ESSER Funds
Education news, analysis, and opinion about the 2020 and 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief federal pandemic relief funds
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.
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Join a diverse group of K-12 experts to learn how to leverage federal funds before they expire and improve student learning environments.
Education Funding
Schools Can Seek More Time to Spend ESSER Funds on Outside Contracts
Waivers are available for contract spending in key areas like construction, tutoring, and mental health.
IT Management
What Schools Can Do Now to Ensure Their New Technology Lasts Beyond the COVID Cash Boom
Devices bought with federal emergency funds are going to be outdated in a few years, with no new money to replace them.
Budget & Finance
How Are Schools Spending ESSER Funds? 4 Takeaways From a New Report
More than 4 in 10 districts have already obligated all their pandemic relief aid, while nearly a third are still getting started.
Budget & Finance
A Flood of Federal Cash and Then Layoffs. What Gives?
Some districts are cutting dozens of positions or scaling back programs to account for declining enrollment and inflationary pressure.
Education Funding
Opinion
How You Can Avoid Missing Out on COVID Relief Money
We’re losing the race against the clock to spend ESSER funds, but there are solutions.
IT Infrastructure
Spotlight
Spotlight on Infrastructure Modernization
This Spotlight will help you grasp the reality of school infrastructure, parent privacy concerns, watchdog recommendations and more.
Budget & Finance
10 Reasons Districts Struggle to Spend Federal Relief Funds
Spending billions of dollars in federal relief is a lot harder for school districts than just writing a check or pushing a button.
Budget & Finance
Why It's So Hard for Schools to Spend All That COVID Relief Money
Slow reimbursements, confusing requirements, and meddling legislatures are just a few complications as schools face pressure to invest.
School & District Management
Opinion
What the Teacher and Classified-Staff Strike in Sacramento Means for the Country
If school district leaders changed their mindset about the concept of sharing power, students would be among the beneficiaries.
Budget & Finance
Schools Got Tons of Federal COVID Money. Why Some Are Laying Off Anyway
The realities of school district finance is clashing with the mainstream idea that schools are all flush with cash.
Budget & Finance
Opinion
Searching for Common Ground: How to Spend Public Money in Education
Rick Hess and USC Dean Pedro Noguera discuss how to thoughtfully spend money in education and what that may look like on a practical level.
Budget & Finance
Letter to the Editor
Investing ESSER Dollars So They Pay Off
Districts should consider investing ESSER funds in teacher training and coaching, says the CEO of Out Teach.
Recruitment & Retention
Districts Are Raising Wages to Fix Shortages. Is It Sustainable?
Staff shortages have pushed districts to increase pay. But some might have to cut programs or staff to make higher wages permanent.