Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER I & II) overview

MPS has received $89.7 million in ESSER I and II funds.

ESSER I & II overview

Per the US Department of Education: "Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the CARES Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund)...The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provides an additional $54.3 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund)."

Per the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE): "ESSER funds are divided into two streams: a formula-based allocation and state-directed grants. 

• The formula-based allocation to districts and charter schools is based on their allocations under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). These funds can be used for a wide range of expenses to meet local needs. 
• State-directed grants, provided to districts and charter schools that do not receive a formula-based allocation, districts and charter schools that receive less than $10,000 from their formula-based allocation, and districts and charter schools whose share of students from historically underserved populations is less than their share of other ESSER funds, can be used for a combination of:
  • Supplementing GEER funds for summer school programming.
  • Supporting mental health.
  • Meeting the needs of historically underserved populations."

ESSER I & II in MPS