ESSER III Funds

Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which became law in March 2021, school districts around the country will receive funding to address the impact of COVID-19 on students' academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. This funding is known as "ESSER III."

"ESSER" is short for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief. ESSER III receives its numerical designation from the fact that the ARP ESSER Fund is the third set of COVID-related federal relief grants for schools that Congress has passed since the pandemic began.

ESSER I and ESSER II were established respectively by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act in December 2020.

How Much Money Will ESSER III Provide?

ESSER III will provide nearly $122 billion to state educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students.

District 401 is expected to receive $4,749,000 in ESSER III funds.

How Will District 401 Use Its ESSER III Funds?

As presented to the D401 Board of Education on June 16, 2021, the District plans to use its ESSER III grant money in four major areas:

  • Academic Supports
  • Social Emotional Supports
  • Health and Safety
  • Capital Improvements

For details about District 401's plan for using its ESSER III funds and for returning safely to full in-person instruction, please see the following presentations to the D401 Board of Education: