Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) allocation and expenditures by district in Colorado
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This page includes information and data on federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding in STATE. 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 Colorado 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 Colorado.
| Alabama ESSER I allocation and expenditures by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER I Allocation |
| Academy 20 | $861,970 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools | $3,575,675 |
| Adams County 14 | $1,656,681 |
| Adams-Arapahoe 28J | $8,430,123 |
| Agate 300 | $7,620 |
| Aguilar Reorganized 6 | $64,646 |
| Akron R-1 | $58,890 |
| Alamosa RE-11J | $670,039 |
| Archuleta County 50 JT | $295,001 |
| Arickaree R-2 | $14,745 |
| Arriba-Flagler C-20 | $25,118 |
| Aspen 1 | $31,139 |
| Ault-Highland RE-9 | $114,017 |
| Bayfield 10 Jt-R | $80,699 |
| Bennett 29J | $69,299 |
| Bethune R-5 | $14,782 |
| Big Sandy 100J | $29,058 |
| Boulder Valley Re 2 | $1,527,577 |
| Branson Reorganized 82 | $10,575 |
| Briggsdale RE-10 | $10,191 |
| Brush RE-2(J) | $144,626 |
| Buena Vista R-31 | $130,740 |
| Buffalo RE-4J | $16,810 |
| Burlington RE-6J | $129,939 |
| Byers 32J | $303,289 |
| Calhan RJ-1 | $69,205 |
| Campo Re-6 | |
| Canon City RE-1 | $732,267 |
| Centennial R-1 | $127,981 |
| Center 26 JT | $314,694 |
| Charter School Institute | $1,502,146 |
| Cheraw 31 | $18,834 |
| Cherry Creek 5 | $3,452,352 |
| Cheyenne County RE-5 | $39,619 |
| Cheyenne Mountain 12 | $213,607 |
| Clear Creek RE-1 | $77,929 |
| Colorado Springs 11 | $5,927,394 |
| Cotopaxi RE-3 | $46,508 |
| Creede School District | $1,236 |
| Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1 | $73,125 |
| Crowley County RE-1-J | $188,103 |
| Custer County School District C-1 | $97,569 |
| De Beque 49JT | $12,233 |
| Deer Trail 26J | $21,373 |
| Delta County 50(J) | $788,092 |
| Denver County 1 | $22,908,618 |
| Dolores County RE NO.2 | $40,298 |
| Dolores RE-4a | $66,956 |
| Douglas County RE 1 | $1,279,914 |
| Durango 9-R | $437,998 |
| Eads RE-1 | $22,965 |
| Eagle County Re 50 | $488,267 |
| East Grand 2 | $94,148 |
| East Otero R-1 | $455,329 |
| Eaton RE-2 | $108,706 |
| Edison 54 JT | $16,549 |
| Elbert 200 | $17,421 |
| Elizabeth C-1 | $119,554 |
| Ellicott 22 | $143,987 |
| Englewood 1 | $486,648 |
| Estes Park R-3 | $229,356 |
| Falcon 49 | $1,284,287 |
| Fort Morgan RE-3 | $402,371 |
| Fountain 8 | $1,086,768 |
| Fowler R-4J | $77,173 |
| Fremont RE-2 | $282,588 |
| Frenchman RE-3 | $14,226 |
| Garfield 16 | $130,458 |
| Garfield RE-2 | $493,875 |
| Genoa-Hugo C113 | $28,690 |
| Gilpin County RE-1 | $17,829 |
| Granada RE-1 | $43,596 |
| Greeley 6 | $3,480,346 |
| Gunnison Watershed Re1J | $184,546 |
| Hanover 28 | $43,385 |
| Harrison 2 | $3,372,970 |
| Haxtun RE-2J | $25,634 |
| Hayden RE-1 | $20,388 |
| Hi-Plains R-23 | $15,428 |
| Hinsdale County Re 1 | $18,672 |
| Hoehne Reorganized 3 | $60,838 |
