Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) allocation and expenditures by district in Arkansas
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This page includes information and data on federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding in Arkansas. ESSER was a series of grants totaling roughly $190 billion that Congress sent to K-12 public schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Congress included the funding in three separate spending packages between 2020 and 2021. In an April 23, 2020, letter sent to state education commissioners, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wrote: "The ESSER Fund provides you, and your local educational agencies, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools."[1]
On this page, you will find data on the funding Congress allocated to Arkansas' school districts through the three ESSER grants (I, II, and III). Data is made available by Georgetown University's Edunomics Lab.[2] Navigate the page using the following links:
- Background
- ESSER I
- ESSER II
- ESSER III
- See ESSER allocations to other states
- ESSER history and context
Background
At the time, the $190 billion was the largest injection of federal funding into the education system in a one-year period.[3] The first of the three ESSER packages was created in March 27, 2020, when President Donald Trump (R) signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, releasing $13.2 billion to schools. Trump signed the second ESSER package, providing roughly $54 billion through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, into law on December 27, 2020. President Joe Biden (D) signed the final ESSER package on March 11, 2021, apportioning $122 billion to schools through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Each of the three ESSER packages came with their own spending deadlines. Districts had until January 2025 to spend the last round of the funding, known as ESSER III.[4]
Congress placed few conditions on the grants, largely relying on districts to make their own spending decisions.[5] The exception to this was that Congress required districts to spend 20% of their ESSER III funds addressing “the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions.”[6] Districts spent the funding in a variety of ways, including on afterschool programming, tutoring, professional development for teachers, mobile hotspots and other technologies, upgrading heating and air conditioning systems, and building new schools.[7]
Districts also reported using the funding to hire school psychologists, new teachers, custodians, and math specialists.[7] Some districts reported hiring contractors out of a concern about paying for permanent positions after the ESSER funding expired.[7] An August 2023 School Superintendents Association (AASA) survey found that 53% of respondents said they would need to cut support staff in response to the expiration of ESSER funding.[8] A 2024 survey of district leaders by the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found that 53% of district leaders "expect a fiscal cliff in their district’s spending when ESSER concludes."[9]
ESSER I
The table below shows the total amount of ESSER I funding allocated to each district in Arkansas.
| Arkansas ESSER I allocation by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER I Allocation |
| Dewitt School District | $294,753 |
| Stuttgart School District | $429,931 |
| Crossett School District | $469,049 |
| Hamburg School District | $427,117 |
| Cotter School District | $145,905 |
| Mountain Home School District | $742,725 |
| Norfork School District | $128,727 |
| Bentonville School District | $897,638 |
| Decatur School District | $153,633 |
| Gentry School District | $251,735 |
| Gravette School District | $266,309 |
| Rogers School District | $2,283,307 |
| Siloam Springs School District | $645,813 |
| Pea Ridge School District | $136,327 |
| Arkansas Arts Academy | $63,777 |
| Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas | $13,879 |
| Arkansas Connections Academy | $277,694 |
| Hope Academy | $8,321 |
| Alpena School District | $144,888 |
| Bergman School District | $151,221 |
| Harrison School District | $531,818 |
| Omaha School District | $94,102 |
| Valley Springs School District | $136,345 |
| Lead Hill School District | $160,433 |
| Hermitage School District | $156,291 |
| Warren School District | $486,222 |
| Hampton School District | $97,482 |
| Berryville School District | $510,259 |
| Eureka Springs School District | $183,188 |
| Green Forest School District | $284,864 |
| Dermott School District | $270,079 |
| Lakeside School District (Chicot) | $706,290 |
| Arkadelphia School District | $365,584 |
| Gurdon School District | $179,466 |
| Corning School District | $259,677 |
| Piggott School District | $144,746 |
| Rector School District | $120,040 |
| Concord School District | $117,344 |
| Heber Springs School District | $393,162 |
| Quitman School District | $131,331 |
| West Side School District (Cleburne) | $107,447 |
| Woodlawn School District | $59,473 |
| Cleveland County School District | $180,424 |
| Magnolia School District | $911,687 |
