Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) allocation and expenditures by district in Iowa

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Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding was a series of grants totaling roughly $190 billion that Congress sent to K-12 public schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Congress included the funding in three separate spending packages between 2020 and 2021. The first of these occurred 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. 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]

In response to the pandemic, all 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction between February and April 2020.

At the time, the $190 billion was the largest injection of federal funding into the education system in a one-year period.[2] 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.[3]

Congress placed few strings on the grants, largely relying on districts to make their own spending decisions.[4] The expiration of the ESSER funding posed a challenge to districts that allocated a relatively greater portion to recurring expenses, such as teacher salaries or new staff.[5] 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.[6] 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."[7]

On this page, you will find data on the funding Congress allocated to Iowa's school districts through the three ESSER grants (I, II, and III). Data is made available by Georgetown University's Edunomics Lab.[8] Navigate the page using the following links:

ESSER I

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER I funding allocated to each district in Iowa.

Iowa ESSER I allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER I Allocation
Adair-Casey Community School District $73,047
Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District $80,053
Agwsr Community School District $60,545
Ahstw Community School District $70,765
Akron-Westfield Community School District $36,569
Albert City-Truesdale Community School District $32,528
Albia Community School District $157,334
Alburnett Community School District $20,577
Alden Community School District $31,778
Algona Community School District $120,155
Allamakee Community School District $165,177
Alta Aurelia Community School District $77,526
Ames Community School District $370,170
Anamosa Community School District $150,200
Andrew Community School District $39,496
Ankeny Community School District $222,375
Aplington Parkersburg Community School District $50,601
Ar-We-Va Community School District $32,564
Atlantic Community School District $218,647
Audubon Community School District $68,483
Ballard Community School District $65,174
Baxter Community School District $18,288
Bcluw Community School District $46,801
Bedford Community School District $77,941
Belle Plaine Community School District $55,260
Bellevue Community School District $38,712
Belmond-Klemme Community School District $124,301
Bennett Community School District $22,807
Benton Community School District $83,329
Bettendorf Community School District $303,268
Bondurant-Farrar Community School District $65,178
Boone Community School District $246,341
Boyden-Hull Community School District $50,571
Boyer Valley Community School District $53,641
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District $43,987
Burlington Community School District $1,058,256
Cal Community School District $49,561
Calamus-Wheatland Community School District $31,169
Cam Community School District $48,471
Camanche Community School District $91,156
Cardinal Community School District $89,850
Carlisle Community School District $119,521
Carroll Community School District $200,313
Cedar Falls Community School District $337,361
Cedar Rapids Community School District $3,036,170
Center Point-Urbana Community School District $45,986
Centerville Community School District $297,826
Central City Community School District $30,457
Central Community School District $40,341
Central Decatur Community School District $162,201
Central Dewitt Community School District $114,723
Central Lee Community School District $84,874
Central Lyon Community School District $56,677
Central Springs Community School District $78,861
Chariton Community School District $276,227
Charles City Community School District $315,302
Charter Oak-Ute Community School District $46,163
Cherokee Community School District $110,256
Clarinda Community School District $113,371
Clarion Goldfield Dows Community School District $180,079
Clarke Community School District $276,164
Clarksville Community School District $31,986
Clay Central-Everly Community School District $40,796
Clayton Ridge Community School District $50,458
Clear Creek Amana Community School District $102,929
Clear Lake Community School District $95,992
Clinton Community School District $788,775
Colfax-Mingo Community School District $95,471
College Community School District $366,298
Collins-Maxwell Community School District $28,456
Colo Nesco Community School District $43,728
Columbus Community School District $176,114
Coon Rapids Community School District $54,466
Corning Community School District $72,691
Council Bluffs Community School District $1,843,914
Creston Community School District $279,210
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District $86,017
Danville Community School District $35,302
Davenport Community School District $4,234,105
Davis County Community School District $309,292
Decorah Community School District $117,171
Delwood Community School District $19,275
Denison Community School District $483,955
Denver Community School District $20,408
Des Moines Independent Community School District $9,444,584
Diagonal Community School District $16,491
Dike-New Hartford Community School District $39,334
