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ESSER III Funds & Safe In-Person Return

Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which became law in March 2021, school districts around the country will receive funding to address the impact of COVID-19 on students' academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. This funding is known as "ESSER III."

"ESSER" is short for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief. ESSER III receives its numerical designation from the fact that the ARP ESSER Fund is the third set of COVID-related federal relief grants for schools that Congress has passed since the pandemic began.

ESSER I and ESSER II were established respectively by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act in December 2020.

How much money will ESSER III provide?

ESSER III will provide nearly $122 billion 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.

BSD2 is expected to receive $2,610,183 in ESSER III funds.

How will BSD2 use its ESSER III funds?

As presented to the BSD2 Board of Education on October 20, 2021, the District plans to use its ESSER III grant money in three major areas:

  • Academic and Social Emotional Supports
  • Technology Resources
  • Health and Safety Resources

For details about BSD2's plan for using its ESSER III funds for returning safely to full in-person instruction, please see the following presentation to the BSD2 Board of Education: