Government Grants for Education

American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021 (ARPA)

Overview

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were provided to State educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen, sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Nation’s students. ESSER is comprised of 3 relief packages.

Legislation Name	Amount
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – ESSER I – Passed March 2020	13.5 billion
Coronavirus Response Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act – ESSER II – Passed December 2020	54.3 billion
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act – ESSER III – Passed March 2021	122.7 billion

Allowable uses of funding

Local Education Agencies must use at least 20 percent of its total ESSER III allocation to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. The remaining ESSER III funds may be used for the same allowable purposes as ESSER and ESSER II. Some of the allowable use of the ESSER include:

• Coordinating preparedness and response efforts with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
• Repairing and improving school facilities to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards.
• developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs.

To view a complete list of allowable uses and compare ESSER relief packages, view the U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet.

Solutions to Consider When Spending ESSER Funds

Day Wireless Systems can provide districts streamlined digital radio systems using ESSER funding. This will enhance districts communication infrastructure. Upgrading to a digital radio system ensures that problems at a school or district level can be addressed by appropriate personnel in an instant. These direct lines of communication can be critical in an emergency and can ensure instant and reliable communication with First Responders.

Applications of upgrading to a digital IP site connect system include:

• Creating a reliable large radio area coverage for an entire district, rather than a single school
• Unifying transportation radios and “playground” radios on a singular network

Additional Resources

Guidance on How to Answer ESSER Application Questions for Enhanced Radio Communication