Dubuque Community School District $1,463,846
Dunkerton Community School District $31,572
Durant Community School District $42,716
Eagle Grove Community School District $162,674
Earlham Community School District $30,391
East Buchanan Community School District $43,804
East Marshall Community School District $59,109
East Mills Community School District $70,348
East Sac County Community School District $112,722
East Union Community School District $71,620
Eastern Allamakee Community School District $33,857
Easton Valley Community School District $53,615
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District $96,418
Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District $94,397
Eldora-New Provid Community School District $115,669
Emmetsburg Community School District $76,229
English Valleys Community School District $54,899
Essex Community School District $24,715
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District $191,250
Exira Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District $43,084
Fairfield Community School District $245,591
Forest City Community School District $102,014
Fort Dodge Community School District $777,051
Fort Madison Community School District $351,432
Fremont-Mills Community School District $36,784
G M G Community School District $35,019
Galva-Holstein Community School District $35,940
Garner Hayfield Ventura Community School District $56,980
George-Little Rock Community School District $35,981
Gilbert Community School District $23,401
Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District $18,010
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District $43,811
Glenwood Community School District $180,980
Glidden-Ralston Community School District $21,480
Graettinger Terril Community School District $35,390
Greene County Community School District $185,236
Grinnell-Newburg Community School District $155,763
Griswold Community School District $70,720
Grundy Center Community School District $37,809
Guthrie Center Community School District $44,596
Hamburg Community School District $38,376
Hampton-Dumont Community School District $271,886
Harlan Community School District $132,211
Harris-Lake Park Community School District $20,661
Hartley-Melvin- Sanborn Community School District $77,680
Highland Community School District $47,836
Hinton Community School District $19,718
Hlv Community School District $21,451
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District $154,174
Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District $29,031
Hudson Community School District $33,410
Humboldt Community School District $136,215
Ikm-Manning Community School District $64,097
Independence Community School District $124,894
Indianola Community School District $248,102
Interstate 35 Community School District $52,974
Iowa City Community School District $1,600,395
Iowa Falls Community School District $133,701
Iowa Valley Community School District $63,288
Janesville Community School District $14,308
Jesup Community School District $60,883
Johnston Community School District $276,937
Keokuk Community School District $448,940
Keota Community School District $35,084
Kingsley-Pierson Community School District $43,512
Knoxville Community School District $210,347
Lake Mills Community School District $61,276
Lamoni Community School District $80,217
Laurens-Marathon Community School District $68,738
Lawton-Bronson Community School District $20,563
Le Mars Community School District $191,602
Lenox Community School District $77,779
Lewis Central Community School District $214,391
Linn-Mar Community School District $425,832
Lisbon Community School District $28,373
Logan-Magnolia Community School District $36,581
Lone Tree Community School District $28,928
Louisa-Muscatine Community School District $62,700
Lu Verne Community School District $33,335
Lynnville-Sully Community School District $25,472
Madrid Community School District $39,637
Manson-Nw Webster Community School District $57,065
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District $117,680
Maquoketa Community School District $240,983
Maquoketa Valley Community School District $84,624
Mar-Mac & M-F-L- Community School District $89,482
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District $33,627
Marion Independent Community School District $159,603
Marshalltown Community School District $898,529
Martensdale-St Marys Community School District $19,672
Mason City Community School District $606,592
Mediapolis Community School District $51,015
Melcher-Dallas Community School District $31,952
Mid-Prairie Community School District $198,288
Midland Community School District $82,155
Missouri Valley Community School District $116,652
Moc-Floyd Valley Community School District $89,402
Montezuma Community School District $34,901
Monticello Community School District $92,815
Moravia Community School District $41,659
Mormon Trail Community School District $49,072
Morning Sun Community School District $28,228
Moulton-Udell Community School District $35,455
Mount Ayr Community School District $121,869
Mount Pleasant Community School District $315,929
Mount Vernon Community School District $32,381
Murray Community School District $45,576
Muscatine Community School District $717,845
Nashua-Plainfield Community School District $44,383
Nevada Community School District $137,969
New Hampton Community School District $98,279
New London Community School District $50,414
Newell-Fonda Community School District $67,223
Newton Community School District $342,417
Nodaway Valley Community School District $66,106
North Butler Community School District $60,140
North Cedar Community School District $90,515
North Fayette Valley Community School District $126,843