| Emerson0Taylor0Bradley School District | $214,266 |
| Nemo Vista School District | $81,509 |
| Wonderview School District | $98,384 |
| South Conway County School District | $645,075 |
| Bay School District | $81,706 |
| Westside School District (Craighead) | $330,574 |
| Brookland School District | $166,836 |
| Buffalo Is. Central School District | $134,371 |
| Jonesboro School District | $2,272,737 |
| Nettleton School District | $829,822 |
| Valley View School District | $144,372 |
| Riverside School District | $144,440 |
| Alma School District | $536,185 |
| Cedarville School District | $213,481 |
| Mountainburg School District | $221,034 |
| Mulberry Pleasant View Bi0County School District | $198,920 |
| Van Buren School District | $1,406,432 |
| Earle School District | $426,836 |
| West Memphis School District | $3,092,113 |
| Marion School District | $811,679 |
| Cross County School District | $198,567 |
| Wynne School District | $643,445 |
| Fordyce School District | $417,258 |
| Dumas School District | $580,699 |
| Mcgehee School District | $465,738 |
| Drew Central School District | $185,267 |
| Monticello School District | $548,502 |
| Conway School District | $1,643,226 |
| Greenbrier School District | $283,676 |
| Guy Perkins School District | $86,911 |
| Mayflower School District | $129,883 |
| Mt. Vernon/Enola School District | $49,975 |
| Vilonia School District | $282,750 |
| Charleston School District | $152,782 |
| County Line School District | $104,217 |
| Ozark School District | $356,303 |
| Mammoth Spring School District | $151,805 |
| Salem School District | $220,102 |
| Viola School District | $116,228 |
| Cutter0Morning Star School District | $160,831 |
| Fountain Lake School District | $183,828 |
| Hot Springs School District | $1,442,223 |
| Jessieville School District | $196,521 |
| Lake Hamilton School District | $710,391 |
| Lakeside School Dist(Garland) | $331,387 |
| Mountain Pine School District | $249,623 |
| Poyen School District | $40,096 |
| Sheridan School District | $507,437 |
| Marmaduke School District | $150,393 |
| Greene Co. Tech School District | $549,561 |
| Paragould School District | $720,357 |
| Blevins School District | $192,695 |
| Hope School District | $1,095,235 |
| Spring Hill School District | $67,411 |
| Bismarck School District | $215,180 |
| Glen Rose School District | $199,956 |
| Magnet Cove School District | $49,757 |
| Malvern School District | $592,349 |
| Ouachita School District | $57,101 |
| Dierks School District | $94,829 |
| Mineral Springs School District | $139,989 |
| Nashville School District | $507,248 |
| Batesville School District | $647,508 |
| Southside School District (Independence) | $232,071 |
| Midland School District | $127,586 |
| Cedar Ridge School District | $198,906 |
| Calico Rock School District | $98,044 |
| Melbourne School District | $146,567 |
| Izard County Consolidated School District | $228,407 |
| Newport School District | $717,323 |
| Jackson Co. School District | $160,419 |
| Dollarway School District | $654,557 |
| Pine Bluff School District | $1,940,601 |
| Watson Chapel School District | $751,837 |
| White Hall School District | $550,635 |
| Pine Bluff Lighthouse Academy | $181,275 |
| Southeast Ar Prep High School | $29,439 |
| Friendship Aspire Pine Bluff | $157,182 |
| Friendship Aspire Se Pine Bluff | $35,961 |
| Clarksville School District | $553,614 |
| Lamar School District | $284,022 |
| Westside School District (Johnson) | $210,488 |
| Lafayette County School District | $282,440 |
| Hoxie School District | $233,031 |
| Sloan0Hendrix School District | $232,039 |
| Hillcrest School District | $146,407 |
| Lawrence Co. School District | $248,024 |
| Imboden Charter School District | $19,049 |
| Lee County School District | $774,665 |
| Star City School District | $318,141 |
| Ashdown School District | $312,622 |
| Foreman School District | $82,716 |
| Booneville School District | $297,140 |
| Magazine School District | $125,754 |
| Paris School District | $268,143 |
| Scranton School District | $141,751 |
| Lonoke School District | $351,588 |
| England School District | $226,345 |
| Carlisle School District | $90,505 |
| Cabot School District | $918,404 |
| Huntsville School District | $595,018 |
| Flippin School District | $262,531 |
| Yellville0Summit School District | $245,196 |
| Genoa Central School District | $185,515 |
| Fouke School District | $187,073 |
| Texarkana School District | $1,494,429 |
| Armorel School District | $40,438 |
| Blytheville School District | $1,229,522 |
| Rivercrest School District | $411,670 |
| Gosnell School District | $265,397 |
| Manila School District | $254,473 |
| Osceola School District | $944,549 |
| Brinkley School District | $315,590 |
| Clarendon School District | $201,457 |
| Caddo Hills School District | $181,715 |
| Mount Ida School District | $149,985 |
| Prescott School District | $306,427 |
| Nevada School District | $89,550 |
| Jasper School District | $300,783 |
| Deer/Mt. Judea School District | $91,490 |
| Bearden School District | $138,899 |
| Camden Fairview School District | $995,570 |
| Harmony Grove School District (Ouachita) | $211,419 |
