Legislative Affairs

Updated ESSER / GEER Guidance 12/7/22

  • 1.  Updated ESSER / GEER Guidance 12/7/22

    Posted 12-08-2022 09:53

    On December 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released new, updated guidance for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Programs and the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Programs.

    https://oese.ed.gov/files/2022/12/ESSER-and-GEER-Use-of-Funds-FAQs-December-7-2022-Update.pdf

    The updated FAQs document includes new additional information on topics such as: 

    • LEA requirements for reviewing and updating their safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plans
    • Allowable uses for the 20% of ARP ESSER funds for addressing learning loss
    • Disposition rules for SEAs and LEAs to follow regarding equipment and supplies purchases with ESSER/GEER funds
    • Whether an LEA can award subgrants with ESSER/GEER funds
    • Allowable use of funds, state approval processes, and other requirements when using ESSER/GEER funds for construction projects and capital expenditures
    • Federal reporting requirements for using funds to purchase land, construct buildings, and make building improvements
    • Whether LEAs can use funds for athletic facilities
    • Allowable uses of funds for climate resiliency to mitigate natural disaster-related damage to buildings and infrastructure
    • Whether funds can be used for miscellaneous reasons such as: paying for utilities and fuel; for student activity fees; for providing safe/supportive learning environments; and for installing surveillance technology for security purposes; for supporting multilingual learners; for supporting student mental health; for resolving unpaid meal debt; etc.
    • Whether ESSER/GEER funds may be used as incentive payments for parents and students to encourage/increase attendance at school;
    • Allowable uses of funds for supporting and stabilizing the educator workforce
    • Clarity on fund obligation timelines and state authority to establish a shorter period of availability of funds than what is outlined in federal statute
    • Clarity on liquidation timelines and what will happen to funds that are not obligated by the appropriate deadline
    • Whether funds can be used to support local matching requirements under other Federal programs

    If you have questions that are not answered in this document, USED requests stakeholders to please e-mail ESSERF@ed.gov for questions related to ESSER or GEERF@ed.gov for questions related to GEER.

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