| Holly RE-3 | $57,061 |
| Holyoke RE-1J | $70,279 |
| Huerfano RE-1 | $211,667 |
| Idalia RJ-3 | $24,406 |
| Ignacio 11 JT | $92,257 |
| Jefferson County R-1 | $7,036,605 |
| Johnstown-Milliken RE-5J | $175,701 |
| Julesburg RE-1 | $61,871 |
| Karval RE-23 | $17,054 |
| Kim Reorganized 88 | $1,102 |
| Kiowa C-2 | $25,516 |
| Kit Carson R-1 | $10,890 |
| La Veta RE-2 | $87,156 |
| Lake County R-1 | $189,618 |
| Lamar RE-2 | $369,916 |
| Las Animas RE-1 | $478,561 |
| Lewis-Palmer 38 | $290,578 |
| Liberty J-4 | $776 |
| Limon RE-4J | $78,262 |
| Littleton 6 | $346,895 |
| Lone Star 101 | $7,233 |
| Mancos RE-6 | $87,571 |
| Manitou Springs 14 | $124,377 |
| Manzanola 3J | $63,304 |
| Mapleton 1 | $926,989 |
| Mc Clave RE-2 | $31,527 |
| Meeker Re1 | $76,613 |
| Mesa County Valley 51 | $3,409,529 |
| Miami/yoder 60 JT | $83,404 |
| Moffat 2 | $101,895 |
| Moffat County Re:no 1 | $261,396 |
| Monte Vista C-8 | $228,592 |
| Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 | $718,384 |
| Montrose County RE-1J | $1,007,381 |
| Mountain Valley Re 1 | $67,015 |
| North Conejos RE-1J | $240,498 |
| North Park R-1 | $32,173 |
| Norwood R-2J | $42,162 |
| Otis R-3 | $17,995 |
| Ouray R-1 | $18,237 |
| Park County RE-2 | $88,606 |
| Pawnee RE-12 | $13,980 |
| Peyton 23 JT | $61,393 |
| Plainview RE-2 | $15,655 |
| Plateau RE-5 | $10,098 |
| Plateau Valley 50 | $48,794 |
| Platte Canyon 1 | $98,329 |
| Platte Valley RE-7 | $102,868 |
| Poudre R-1 | $2,160,805 |
| Primero Reorganized 2 | $31,251 |
| Pritchett RE-3 | $7,813 |
| Pueblo City 60 | $4,697,577 |
| Pueblo County 70 | $864,966 |
| Rangely RE-4 | $32,805 |
| Revere School District | $20,067 |
| Ridgway R-2 | $26,405 |
| Roaring Fork RE-1 | $410,296 |
| Rocky Ford R-2 | $319,582 |
| Salida R-32 | $119,239 |
| Sanford 6J | $60,246 |
| Sangre De Cristo RE-22J | $79,119 |
| Sargent RE-33J | $34,253 |
| School District 27J | $1,025,191 |
| Sheridan 2 | $666,077 |
| Sierra Grande R-30 | $136,371 |
| Silverton 1 | $16,549 |
| South Conejos RE-10 | $116,812 |
| South Routt Re 3 | $99,765 |
| Springfield RE-4 | $94,673 |
| St Vrain Valley Re 1J | $2,493,668 |
| Steamboat Springs RE-2 | $98,181 |
| Strasburg 31J | $49,326 |
| Stratton R-4 | $32,155 |
| Summit RE-1 | $182,739 |
| Swink 33 | $54,547 |
| Telluride R-1 | $54,037 |
| Thompson R2-J | $1,290,787 |
| Trinidad 1 | $298,250 |
| Upper Rio Granda School District C-7 | $176,593 |
| Valley RE-1 | $341,963 |
| Vilas RE-5 | $12,421 |
| Walsh RE-1 | $34,614 |
| Weld County RE-1 | $238,230 |
| Weld County S/D RE-8 | $315,983 |
| Weld County School District RE-3J | $378,049 |
| Weldon Valley RE-20(J) | $11,465 |
| West End RE-2 | $52,869 |
| West Grand 1-JT | $60,784 |
| Westminster 50 | $2,065,454 |
| Widefield 3 | $1,221,390 |
| Wiggins RE-50(J) | $87,834 |
| Wiley RE-13 JT | $29,345 |
| Windsor RE-4 | $201,970 |
| Woodland Park RE-2 | $218,375 |
| Woodlin R-104 | $22,651 |
| Wray RD-2 | $94,832 |
| Yuma 1 | $114,592 |
ESSER II
The table below shows the total amount of ESSER II funding allocated to each district in Colorado.