| East End School District | $144,296 |
| Perryville School District | $134,825 |
| Barton0Lexa School District | $183,540 |
| Helena/ W. Helena School District | $1,052,165 |
| Marvell0Elaine School District | $461,077 |
| Kipp Delta | $1,679,975 |
| Centerpoint School District | $269,777 |
| Kirby School District | $119,428 |
| South Pike County School District | $138,254 |
| Harrisburg School District | $239,596 |
| Marked Tree School District | $242,873 |
| Trumann School District | $594,447 |
| East Poinsett County School District | $274,586 |
| Mena School District | $553,880 |
| Ouachita River School District | $168,000 |
| Cossatot River School District | $313,721 |
| Atkins School District | $190,809 |
| Dover School District | $172,371 |
| Hector School District | $138,558 |
| Pottsville School District | $165,317 |
| Russellville School District | $1,175,131 |
| Des Arc School District | $110,765 |
| Hazen School District | $161,004 |
| Little Rock School District | $6,883,475 |
| N. Little Rock School District | $3,448,402 |
| Pulaski Co. Special School District | $2,800,845 |
| Jacksonville North Pulaski School District | $1,349,281 |
| Academics Plus School District | $161,107 |
| Lisa Academy | $744,672 |
| Arkansas Virtual Academy | $463,596 |
| Estem Public Charter School | $543,739 |
| Lr Prep | $0 |
| Arkansas Lighthouse Academies | $294,509 |
| Graduate Arkansas | $37,534 |
| Premier High School Of Little Rock | $41,199 |
| Exalt Academy Of Southwest Little Rock | $188,264 |
| Capitol City Lighthouse Academy | $145,507 |
| Scholarmade | $218,257 |
| Friendship Aspire Little Rock | $108,690 |
| Premier High School Of North Little Rock | $34,344 |
| Arkansas School For The Blind | $24,092 |
| Arkansas School For The Deaf | $23,315 |
| Maynard School District | $125,445 |
| Pocahontas School District | $338,269 |
| Forrest City School District | $1,556,285 |
| Palestine0Wheatley School District | $111,621 |
| Bauxite School District | $100,422 |
| Benton School District | $476,532 |
| Bryant School District | $742,938 |
| Harmony Grove Sch Dist(Saline) | $112,413 |
| Waldron School District | $470,318 |
| Searcy County School District | $369,850 |
| Ozark Mountain School District | $202,610 |
| Fort Smith School District | $4,488,061 |
| Greenwood School District | $462,602 |
| Hackett School District | $294,220 |
| Lavaca School District | $152,667 |
| Mansfield School District | $161,519 |
| Future School Of Fort Smith | $53,902 |
| Dequeen School District | $814,744 |
| Horatio School District | $189,332 |
| Cave City School District | $445,612 |
| Highland School District | $593,304 |
| Mountain View School District | $579,422 |
| El Dorado School District | $1,174,726 |
| Junction City School District | $95,606 |
| Parkers Chapel School District | $69,665 |
| Smackover School District | $184,039 |
| Strong0Huttig School District | $98,720 |
| Clinton School District | $323,810 |
| Shirley School District | $130,902 |
| South Side Sch Dist(Vanburen) | $101,241 |
| Elkins School District | $95,494 |
| Farmington School District | $215,045 |
| Fayetteville School District | $1,364,355 |
| Greenland School District | $269,636 |
| Lincoln School District | $302,230 |
| Prairie Grove School District | $182,930 |
| Springdale School District | $4,570,017 |
| West Fork School District | $93,703 |
| Bald Knob School District | $304,874 |
| Beebe School District | $514,157 |
| Bradford School District | $115,942 |
| White Co. Central School District | $112,445 |
| Riverview School District | $404,557 |
| Pangburn School District | $88,751 |
| Rose Bud School District | $127,316 |
| Searcy School District | $777,490 |
| Augusta School District | $281,684 |
| Mccrory School District | $169,064 |
| Danville School District | $205,877 |
| Dardanelle School District | $335,430 |
| Western Yell Co. School District | $139,259 |
| Two Rivers School District | $279,588 |
ESSER II
The table below shows the total amount of ESSER II funding allocated to each district in Arkansas.
| Arkansas ESSER II allocation by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER II Allocation |
| Dewitt School District | $1,193,080 |
| Stuttgart School District | $1,660,823 |
| Crossett School District | $2,199,505 |
| Hamburg School District | $1,694,939 |
| Cotter School District | $782,924 |
| Mountain Home School District | $3,006,345 |
| Norfork School District | $586,393 |
| Bentonville School District | $3,633,389 |
| Decatur School District | $583,702 |
| Gentry School District | $886,357 |
| Gravette School District | $973,804 |
| Rogers School District | $9,242,195 |
| Siloam Springs School District | $3,311,181 |
| Pea Ridge School District | $605,912 |
| Arkansas Arts Academy | $372,339 |
| Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas | $66,752 |
| Arkansas Connections Academy | $961,605 |
| Hope Academy | $0 |
| Alpena School District | $592,519 |
| Bergman School District | $599,668 |
| Harrison School District | $2,314,094 |
| Omaha School District | $585,066 |
| Valley Springs School District | $551,887 |
| Lead Hill School District | $649,386 |
| Hermitage School District | $585,890 |
