Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding

During 2020 and 2021, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) received federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to address the impact of COVID-19 on pre-k through grade 12 education. In addition to being used at the state level, this funding is distributed to districts and charter schools to support learning as well as the social emotional needs of students, educators, and families across the state.

ESSER funding has been authorized under three different stimulus bills and is commonly known as ESSER I, II and III. 

• ESSER I – Passed on March 27, 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Delaware received $43,492,752.
  • District/Charter ESSER I Allocations
• ESSER II – Passed on Dec. 27, 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. Delaware received $182,885,104. 
  • ESSER/GEER II SEA Spending Plan
  • District/Charter ESSER II Allocations
• ESSER III – Passed on March 11, 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Delaware received $410,861,389.
  • Delaware ESSER III Plan
  • District/Charter ESSER III Allocations (updated July 21, 2021)

ARP ESSER III Funding

To date, ARP ESSER III is the largest amount of emergency ESSER funding given to public education. Two-thirds of ESSER III funds are immediately available for states to distribute to districts and charter schools. Remaining funds will be made available once states, districts and charters develop ESSER III implementation plans. Under ESSER III:

• DDOE, districts and charter schools are working together to develop strategic ESSER III plans that follow specific federal spending guidelines. Plans must be acted upon with urgency and with priority given to students who have experienced the greatest disruptions in learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• States receive ESSER III funds based on the same proportion that each state receives under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title-IA.
• Districts and charters must reserve at least 20% of ESSER III funds to address learning loss. 
• DDOE must reserve ESSER III funds at the state level as follows: 5% to address learning loss, 1% for afterschool activities, 1% for summer learning programs.
• DDOE has the option to reserve 10% of ESSER III funds for emergency needs as determined by the state plan to address issues responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local Maintenance of Equity Requirement

Local maintenance of equity (MOEquity) is a federal fiscal requirement that applies to all districts and charters that receive funding under the grants authorized by section 2001 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).  DDOE is required to publish the following MOEquity data on its website:

The identity of each Delaware district and charter that is excepted from MOEquity requirements for each of the following reasons:

1. The district/charter has a total enrollment of less than 1,000 students.
2. The district/charter operates a single school.
3. The district/charter serves all students within each grade span with a single school.
4. The district/charter has notified DDOE that the district/charter demonstrates an exceptional and uncontrollable circumstance under section 2004 of the ARP Act and has not implemented an aggregate reduction in combined State and local per-pupil funding.
5. The district/charter has been granted an exception from maintenance of equity requirements by the US Department of Education (USED) due to an exceptional or uncontrollable circumstance under section 2004 of the ARP Act and USED has informed DDOE of this exception.

Delaware’s list of districts and charters excepted from MOEquity requirements can be found here.

Additional Resources

• American Rescue Plan (ARP) - Learn more about federal ARP authorizing ESSER III funds.
• ESSER FAQs - Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ESSER III and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program.