| Colorado ESSER II allocation and expenditures by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER II Allocation |
| Academy 20 | $3,845,509 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools | $14,601,672 |
| Adams County 14 | $6,746,767 |
| Adams-Arapahoe 28J | $34,331,333 |
| Agate 300 | $44,349 |
| Aguilar Reorganized 6 | $239,326 |
| Akron R-1 | $280,357 |
| Alamosa RE-11J | $2,728,708 |
| Archuleta County 50 JT | $1,238,526 |
| Arickaree R-2 | $60,047 |
| Arriba-Flagler C-20 | $102,290 |
| Aspen 1 | $112,232 |
| Ault-Highland RE-9 | $464,331 |
| Bayfield 10 Jt-R | $328,643 |
| Bennett 29J | $261,166 |
| Bethune R-5 | $51,789 |
| Big Sandy 100J | $127,133 |
| Boulder Valley Re 2 | $6,220,995 |
| Branson Reorganized 82 | $99,427 |
| Briggsdale RE-10 | $86,821 |
| Brush RE-2(J) | $714,770 |
| Buena Vista R-31 | $496,636 |
| Buffalo RE-4J | $68,458 |
| Burlington RE-6J | $669,955 |
| Byers 32J | $1,169,635 |
| Calhan RJ-1 | $281,834 |
| Campo Re-6 | $41,052 |
| Canon City RE-1 | $3,358,276 |
| Centennial R-1 | $521,196 |
| Center 26 JT | $1,229,748 |
| Charter School Institute | $6,339,085 |
| Cheraw 31 | $85,195 |
| Cherry Creek 5 | $14,870,067 |
| Cheyenne County RE-5 | $164,990 |
| Cheyenne Mountain 12 | $869,906 |
| Clear Creek RE-1 | $317,362 |
| Colorado Springs 11 | $26,643,537 |
| Cotopaxi RE-3 | $256,279 |
| Creede School District | $42,373 |
| Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1 | $302,143 |
| Crowley County RE-1-J | $750,452 |
| Custer County School District C-1 | $482,945 |
| De Beque 49JT | $56,369 |
| Deer Trail 26J | $74,728 |
| Delta County 50(J) | $3,705,358 |
| Denver County 1 | $93,294,414 |
| Dolores County RE NO.2 | $164,111 |
| Dolores RE-4a | $262,101 |
| Douglas County RE 1 | $5,212,396 |
| Durango 9-R | $1,973,921 |
| Eads RE-1 | $110,939 |
| Eagle County Re 50 | $1,713,773 |
| East Grand 2 | $395,412 |
| East Otero R-1 | $1,991,872 |
| Eaton RE-2 | $518,033 |
| Edison 54 JT | $67,396 |
| Elbert 200 | $83,174 |
| Elizabeth C-1 | $486,879 |
| Ellicott 22 | $586,380 |
| Englewood 1 | $1,981,856 |
| Estes Park R-3 | $934,041 |
| Falcon 49 | $6,855,413 |
| Fort Morgan RE-3 | $1,638,638 |
| Fountain 8 | $4,404,815 |
| Fowler R-4J | $314,283 |
| Fremont RE-2 | $1,150,830 |
| Frenchman RE-3 | $85,826 |
| Garfield 16 | $491,016 |
| Garfield RE-2 | $2,011,287 |
| Genoa-Hugo C113 | $122,834 |
| Gilpin County RE-1 | $97,567 |
| Granada RE-1 | $235,082 |
| Greeley 6 | $18,727,322 |
| Gunnison Watershed Re1J | $733,017 |
| Hanover 28 | $219,273 |
| Harrison 2 | $14,246,806 |
| Haxtun RE-2J | $149,055 |
| Hayden RE-1 | |
| Hi-Plains R-23 | $187,096 |
| Hinsdale County Re 1 | $66,334 |
| Hoehne Reorganized 3 | $278,019 |
| Holly RE-3 | $282,464 |
| Holyoke RE-1J | $286,210 |
| Huerfano RE-1 | $920,838 |
| Idalia RJ-3 | $96,055 |
| Ignacio 11 JT | $384,592 |
| Jefferson County R-1 | $30,375,421 |
| Johnstown-Milliken RE-5J | $866,794 |