| Warren School District | $1,885,742 |
| Hampton School District | $394,582 |
| Berryville School District | $1,971,226 |
| Eureka Springs School District | $760,901 |
| Green Forest School District | $1,185,298 |
| Dermott School District | $1,231,115 |
| Lakeside School District (Chicot) | $2,858,865 |
| Arkadelphia School District | $1,826,388 |
| Gurdon School District | $761,581 |
| Corning School District | $1,286,606 |
| Piggott School District | $659,729 |
| Rector School District | $633,468 |
| Concord School District | $482,236 |
| Heber Springs School District | $1,501,615 |
| Quitman School District | $606,659 |
| West Side School District (Cleburne) | $605,984 |
| Woodlawn School District | $240,732 |
| Cleveland County School District | $691,513 |
| Magnolia School District | $4,157,218 |
| Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District | $818,543 |
| Nemo Vista School District | $366,187 |
| Wonderview School District | $498,512 |
| South Conway County School District | $2,505,126 |
| Bay School District | $333,165 |
| Westside School District (Craighead) | $1,675,677 |
| Brookland School District | $776,235 |
| Buffalo Is. Central School District | $694,282 |
| Jonesboro School District | $9,206,912 |
| Nettleton School District | $3,666,348 |
| Valley View School District | $681,208 |
| Riverside School District | $655,878 |
| Alma School District | $2,216,049 |
| Cedarville School District | $966,893 |
| Mountainburg School District | $814,401 |
| Mulberry Pleasant View Bi-County School District | $899,101 |
| Van Buren School District | $6,420,130 |
| Earle School District | $1,565,000 |
| West Memphis School District | $12,256,526 |
| Marion School District | $3,016,207 |
| Cross County School District | $803,745 |
| Wynne School District | $2,563,074 |
| Fordyce School District | $1,534,805 |
| Dumas School District | $2,247,947 |
| Mcgehee School District | $1,896,711 |
| Drew Central School District | $712,237 |
| Monticello School District | $2,471,887 |
| Conway School District | $8,149,287 |
| Greenbrier School District | $1,930,811 |
| Guy-Perkins School District | $311,024 |
| Mayflower School District | $679,782 |
| Mt. Vernon/Enola School District | $254,436 |
| Vilonia School District | $1,193,320 |
| Charleston School District | $563,009 |
| County Line School District | $521,817 |
| Ozark School District | $1,637,295 |
| Mammoth Spring School District | $614,466 |
| Salem School District | $890,913 |
| Viola School District | $688,404 |
| Cutter-Morning Star School District | $1,134,616 |
| Fountain Lake School District | $1,375,935 |
| Hot Springs School District | $9,607,236 |
| Jessieville School District | $1,630,328 |
| Lake Hamilton School District | $4,345,754 |
| Lakeside School Dist(Garland) | $1,983,210 |
| Mountain Pine School District | $1,010,403 |
| Poyen School District | $162,298 |
| Sheridan School District | $2,154,437 |
| Marmaduke School District | $557,086 |
| Greene Co. Tech School District | $2,225,297 |
| Paragould School District | $2,996,405 |
| Blevins School District | $734,555 |
| Hope School District | $4,433,206 |
| Spring Hill School District | $248,188 |
| Bismarck School District | $1,144,159 |
| Glen Rose School District | $1,195,972 |
| Magnet Cove School District | $335,606 |
| Malvern School District | $3,586,352 |
| Ouachita School District | $248,058 |
| Dierks School District | $376,050 |
| Mineral Springs School District | $738,831 |
| Nashville School District | $2,277,548 |
| Batesville School District | $2,401,521 |
| Southside School District (Independence) | $978,232 |
| Midland School District | $516,434 |
| Cedar Ridge School District | $755,934 |
| Calico Rock School District | $396,856 |
| Melbourne School District | $561,862 |
| Izard County Consolidated School District | $1,117,606 |
| Newport School District | $2,778,860 |
| Jackson Co. School District | $608,298 |
| Dollarway School District | $477,808 |
| Pine Bluff School District | $10,026,673 |
| Watson Chapel School District | $3,043,230 |
| White Hall School District | $2,228,817 |
| Pine Bluff Lighthouse Academy | $47,953 |
| Friendship Aspire Pine Bluff | $1,940,152 |
| Friendship Aspire Se Pine Bluff | $56,536 |
| Clarksville School District | $3,653,291 |
| Lamar School District | $2,037,149 |
| Westside School District (Johnson) | $834,436 |
| Lafayette County School District | $1,250,521 |
| Hoxie School District | $862,248 |
| Sloan-Hendrix School District | $855,864 |
| Hillcrest School District | $744,119 |
| Lawrence Co. School District | $1,003,934 |
| Imboden Charter School District | $90,238 |
| Lee County School District | $3,135,629 |
| Star City School District | $1,353,021 |
| Ashdown School District | $1,265,408 |
| Foreman School District | $429,079 |
| Booneville School District | $1,348,301 |
| Magazine School District | $539,616 |
| Paris School District | $1,303,301 |
| Scranton School District | $519,734 |
| Lonoke School District | $1,423,132 |
| England School District | $916,181 |
| Carlisle School District | $316,440 |
| Cabot School District | $4,393,644 |
| Huntsville School District | $2,622,300 |