North Iowa Community School District $59,163
North Kossuth Community School District $38,424
North Linn Community School District $57,559
North Mahaska Community School District $44,006
North Polk Community School District $40,136
North Scott Community School District $170,606
North Tama County Community School District $45,534
North Union Community School District $53,770
Northeast Community School District $49,077
Northwood-Kensett Community School District $60,791
Norwalk Community School District $98,790
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District $86,124
Oelwein Community School District $311,611
Ogden Community School District $40,484
Okoboji Community School District $81,812
Olin Consolidated Community School District $40,308
Orient-Macksburg Community School District $35,785
Osage Community School District $71,532
Oskaloosa Community School District $375,510
Ottumwa Community School District $847,790
Panorama Community School District $60,523
Paton-Churdan Community School District $25,163
Pcm Community School District $52,544
Pekin Community School District $70,083
Pella Community School District $82,903
Perry Community School District $439,919
Pleasant Valley Community School District $72,775
Pleasantville Community School District $58,100
Pocahontas Area Community School District $110,716
Postville Community School District $222,780
Prairie Valley Community School District $54,164
Red Oak Community School District $213,990
Remsen-Union Community School District $34,501
Riceville Community School District $65,083
River Valley Community School District $48,660
Riverside Community School District $55,735
Rock Valley Community School District $83,034
Roland-Story Community School District $60,122
Rudd-Rockford-Marble Community School District $42,425
Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District $37,918
Saydel Community School District $157,154
Schaller-Crestland Community School District $45,805
Schleswig Community School District $42,803
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District $90,169
Seymour Community School District $128,169
Sheldon Community School District $117,110
Shenandoah Community School District $196,842
Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District $106,551
Sidney Community School District $55,248
Sigourney Community School District $64,059
Sioux Center Community School District $116,159
Sioux Central Community School District $44,285
Sioux City Community School District $2,914,050
Solon Community School District $14,889
South Central Calhoun Community School District $120,137
South Hamilton Community School District $51,198
South Obrien Community School District $58,901
South Page Community School District $43,354
South Tama County Community School District $303,450
South Winneshiek Community School District $39,596
Southeast Polk Community School District $375,651
Southeast Warren Community School District $29,771
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District $52,992
Spencer Community School District $197,753
Spirit Lake Community School District $79,801
Springville Community School District $24,017
St Ansgar Community School District $38,674
Stanton Community School District $13,551
Starmont Community School District $79,043
Storm Lake Community School District $594,981
Stratford Community School District $24,199
Sumner Fredericksburg Community School District $63,986
Tipton Community School District $56,903
Treynor Community School District $7,985
Tri-Center Community School District $29,457
Tri-County Community School District $54,692
Tripoli Community School District $38,700
Turkey Valley Community School District $30,969
Twin Cedars Community School District $45,270
Twin Rivers Community School District $36,926
Underwood Community School District $22,755
Union Community School District $60,901
United Community School District $18,391
Urbandale Community School District $224,509
Van Meter Community School District $15,918
Vanburen County Community School District $238,277
Villisca Community School District $45,245
Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District $171,013
Waco Community School District $49,882
Wapello Community School District $79,147
Wapsie Valley Community School District $39,229
Washington Community School District $258,251
Waterloo Community School District $2,682,978
Waukee Community School District $201,094
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District $97,411
Wayne Community School District $132,202
Webster City Community School District $288,415
West Bend - Mallard Community School District $31,316
West Branch Community School District $39,637
West Burlington Community School District $90,514
West Central Community School District $46,819
West Central Valley Community School District $105,264
West Delaware County Community School District $142,683
West Des Moines Community School District $700,388
West Fork Community School District $48,233
West Hancock Community School District $61,981
West Harrison Community School District $42,038
West Liberty Community School District $209,280
West Lyon Community School District $56,036
West Marshall Community School District $67,715
West Monona Community School District $86,099
West Sioux Community School District $111,771
Western Dubuque Community School District $264,167
Westwood Community School District $38,969
Whiting Community School District $26,897
Williamsburg Community School District $58,622
Wilton Community School District $65,071
Winfield-Mt Union Community School District $55,174
Winterset Community School District $133,331
Woodbine Community School District $39,003
Woodbury Central Community School District $52,410
Woodward-Granger Community School District $36,228