| Julesburg RE-1 | $494,273 |
| Karval RE-23 | $79,149 |
| Kim Reorganized 88 | $4,487 |
| Kiowa C-2 | $93,782 |
| Kit Carson R-1 | $69,347 |
| La Veta RE-2 | $354,940 |
| Lake County R-1 | $772,212 |
| Lamar RE-2 | $1,784,677 |
| Las Animas RE-1 | $2,125,885 |
| Lewis-Palmer 38 | $1,225,459 |
| Liberty J-4 | $2,720 |
| Limon RE-4J | $346,793 |
| Littleton 6 | $1,412,716 |
| Lone Star 101 | $56,407 |
| Mancos RE-6 | $399,312 |
| Manitou Springs 14 | $434,872 |
| Manzanola 3J | $234,835 |
| Mapleton 1 | $3,844,503 |
| Mc Clave RE-2 | $146,318 |
| Meeker Re1 | $312,003 |
| Mesa County Valley 51 | $20,262,726 |
| Miami/yoder 60 JT | $293,503 |
| Moffat 2 | $479,009 |
| Moffat County Re:no 1 | $1,300,630 |
| Monte Vista C-8 | $1,188,079 |
| Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 | $4,338,830 |
| Montrose County RE-1J | $4,102,519 |
| Mountain Valley Re 1 | $272,917 |
| North Conejos RE-1J | $979,417 |
| North Park R-1 | $147,508 |
| Norwood R-2J | $147,416 |
| Otis R-3 | $90,866 |
| Ouray R-1 | $63,763 |
| Park County RE-2 | $360,845 |
| Pawnee RE-12 | $93,985 |
| Peyton 23 JT | $250,022 |
| Plainview RE-2 | $59,688 |
| Plateau RE-5 | $60,183 |
| Plateau Valley 50 | $254,695 |
| Platte Canyon 1 | $387,266 |
| Platte Valley RE-7 | $683,453 |
| Poudre R-1 | $8,799,789 |
| Primero Reorganized 2 | $127,268 |
| Pritchett RE-3 | $45,179 |
| Pueblo City 60 | $19,130,692 |
| Pueblo County 70 | $3,441,456 |
| Rangely RE-4 | $129,729 |
| Revere School District | $129,790 |
| Ridgway R-2 | $112,350 |
| Roaring Fork RE-1 | $1,893,684 |
| Rocky Ford R-2 | $1,183,118 |
| Salida R-32 | $527,099 |
| Sanford 6J | $302,207 |
| Sangre De Cristo RE-22J | $293,325 |
| Sargent RE-33J | $137,046 |
| School District 27J | $4,175,047 |
| Sheridan 2 | $2,463,550 |
| Sierra Grande R-30 | $549,438 |
| Silverton 1 | $67,396 |
| South Conejos RE-10 | $475,714 |
| South Routt Re 3 | $348,819 |
| Springfield RE-4 | $473,475 |
| St Vrain Valley Re 1J | $9,286,412 |
| Steamboat Springs RE-2 | $612,531 |
| Strasburg 31J | $104,962 |
| Stratton R-4 | $112,977 |
| Summit RE-1 | $744,199 |
| Swink 33 | $222,141 |
| Telluride R-1 | $267,543 |
| Thompson R2-J | $5,319,874 |
| Trinidad 1 | $1,361,611 |
| Upper Rio Granda School District C-7 | $653,764 |
| Valley RE-1 | $1,488,049 |
| Vilas RE-5 | $56,099 |
| Walsh RE-1 | $128,144 |
| Weld County RE-1 | $951,110 |
| Weld County S/D RE-8 | $1,547,339 |
| Weld County School District RE-3J | $1,789,444 |
| Weldon Valley RE-20(J) | $110,718 |
| West End RE-2 | $188,504 |
| West Grand 1-JT | $279,075 |
| Westminster 50 | $8,411,479 |
| Widefield 3 | $4,974,062 |
| Wiggins RE-50(J) | $357,701 |
| Wiley RE-13 JT | $123,788 |
| Windsor RE-4 | $903,414 |
| Woodland Park RE-2 | $889,325 |
| Woodlin R-104 | $86,362 |
| Wray RD-2 | $386,198 |
| Yuma 1 | $551,294 |
ESSER III
The table below shows the total amount of ESSER III funding allocated to each district in Colorado.