| Flippin School District | $1,062,651 |
| Yellville-Summit School District | $1,520,848 |
| Genoa Central School District | $1,096,765 |
| Fouke School District | $757,221 |
| Texarkana School District | $8,461,559 |
| Armorel School District | $168,692 |
| Blytheville School District | $5,158,797 |
| Rivercrest School District | $1,509,394 |
| Gosnell School District | $1,338,313 |
| Manila School District | $980,381 |
| Osceola School District | $3,655,601 |
| Brinkley School District | $1,277,419 |
| Clarendon School District | $815,440 |
| Caddo Hills School District | $880,224 |
| Mount Ida School District | $669,400 |
| Prescott School District | $1,138,065 |
| Nevada School District | $423,813 |
| Jasper School District | $1,406,384 |
| Deer/Mt. Judea School District | $335,448 |
| Bearden School District | $562,225 |
| Camden Fairview School District | $3,684,595 |
| Harmony Grove School District (Ouachita) | $1,339,023 |
| East End School District | $584,070 |
| Perryville School District | $660,803 |
| Barton-Lexa School District | $887,184 |
| Helena/ W. Helena School District | $4,258,874 |
| Marvell-Elaine School District | $1,866,311 |
| Kipp Delta | $7,424,465 |
| Centerpoint School District | $1,091,981 |
| Kirby School District | $530,645 |
| South Pike County School District | $572,399 |
| Harrisburg School District | $1,300,529 |
| Marked Tree School District | $1,333,408 |
| Trumann School District | $2,514,327 |
| East Poinsett County School District | $1,071,574 |
| Mena School District | $2,425,326 |
| Ouachita River School District | $738,340 |
| Cossatot River School District | $1,423,435 |
| Atkins School District | $772,340 |
| Dover School District | $855,196 |
| Hector School District | $527,006 |
| Pottsville School District | $824,099 |
| Russellville School District | $4,660,213 |
| Des Arc School District | $406,197 |
| Hazen School District | $703,448 |
| Little Rock School District | $28,772,976 |
| N. Little Rock School District | $13,958,176 |
| Pulaski Co. Special School District | $11,350,613 |
| Jacksonville North Pulaski School District | $5,461,516 |
| Academics Plus School District | $689,091 |
| Lisa Academy | $3,269,594 |
| Arkansas Virtual Academy | $2,304,092 |
| Estem Public Charter School | $3,204,139 |
| Arkansas Lighthouse Academies | $2,839,474 |
| Graduate Arkansas | $137,619 |
| Premier High School Of Little Rock | $166,763 |
| Exalt Academy Of Southwest Little Rock | $789,661 |
| Capitol City Lighthouse Academy | $37,774 |
| Scholarmade | $923,435 |
| Friendship Aspire Little Rock | $815,391 |
| Premier High School Of North Little Rock | $139,017 |
| Westwind School For Performing Arts | $97,296 |
| Arkansas School For The Blind | $97,520 |
| Arkansas School For The Deaf | $94,371 |
| Maynard School District | $704,555 |
| Pocahontas School District | $1,593,573 |
| Forrest City School District | $7,484,917 |
| Palestine-Wheatley School District | $481,341 |
| Bauxite School District | $445,388 |
| Benton School District | $2,197,822 |
| Bryant School District | $3,465,975 |
| Harmony Grove Sch Dist(Saline) | $408,981 |
| Waldron School District | $1,881,936 |
| Searcy County School District | $1,565,184 |
| Ozark Mountain School District | $799,861 |
| Fort Smith School District | $17,054,515 |
| Greenwood School District | $1,859,565 |
| Hackett School District | $1,098,588 |
| Lavaca School District | $559,956 |
| Mansfield School District | $653,785 |
| Future School Of Fort Smith | $299,250 |
| Dequeen School District | $3,297,860 |
| Horatio School District | $981,047 |
| Cave City School District | $1,741,519 |
| Highland School District | $2,629,185 |
| Mountain View School District | $2,345,341 |
| El Dorado School District | $4,754,966 |
| Junction City School District | $357,536 |
| Parkers Chapel School District | $281,983 |
| Smackover School District | $954,480 |
| Strong-Huttig School District | $399,589 |
| Clinton School District | $1,310,694 |
| Shirley School District | $529,856 |
| South Side Sch Dist(Vanburen) | $470,362 |
| Elkins School District | $386,532 |
| Farmington School District | $750,498 |
| Fayetteville School District | $5,271,660 |
| Greenland School District | $990,324 |
| Lincoln School District | $1,223,343 |
| Prairie Grove School District | $740,448 |
| Springdale School District | $17,944,842 |
| West Fork School District | $373,824 |
| Haas Hall Academy | $0 |
| Premier High School Of Springdale | $69,951 |
| Bald Knob School District | $1,437,489 |
| Beebe School District | $2,129,129 |
| Bradford School District | $426,095 |
| White Co. Central School District | $505,937 |
| Riverview School District | $1,893,041 |
| Pangburn School District | $382,785 |
| Rose Bud School District | $532,896 |
| Searcy School District | $3,258,022 |
| Augusta School District | $1,266,322 |
| Mccrory School District | $620,663 |
| Danville School District | $833,331 |
| Dardanelle School District | $1,564,208 |
| Western Yell Co. School District | $635,626 |
| Two Rivers School District | $1,131,694 |
ESSER III
The table below shows the total amount of ESSER III funding allocated to each district in Arkansas.
