ESSER Funds

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief federal pandemic relief funds

Explainer

Everything You Need to Know About Schools and COVID Relief Funds
How much did your district get in pandemic emergency aid? When must the money be spent? Is there more on the way? EdWeek has the answers.
Image of funding stream faucets and a hand controlling the flow.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Education Department Restores COVID Funds For Schools—With Some Caveats
All state education agencies and school districts now have until March 2026 to finish spending COVID aid.
Mark Lieberman, June 27, 2025
4 min read
3d Render Red glossy Glass Dollar Sign icon in circle Blue Soft Maze, problems, solutions, strategy concept
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Trump's Cancellation of States' COVID-Relief Funding Is on Hold Again
Pandemic-relief funds in 16 states have been temporarily restored—again—just days before they were set to expire.
Mark Lieberman, May 21, 2025
3 min read
Illustration of a man pushing half of clock and half of a money coin forward on a red arrow
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Education Funding Billions for Schools Are in Limbo as Trump Admin. Denies State Funding Requests
Chaos and confusion continue to reign as states scramble to spend the last of their COVID relief funds under new deadlines.
Mark Lieberman, May 12, 2025
8 min read
Conceptual illustration of a coin in the top section of an hour glass
Dumitru Ochievschi/iStock/Getty
Federal Judge Reverses Ed. Dept.'s Abrupt End to States' Time to Spend COVID Relief
The order comes after Education Secretary Linda McMahon effectively canceled more than $1 billion in remaining pandemic relief funding.
4 min read
Teacher tutoring a young student while sitting in a classroom.
Yuri Arcurs/E+
Student Achievement Tutoring Programs Are in Limbo After the Expiration of COVID Relief Aid
Some districts have had to terminate tutoring programs or scramble to find alternate sources of funding.
Olina Banerji, April 25, 2025
9 min read
Illustration on a cyan blue background showing a businessman's hand and suit arm as he controls the strings attached to each arm of a clock.
DigitalVision Vectors
Education Funding States Sue Linda McMahon Over 'Drastic and Abrupt' End to COVID Relief Aid
The sudden cancellation of extensions on spending COVID relief aid "triggered chaos," the states argue.
Mark Lieberman, April 11, 2025
5 min read
Person thinking to enter money maze puzzle.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding States Urge McMahon to Restore Federal Funds She Canceled Without Notice
New York's education department threatened legal action if the federal government doesn't restore pandemic relief funds.
Mark Lieberman, April 4, 2025
10 min read
Photo of calendar with pushpins on dates.
iStock
Education Funding Schools Could Lose Millions in Federal Dollars After McMahon Changes Rules
The federal government has rescinded deadline extensions for a majority of states to spend remaining pandemic aid.
Mark Lieberman, March 31, 2025
7 min read
Education Secretary Linda McMahon arrives before President Donald Trump attends a reception for Women's History Month in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Washington.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon arrives before President Donald Trump attends a reception for Women's History Month in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Washington. In a letter Friday, McMahon told state leaders on March 28 that their time to spend remaining COVID relief funds would end that same day.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Federal Linda McMahon Abruptly Tells States Their Time to Spend COVID Relief Has Passed
Secretary Linda McMahon said the Education Department would no longer honor the extensions it had granted states.
Brooke Schultz, March 28, 2025
3 min read
Illustration of a clock and it's shadow is an hourglass with the symbol of money in the sand.
DigitalVision Vectors
Education Funding States Get Antsy as Education Department Layoffs Delay Millions for Schools
Reimbursements for federal education aid are weeks late, according to state chiefs.
Mark Lieberman, March 27, 2025
7 min read
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during “The Impact: Our Fight for Public Education” event at the Department of Education’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during “The Impact: Our Fight for Public Education” event at the Department of Education’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025. The event served as the capstone to Cardona's four years as education secretary under President Joe Biden.
Alyssa Schukar for Education Week
Federal As Biden Leaves Office, What Will His Education Legacy Be?
Biden's term was marked by unprecedented funding for schools, but no aggressive policy agenda. Did his administration do enough?
Brooke Schultz, January 15, 2025
12 min read
Share your financial/budget idea with others; business project. Sharing of experience.
iStock/Getty
Budget & Finance 3 Budgeting Lessons School Administrators Learned From ESSER
District leaders recommend maintaining a list of dream priorities and looking closely at return on investment.
Mark Lieberman, December 13, 2024
7 min read
Illustration of falling or declining money with a frustrated man in a suit standing on the edge of a cliff the shape of an arrow dollar sign.
DigitalVision Vectors
Education Funding ESSER Is Ending. Which Investments Accomplished the Most?
Districts have until Sept. 30 to commit their last round of federal COVID aid to particular expenses.
Mark Lieberman, September 24, 2024
11 min read
Baltimore City School students harvest cucumbers to make pickles with during a week at Great Kids Farm and Forest Camp on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Catonsville, MD.
Students from the Baltimore City schools harvest cucumbers to make pickles during a week at Great Kids Farm and Forest Camp on July 25, 2023, in Catonsville, Md.
Sam Mallon/Education Week
Student Well-Being Can Schools Meet the Demand for Summer Learning as Funding Runs Out?
A Gallup report found that 45 percent of kids didn't attend a summer learning program in 2023.
Lauraine Langreo, July 26, 2024
3 min read