| Colorado ESSER III allocation and expenditures by district | |
|---|---|
| District Name | Total ESSER III Allocation |
| Academy 20 | $8,642,579 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools | $32,816,487 |
| Adams County 14 | $15,163,002 |
| Adams-Arapahoe 28J | $77,157,859 |
| Agate 300 | $99,671 |
| Aguilar Reorganized 6 | $537,873 |
| Akron R-1 | $630,088 |
| Alamosa RE-11J | $6,132,628 |
| Archuleta County 50 JT | $2,783,522 |
| Arickaree R-2 | $134,953 |
| Arriba-Flagler C-20 | $229,892 |
| Aspen 1 | $252,235 |
| Ault-Highland RE-9 | $1,043,560 |
| Bayfield 10 Jt-R | $738,607 |
| Bennett 29J | $586,957 |
| Bethune R-5 | $116,392 |
| Big Sandy 100J | $285,724 |
| Boulder Valley Re 2 | $13,981,357 |
| Branson Reorganized 82 | $223,458 |
| Briggsdale RE-10 | $195,125 |
| Brush RE-2(J) | $1,606,407 |
| Buena Vista R-31 | $1,116,162 |
| Buffalo RE-4J | $153,855 |
| Burlington RE-6J | $1,505,688 |
| Byers 32J | $2,628,693 |
| Calhan RJ-1 | $633,408 |
| Campo Re-6 | $92,262 |
| Canon City RE-1 | $7,547,548 |
| Centennial R-1 | $1,171,360 |
| Center 26 JT | $2,763,795 |
| Charter School Institute | $14,246,759 |
| Cheraw 31 | $191,471 |
| Cherry Creek 5 | $33,419,691 |
| Cheyenne County RE-5 | $370,805 |
| Cheyenne Mountain 12 | $1,955,067 |
| Clear Creek RE-1 | $713,255 |
| Colorado Springs 11 | $59,879,943 |
| Cotopaxi RE-3 | $575,974 |
| Creede School District | $95,230 |
| Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1 | $679,050 |
| Crowley County RE-1-J | $1,686,601 |
| Custer County School District C-1 | $1,085,393 |
| De Beque 49JT | $126,686 |
| Deer Trail 26J | $167,946 |
| Delta County 50(J) | $8,327,597 |
| Denver County 1 | $209,674,268 |
| Dolores County RE NO.2 | $368,830 |
| Dolores RE-4a | $589,058 |
| Douglas County RE 1 | $11,714,585 |
| Durango 9-R | $4,436,284 |
| Eads RE-1 | $249,328 |
| Eagle County Re 50 | $3,851,615 |
| East Grand 2 | $888,668 |
| East Otero R-1 | $4,476,628 |
| Eaton RE-2 | $1,164,252 |
| Edison 54 JT | $151,469 |
| Elbert 200 | $186,928 |
| Elizabeth C-1 | $1,094,235 |
| Ellicott 22 | $1,317,857 |
| Englewood 1 | $4,454,117 |
| Estes Park R-3 | $2,099,209 |
| Falcon 49 | $15,407,178 |
| Fort Morgan RE-3 | $3,682,753 |
| Fountain 8 | $9,899,589 |
| Fowler R-4J | $706,336 |
| Fremont RE-2 | $2,586,429 |
| Frenchman RE-3 | $192,889 |
| Garfield 16 | $1,103,531 |
| Garfield RE-2 | $4,520,262 |
| Genoa-Hugo C113 | $276,063 |
| Gilpin County RE-1 | $219,276 |
| Granada RE-1 | $528,334 |
| Greeley 6 | $42,088,667 |
| Gunnison Watershed Re1J | $1,647,416 |
| Hanover 28 | $492,806 |
| Harrison 2 | $32,018,943 |
| Haxtun RE-2J | $334,994 |
| Hayden RE-1 | |
| Hi-Plains R-23 | $420,487 |
| Hinsdale County Re 1 | $149,083 |
| Hoehne Reorganized 3 | $624,832 |
| Holly RE-3 | $634,823 |
| Holyoke RE-1J | $643,242 |
| Huerfano RE-1 | $2,069,535 |
| Idalia RJ-3 | $215,879 |
| Ignacio 11 JT | $864,350 |
| Jefferson County R-1 | $68,267,154 |
| Johnstown-Milliken RE-5J | $1,948,074 |
| Julesburg RE-1 | $1,110,853 |
| Karval RE-23 | $177,883 |