| Arkansas ESSER III allocation by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER III Allocation |
| Dewitt School District | $2,681,395 |
| Stuttgart School District | $3,732,627 |
| Crossett School District | $4,943,292 |
| Hamburg School District | $3,809,303 |
| Cotter School District | $1,759,588 |
| Mountain Home School District | $6,756,630 |
| Norfork School District | $1,317,892 |
| Bentonville School District | $8,165,883 |
| Decatur School District | $1,311,844 |
| Gentry School District | $1,992,049 |
| Gravette School District | $2,188,583 |
| Rogers School District | $20,771,433 |
| Siloam Springs School District | $7,441,736 |
| Pea Ridge School District | $1,361,762 |
| Arkansas Arts Academy | $836,816 |
| Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas | $150,021 |
| Arkansas Connections Academy | $2,161,165 |
| Hope Academy | $50,000 |
| Alpena School District | $1,331,661 |
| Bergman School District | $1,347,727 |
| Harrison School District | $5,200,826 |
| Omaha School District | $1,314,910 |
| Valley Springs School District | $1,240,342 |
| Lead Hill School District | $1,459,468 |
| Hermitage School District | $1,316,763 |
| Warren School District | $4,238,122 |
| Hampton School District | $886,806 |
| Berryville School District | $4,430,244 |
| Eureka Springs School District | $1,710,092 |
| Green Forest School District | $2,663,905 |
| Dermott School District | $2,766,878 |
| Lakeside School District (Chicot) | $6,425,175 |
| Arkadelphia School District | $4,104,727 |
| Gurdon School District | $1,711,619 |
| Corning School District | $2,891,591 |
| Piggott School District | $1,482,713 |
| Rector School District | $1,423,692 |
| Concord School District | $1,083,804 |
| Heber Springs School District | $3,374,814 |
| Quitman School District | $1,363,440 |
| West Side School District (Cleburne) | $1,361,924 |
| Woodlawn School District | $541,035 |
| Cleveland County School District | $1,554,145 |
| Magnolia School District | $9,343,167 |
| Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District | $1,839,641 |
| Nemo Vista School District | $822,989 |
| Wonderview School District | $1,120,384 |
| South Conway County School District | $5,630,162 |
| Bay School District | $748,773 |
| Westside School District (Craighead) | $3,766,013 |
| Brookland School District | $1,744,554 |
| Buffalo Is. Central School District | $1,560,368 |
| Jonesboro School District | $20,692,137 |
| Nettleton School District | $8,239,958 |
| Valley View School District | $1,530,985 |
| Riverside School District | $1,474,057 |
| Alma School District | $4,980,473 |
| Cedarville School District | $2,173,050 |
| Mountainburg School District | $1,830,331 |
| Mulberry Pleasant View Bi-County School District | $2,020,692 |
| Van Buren School District | $14,428,963 |
| Earle School District | $3,517,271 |
| West Memphis School District | $27,546,012 |
| Marion School District | $6,778,794 |
| Cross County School District | $1,806,382 |
| Wynne School District | $5,760,398 |
| Fordyce School District | $3,449,407 |
| Dumas School District | $5,052,162 |
| Mcgehee School District | $4,262,775 |
| Drew Central School District | $1,600,722 |
| Monticello School District | $5,555,458 |
| Conway School District | $18,315,170 |
| Greenbrier School District | $4,339,414 |
| Guy-Perkins School District | $699,012 |
| Mayflower School District | $1,527,782 |
| Mt. Vernon/Enola School District | $571,833 |
| Vilonia School District | $2,681,936 |
| Charleston School District | $1,265,339 |
| County Line School District | $1,172,760 |
| Ozark School District | $3,679,750 |
| Mammoth Spring School District | $1,380,987 |
| Salem School District | $2,002,289 |
| Viola School District | $1,547,159 |
| Cutter-Morning Star School District | $2,550,001 |
| Fountain Lake School District | $3,092,354 |
| Hot Springs School District | $21,591,846 |
| Jessieville School District | $3,664,091 |
| Lake Hamilton School District | $9,766,895 |
| Lakeside School Dist(Garland) | $4,457,179 |
| Mountain Pine School District | $2,270,837 |
| Poyen School District | $364,759 |
| Sheridan School District | $4,842,005 |
| Marmaduke School District | $1,252,026 |
| Greene Co. Tech School District | $5,001,259 |
| Paragould School District | $6,734,289 |
| Blevins School District | $1,650,881 |
| Hope School District | $9,963,439 |
| Spring Hill School District | $557,791 |
| Bismarck School District | $2,571,448 |
| Glen Rose School District | $2,687,895 |
| Magnet Cove School District | $754,260 |
| Malvern School District | $8,060,170 |
| Ouachita School District | $557,500 |
| Dierks School District | $845,157 |
| Mineral Springs School District | $1,660,491 |
| Nashville School District | $5,118,690 |
| Batesville School District | $5,397,314 |
| Southside School District (Independence) | $2,198,533 |
| Midland School District | $1,160,663 |
| Cedar Ridge School District | $1,698,928 |
| Calico Rock School District | $891,916 |
| Melbourne School District | $1,262,761 |
| Izard County Consolidated School District | $2,511,770 |
| Newport School District | $6,245,368 |
| Jackson Co. School District | $1,367,123 |
| Dollarway School District | $0 |
| Pine Bluff School District | $23,608,366 |
| Watson Chapel School District | $6,839,527 |
| White Hall School District | $5,009,170 |
| Pine Bluff Lighthouse Academy | $0 |
| Friendship Aspire Pine Bluff | $6,300,624 |
| Friendship Aspire Se Pine Bluff | $0 |
| Clarksville School District | $8,210,613 |
| Lamar School District | $4,578,403 |
| Westside School District (Johnson) | $1,875,359 |
| Lafayette County School District | $2,810,492 |
| Hoxie School District | $1,937,865 |
| Sloan-Hendrix School District | $1,923,518 |
| Hillcrest School District | $1,672,376 |
| Lawrence Co. School District | $2,256,298 |
