Emergency Relief Funding

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law. The CARES Act provides $30.75 billion nationwide in an Education Stabilization Fund to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus. CARES is administered through two funds: the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.

ESSER

New York State has been allocated $1.037 billion in ESSER funding. ESSER funding is being allocated to all LEAs that received 2019-20 Title I, Part A subgrants, including charter schools, Special Act School Districts and school districts employing fewer than eight teachers. Pursuant to the terms of the CARES Act, LEA allocations were calculated using the relative shares of grants awarded under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for the most recent fiscal year (2019-20). The CARES Act requires that a portion of these funds be made available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools.

GEER

New York State has been allocated $164.2 million in GEER funding. Pursuant to the direction of the Governor’s Office and the Division of the Budget, GEER funding has been allocated to the State’s 673 major school districts. GEER funds are not being allocated to LEAs that are charter schools, Special Act School Districts, or school districts employing fewer than eight teachers. These funds have been allocated to eligible school districts using the relative shares of grants awarded under Title I, Part A of the ESEA for the most recent fiscal year (2019-20). The CARES Act requires that a portion of these funds be made available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act) was signed into law. The CRRSA Act provides $81.88 billion nationwide in an Education Stabilization Fund to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus. CRRSA will be administered through two funds: the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund:

ESSER

New York State has been allocated $4 billion under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Individual LEA allocations will be calculated by NYSED using the relative shares of grants awarded under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for the 2019-20 fiscal year. The CRRSA Act does not require that a portion of these funds be made available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools.

GEER

New York State has been allocated $322.9 million under the second Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. Of the $322.9 million, $250.1 million is for a new Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant program and the remaining $72.8 million is for the Governor to determine programming. The CRRSA Act requires the Governor to submit an application to USDE for the EANS funds and for NYSED to administer this program.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

On March 11, 2021, the President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). ARPA makes available $122.8 billion nationally in a third round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER) funds. There is no Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund within ARPA.

ESSER

New York State’s ARP-ESSER allocation is $8.99 billion. A minimum of 90% of these funds ($8.09 billion) must be allocated to local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs. ARPA does not require that a portion of the funds allocated to LEAs be made available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools.

Individual LEA allocations will be calculated by NYSED using the relative shares of grants awarded under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for the 2020 federal fiscal year.