-03-07 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief Programs March 2024 Office Hour | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-2-1 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief Programs February 2024 Office Hour | YouTube Video | PDF |
| 2024-1-4 | Office Hour | Federal Emergency Relief Programs January 2024 Office Hours | |
| XX 2022-12-13 | General Info | CARES ESSER I blank application ** | |
| 2022-12-13 | General Info | CRRSA ESSER II blank application | |
| 2021-06-07 | General Info | Priority Notice regarding LMS Grant | Webpage |
| 2021-07-14 | General Info |
Interim Federal Rule for American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund |
Webpage |
| 2021-08-02 | General Info | ARP Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY) preliminary allocations | |
| 2021-08-02 | General Info | Blank GEM ARP ESSER application | |
| 2021-10-13 | General Info | School Construction Checklist (using ESSER) | |
| 2022-08-09 | General Info | General Disposition Guidance for Equitable Services under the CARES Act | |
| 2023-02-02 | Office Hours | ESSER Updates: Disposition, New Procedures 10% overage, Preview of Performance Report | Video | PDF |
| General Info | SAU Spending and Instruction Plans | Webpage |
Contact
Shelly Chasse-Johndro
Director, Federal Emergency Relief Programs
Email: Shelly.ChasseJohndro@maine.gov