ESSER Graphic

  • ESSER Funding Overview

    Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). Signed into law on March 27, 2020, the Department awarded these grants ­to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.

    ESSER Fund awards to SEAs are in the same proportion as each state received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, in fiscal year 2019.

    Funding has been awarded in three relief packages. 

     

    Name of the Legislation Amount Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund Timeline
    Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act
    (ESSER I Fund)
    passed March 2020    		 $13.2 billion $3 billion Sept. 30, 2022
    Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations
    (CRRSA) Act
    (ESSER II Fund)
    passed December 2020    		 $54 billion $4 billion
    *$2.7 billion of this was allocated to Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools (EANS)    		 Sept. 30, 2023
    American Rescue Plan
    (ESSER III Fund)
    passed March 2021    		 $126 billion $2.75 billion
    All for private schools    		 Sept. 30, 2023

     

    Georgia Insights ESSER Funding Transparency Link

  • District Funding Priorities:

    In its plan that was submitted and approved by the Georgia Department of Education, the Dougherty County School System laid out a series of priorities that would be funded through the ESSER allotments. Those priorities are: 

    • COVID Prevention and Mitigation
    • Disrupted Learning/Instruction/Social Emotional Supports
    • Continuity of Services (Process Efficiency and Improvements)