| Imboden Charter School District | $202,807 |
| Lee County School District | $7,047,190 |
| Star City School District | $3,040,857 |
| Ashdown School District | $2,843,951 |
| Foreman School District | $964,336 |
| Booneville School District | $3,030,249 |
| Magazine School District | $1,212,763 |
| Paris School District | $2,929,113 |
| Scranton School District | $1,168,079 |
| Lonoke School District | $3,198,428 |
| England School District | $2,059,078 |
| Carlisle School District | $711,185 |
| Cabot School District | $9,874,525 |
| Huntsville School District | $5,893,505 |
| Flippin School District | $2,388,262 |
| Yellville-Summit School District | $3,418,040 |
| Genoa Central School District | $2,464,933 |
| Fouke School District | $1,701,821 |
| Texarkana School District | $19,016,987 |
| Armorel School District | $379,128 |
| Blytheville School District | $11,594,172 |
| Rivercrest School District | $3,392,297 |
| Gosnell School District | $3,007,801 |
| Manila School District | $2,203,364 |
| Osceola School District | $8,215,804 |
| Brinkley School District | $2,870,944 |
| Clarendon School District | $1,832,667 |
| Caddo Hills School District | $1,978,266 |
| Mount Ida School District | $1,504,447 |
| Prescott School District | $2,557,752 |
| Nevada School District | $952,502 |
| Jasper School District | $3,160,786 |
| Deer/Mt. Judea School District | $753,905 |
| Bearden School District | $1,263,577 |
| Camden Fairview School District | $8,280,967 |
| Harmony Grove School District (Ouachita) | $3,009,397 |
| East End School District | $1,312,672 |
| Perryville School District | $1,485,127 |
| Barton-Lexa School District | $1,993,908 |
| Helena/ W. Helena School District | $9,571,636 |
| Marvell-Elaine School District | $4,194,452 |
| Kipp Delta | $16,686,164 |
| Centerpoint School District | $2,454,180 |
| Kirby School District | $1,192,602 |
| South Pike County School District | $1,286,443 |
| Harrisburg School District | $2,922,883 |
| Marked Tree School District | $2,996,778 |
| Trumann School District | $5,650,841 |
| East Poinsett County School District | $2,408,316 |
| Mena School District | $5,450,815 |
| Ouachita River School District | $1,659,388 |
| Cossatot River School District | $3,199,109 |
| Atkins School District | $1,735,801 |
| Dover School District | $1,922,016 |
| Hector School District | $1,184,423 |
| Pottsville School District | $1,852,126 |
| Russellville School District | $10,473,627 |
| Des Arc School District | $912,911 |
| Hazen School District | $1,580,969 |
| Little Rock School District | $64,666,017 |
| N. Little Rock School District | $31,370,396 |
| Pulaski Co. Special School District | $25,510,011 |
| Jacksonville North Pulaski School District | $12,274,521 |
| Academics Plus School District | $1,548,703 |
| Lisa Academy | $7,348,271 |
| Arkansas Virtual Academy | $5,178,346 |
| Estem Public Charter School | $7,201,163 |
| Arkansas Lighthouse Academies | $6,574,262 |
| Graduate Arkansas | $309,293 |
| Premier High School Of Little Rock | $374,794 |
| Exalt Academy Of Southwest Little Rock | $1,774,729 |
| Capitol City Lighthouse Academy | $0 |
| Scholarmade | $2,075,381 |
| Friendship Aspire Little Rock | $19,402 |
| Premier High School Of North Little Rock | $312,434 |
| Westwind School For Performing Arts | $218,668 |
| Arkansas School For The Blind | $219,171 |
| Arkansas School For The Deaf | $212,095 |
| Maynard School District | $1,583,456 |
| Pocahontas School District | $3,581,487 |
| Forrest City School District | $16,822,026 |
| Palestine-Wheatley School District | $1,081,793 |
| Bauxite School District | $1,000,991 |
| Benton School District | $4,939,511 |
| Bryant School District | $7,789,630 |
| Harmony Grove Sch Dist(Saline) | $919,167 |
| Waldron School District | $4,229,569 |
| Searcy County School District | $3,517,684 |
| Ozark Mountain School District | $1,797,653 |
| Fort Smith School District | $38,329,284 |
| Greenwood School District | $4,179,293 |
| Hackett School District | $2,469,030 |
| Lavaca School District | $1,258,478 |
| Mansfield School District | $1,469,354 |
| Future School Of Fort Smith | $672,551 |
| Dequeen School District | $7,411,797 |
| Horatio School District | $2,204,861 |
| Cave City School District | $3,913,990 |
| Highland School District | $5,908,978 |
| Mountain View School District | $5,271,052 |
| El Dorado School District | $10,686,581 |
| Junction City School District | $803,548 |
| Parkers Chapel School District | $633,745 |
| Smackover School District | $2,145,153 |
| Strong-Huttig School District | $898,060 |
| Clinton School District | $2,945,729 |
| Shirley School District | $1,190,828 |
| South Side Sch Dist(Vanburen) | $1,057,117 |
| Elkins School District | $868,714 |
| Farmington School District | $1,686,712 |
| Fayetteville School District | $11,847,827 |
| Greenland School District | $2,225,710 |
| Lincoln School District | $2,749,410 |
| Prairie Grove School District | $1,664,125 |
| Springdale School District | $40,330,254 |
| West Fork School District | $840,153 |
| Premier High School Of Springdale | $157,212 |
| Bald Knob School District | $3,230,694 |
| Beebe School District | $4,785,126 |
| Bradford School District | $957,630 |
| White Co. Central School District | $1,137,071 |
| Riverview School District | $4,254,528 |
| Pangburn School District | $860,292 |
| Rose Bud School District | $1,197,661 |
| Searcy School District | $7,322,264 |
| Augusta School District | $2,846,004 |
| Mccrory School District | $1,394,912 |
| Danville School District | $1,872,876 |
| Dardanelle School District | $3,515,491 |
| Western Yell Co. School District | $1,428,541 |
| Two Rivers School District | $2,543,434 |
ESSER allocations by state
Click a state below to see a detailed breakdown of ESSER allocations by district in each state.
