Data provided to K-12 Dive by the Education Department show that only $326.2 million — or about 0.17% — in spending is being extended out of the total $189.5 billion fund under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program.
The Education Department has approved every ESSER spending extension requested to date, as well as all state Governor's Emergency Education Relief fund late liquidation requests and requests under the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools fund, according to the agency.
While the spending extensions to date represent just a tiny portion of the overall pandemic relief money to K-12 programs, it is likely extension requests and perhaps approvals will be higher for ESSER's last and largest phase: the $121.9 billion American Rescue Plan.
There are no formal deadlines for submitting late liquidation requests, but states and districts should keep in mind when extension periods end for each funding stream, an Education Department spokesperson said. The department recommends grantees seek extensions well in advance to maximize success, the spokesperson said.
The Education Department had only received one ESSER-ARP extension request as of Thursday — from Puerto Rico — and that request is currently under review. State education agencies can make extension requests on behalf of their own agencies and for districts.
Earlier in the pandemic, several organizations representing school administrators had pressed the Education Department for late liquidation guidance, citing a desire for a longer spending pathway due to struggles with supply chain challenges and labor shortages. The department rolled out late liquidation guidance for each of the three aid packages, with the most recent guidance for ARP being released in January.
States and districts face a Sept. 30 deadline to obligate ESSER-ARP funds. After then, they have another four months — or until Jan. 28, 2025 — to actually spend down ARP money.
But if districts receive ARP extensions they have an extra 14 months — or until March 30, 2026, to spend down the monies.
Here are more details about spending extension approvals to date:
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). The Education Department approved ESSER spending extensions under this aid package for districts in 10 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for a total of $16.2 million. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
Under CARES' GEER program, extensions were approved for $13.9 million across nine states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
No requests are pending because the March 31 final date for CARES extension requests has passed.
- Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA). A total of $310 million in ESSER spending extensions has been approved for districts in 19 states and in Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands. Those states include Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont.
For GEER, the Education Department approved spending extensions totaling $32.6 million for nine states and Puerto Rico, American Samoa and U.S. Virgin Islands. The states are Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.
Also included under this aid program is the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools program. For EANS, eight states and Puerto Rico have been approved for a total of $190.5 million in extensions. The states are California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.Additionally, the Education Department is reviewing late liquidation requests from Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Northern Mariana Islands.
- American Rescue Plan. On top of the ESSER spending extension request from Puerto Rico that is under review, the Education Department is reviewing EANS extension requests under ARP from California and Colorado.