| Kim Reorganized 88 | $10,085 |
| Kiowa C-2 | $210,771 |
| Kit Carson R-1 | $155,854 |
| La Veta RE-2 | $797,708 |
| Lake County R-1 | $1,735,506 |
| Lamar RE-2 | $4,010,967 |
| Las Animas RE-1 | $4,777,815 |
| Lewis-Palmer 38 | $2,754,154 |
| Liberty J-4 | $6,113 |
| Limon RE-4J | $779,399 |
| Littleton 6 | $3,175,006 |
| Lone Star 101 | $126,772 |
| Mancos RE-6 | $897,433 |
| Manitou Springs 14 | $977,352 |
| Manzanola 3J | $527,779 |
| Mapleton 1 | $8,640,318 |
| Mc Clave RE-2 | $328,841 |
| Meeker Re1 | $701,209 |
| Mesa County Valley 51 | $45,539,408 |
| Miami/yoder 60 JT | $659,632 |
| Moffat 2 | $1,076,548 |
| Moffat County Re:no 1 | $2,923,098 |
| Monte Vista C-8 | $2,670,145 |
| Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 | $9,751,290 |
| Montrose County RE-1J | $9,220,195 |
| Mountain Valley Re 1 | $613,366 |
| North Conejos RE-1J | $2,201,187 |
| North Park R-1 | $331,516 |
| Norwood R-2J | $331,309 |
| Otis R-3 | $204,216 |
| Ouray R-1 | $143,305 |
| Park County RE-2 | $810,980 |
| Pawnee RE-12 | $211,227 |
| Peyton 23 JT | $561,911 |
| Plainview RE-2 | $134,145 |
| Plateau RE-5 | $135,257 |
| Plateau Valley 50 | $572,414 |
| Platte Canyon 1 | $870,360 |
| Platte Valley RE-7 | $1,536,025 |
| Poudre R-1 | $19,777,060 |
| Primero Reorganized 2 | $286,028 |
| Pritchett RE-3 | $101,537 |
| Pueblo City 60 | $42,995,220 |
| Pueblo County 70 | $7,734,491 |
| Rangely RE-4 | $291,560 |
| Revere School District | $291,696 |
| Ridgway R-2 | $252,500 |
| Roaring Fork RE-1 | $4,255,955 |
| Rocky Ford R-2 | $2,658,996 |
| Salida R-32 | $1,184,628 |
| Sanford 6J | $679,194 |
| Sangre De Cristo RE-22J | $659,233 |
| Sargent RE-33J | $308,004 |
| School District 27J | $9,383,198 |
| Sheridan 2 | $5,536,699 |
| Sierra Grande R-30 | $1,234,833 |
| Silverton 1 | $151,469 |
| South Conejos RE-10 | $1,069,142 |
| South Routt Re 3 | $783,951 |
| Springfield RE-4 | $1,064,111 |
| St Vrain Valley Re 1J | $20,870,720 |
| Steamboat Springs RE-2 | $1,376,632 |
| Strasburg 31J | $235,896 |
| Stratton R-4 | $253,909 |
| Summit RE-1 | $1,672,548 |
| Swink 33 | $499,251 |
| Telluride R-1 | $601,288 |
| Thompson R2-J | $11,956,135 |
| Trinidad 1 | $3,060,149 |
| Upper Rio Granda School District C-7 | $1,469,300 |
| Valley RE-1 | $3,344,310 |
| Vilas RE-5 | $126,079 |
| Walsh RE-1 | $287,998 |
| Weld County RE-1 | $2,137,569 |
| Weld County S/D RE-8 | $3,477,563 |
| Weld County School District RE-3J | $4,021,680 |
| Weldon Valley RE-20(J) | $248,833 |
| West End RE-2 | $423,653 |
| West Grand 1-JT | $627,206 |
| Westminster 50 | $18,904,355 |
| Widefield 3 | $11,178,942 |
| Wiggins RE-50(J) | $803,915 |
| Wiley RE-13 JT | $278,208 |
| Windsor RE-4 | $2,030,375 |
| Woodland Park RE-2 | $1,998,711 |
| Woodlin R-104 | $194,093 |
| Wray RD-2 | $867,960 |
| Yuma 1 | $1,239,005 |
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
- School board elections, 2025
- School board recalls, 2025
- 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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