- ESSER hub page
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
History of ESSER
Throughout Spring 2020, all 50 states shuttered K-12 public schools to in-person learning. In most states, students would not return to classrooms for the remainder of the academic year. Congress allocated roughly $190 billion to schools between March 2020 and March 2021 through three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund grants.[10]
Congress also allocated about 10% of ESSER funding—or about $19 billion—to state education agencies.[11]
Each tranche of ESSER funding came with its own deadline. States had until September 30 to commit money they received in the third round (ARP Act) of ESSER funding—unless they requested and received an extension.[12] Districts were required to have spent the funds by the end of January 2025 (though they could request an extension from the federal government).[13]
According to the U.S. Department of Education, “These Federal emergency resources are available for a wide range of activities to address diverse needs arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, or to emerge stronger post-pandemic, including responding to students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs and continuing to provide educational services as States, LEAs, and schools respond to and recover from the pandemic.”[14]
Districts, already facing declining public school enrollment, grappled with the loss of billions of dollars in federal aid as ESSER funds expired.[15] To put the loss in perspective, in 2019, the last year before Congress began allocating ESSER grants, the federal government spent a total of $57.9 billion on K-12 public schools—less than a third of what Congress allocated to schools through ESSER.[16]
A 2023 Education Next analysis of 22 states found that districts had spent about half of the money on labor costs, which could include new hires and raises for existing personnel.[17] A December 2023 Education Week survey of 250 district leaders found that a quarter of respondents said they didn’t anticipate finding alternative funding to cover ongoing expenses made with ESSER grants.[18]
Some districts announced staff and teacher layoffs due to losing ESSER funds.[19][20][21] Districts also cut expenses in other ways, including ending after-school programs, tutoring services, and more.[22][23]
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See also
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- Endorsements of school board members by state executive officeholders and candidates, 2024
- Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2023
- School board dismissals of district superintendents, 2022-2025
- State takeovers of K-12 public school districts
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "ESSER Fund Cover Letter," accessed June 13, 2025
- ↑ Edunomics Lab,"ESSER Expenditure Dashboard," accessed June 29, 2025
- ↑ The 74, "ESSER Post-Mortem: How Did Districts Spend $190B in Federal Funds? Did It Work?" June 29, 2025
- ↑ Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
- ↑ District Administration, "Learning loss can still be overcome with ESSER," August 15, 2024
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Strategies for Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Impact of Lost Instructional Time," accessed August 21, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Government Accountability Office, "School Districts Reported Spending Initial COVID Relief Funds on Meeting Students' Needs and Continuing School Operations," accessed August 21, 2025
- ↑ Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
- ↑ McKinsey & Company, "When the money runs out: K–12 schools brace for stimulus-free budgets," September 18, 2024
- ↑ K-12 Dive, "ESSER funding: What it is and how to use it before it expires," February 21, 2023
- ↑ CCSSO, "States Leading: How State Education Agencies Leveraged Pandemic Relief Funds," accessed February 4, 2025
- ↑ New America, "Size: More Money Than Ever Before," accessed February 4, 2025
- ↑ School Superintendents Assocation, "The Advocate March 2024: ESSER Late Liquidation," March 8, 2024
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Frequently Asked Questions," May 2021
- ↑ Brookings, "Breaking down enrollment declines in public schools," March 14, 2024
- ↑ United States Census, "K-12 School Spending Up 4.7% in 2019 From Previous Year," May 18, 2021
- ↑ Education Next, "The Massive ESSER Experiment: Here’s what we’re learning.," April 4, 2023
- ↑ Education Week, "When ESSER Funds Are Gone, Here’s Where Districts May Turn to Fill Gaps," December 5, 2023
- ↑ NBC DFW, "Arlington ISD faces layoffs with COVID-era ESSER grants coming to an end," March 25, 2024
- ↑ K-12 Dive, "Teacher layoffs are growing — and won’t be going away anytime soon," March 26, 2024
- ↑ CT Insider, "Hartford school board approves $429 million budget with staffing cuts across the district," April 18, 2024
- ↑ Chalkbeat, "Many schools want to keep tutoring going when COVID money is gone. How will they pay for it?" February 1, 2024
- ↑ KOSU, "The end of pandemic-era federal dollars may mean the end of some Oklahoma school programs," April 18, 2024
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