American Rescue Plan
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It is an unprecedented $1.9 trillion package of assistance measures, including $122 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER)
Fund. Funds are provided 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.
84.425D
Formula
Not Applicable
Other: One-time funding
Not Applicable
Total Amount:$0
Amount Available Towards Broadband (if specified): Not Specified
No
Not Applicable
With respect to ESSER funding, providing internet connectivity to students is anallowable use of ESSER funds (see, e.g., section 2001(e)(2)(K) of the American RescuePlan Act of 2021 (ARP Act), stating that an allowable use of ARP ESSER funds includes“Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) forstudents who are served by the [LEA] that aids in regular and substantive educationalinteraction between students and their classroom instructors”). If an LEA pays a vendorto provide internet service to students and their families, the vendor may need to createthe infrastructure to be able to provide the internet service. Typically that infrastructure isowned by the vendor and is not subject to the specific Federal regulations on supplies,equipment, or capital improvements. However, if the purpose of an SEA or LEA’scontract with a vendor is to create the infrastructure (e.g. fiber optic cable) itself that theState or LEA would own, a contract with a vendor for the creation of the broadbandinfrastructure is subject to the Uniform Guidance rules on procurement, prior approvalfor capital expenditures, disposition, construction, and other relevant requirements in theUniform Guidance and other applicable regulations. For example, as noted in moredetail in FAQ B-6 when ESSER funds are used for construction, capital equipment orproperty acquired or improved with Federal funds must be appropriately insured and thegrantees must consult with the Department on disposition instructions in the event thatthe property or equipment is no longer needed for Federal programs. See, e.g., 2 CFR§§ 200.310-200.313.
A State must subgrant not less than 90 percent of its total ARP ESSER allocation to local educational agencies (LEAs).income, population size/density, limited to certain states.)
Not Applicable
ESSERF@ed.gov
Please carefully review the FAQs for additional guidance on ESSER funds:
https://oese.ed.gov/files/2022/12/ESSER-and-GEER-Use-of-Funds-FAQs-December-7-2022-Update.pdf
ESSER was also authorized through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act & Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations
(CRRSA) Act.
April 2023