ESSER II

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER II funding allocated to each district in Iowa.

Iowa ESSER II allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER II Allocation
Adair-Casey Community School District $340,360
Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District $368,637
Agwsr Community School District $334,110
Ahstw Community School District $348,360
Akron-Westfield Community School District $202,946
Albert City-Truesdale Community School District $138,829
Albia Community School District $705,324
Alburnett Community School District $120,746
Alden Community School District $147,702
Algona Community School District $660,774
Allamakee Community School District $786,830
Alta Aurelia Community School District $378,896
Ames Community School District $1,688,661
Anamosa Community School District $665,553
Andrew Community School District $165,452
Ankeny Community School District $830,338
Aplington Parkersburg Community School District $236,135
Ar-We-Va Community School District $173,698
Atlantic Community School District $951,296
Audubon Community School District $353,982
Ballard Community School District $323,768
Baxter Community School District $106,609
Bcluw Community School District $212,271
Bedford Community School District $339,111
Belle Plaine Community School District $240,426
Bellevue Community School District $173,233
Belmond-Klemme Community School District $540,815
Bennett Community School District $107,409
Benton Community School District $411,551
Bettendorf Community School District $1,683,175
Bondurant-Farrar Community School District $378,318
Boone Community School District $1,071,790
Boyden-Hull Community School District $275,894
Boyer Valley Community School District $245,713
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District $288,460
Burlington Community School District $4,732,195
Cal Community School District $207,794
Calamus-Wheatland Community School District $196,467
Cam Community School District $263,752
Camanche Community School District $389,888
Cardinal Community School District $428,647
Carlisle Community School District $566,007
Carroll Community School District $871,531
Cedar Falls Community School District $1,775,404
Cedar Rapids Community School District $14,436,004
Center Point-Urbana Community School District $222,822
Centerville Community School District $1,288,793
Central City Community School District $180,134
Central Community School District $175,515
Central Decatur Community School District $705,713
Central Dewitt Community School District $573,848
Central Lee Community School District $505,962
Central Lyon Community School District $297,530
Central Springs Community School District $372,579
Chariton Community School District $1,201,818
Charles City Community School District $1,395,342
Charter Oak-Ute Community School District $200,847
Cherokee Community School District $479,706
Clarinda Community School District $573,865
Clarion Goldfield Dows Community School District $775,310
Clarke Community School District $1,195,398
Clarksville Community School District $139,167
Clay Central-Everly Community School District $177,494
Clayton Ridge Community School District $260,727
Clear Creek Amana Community School District $586,909
Clear Lake Community School District $468,272
Clinton Community School District $3,606,287
Colfax-Mingo Community School District $401,747
College Community School District $1,688,940
Collins-Maxwell Community School District $155,732
Colo Nesco Community School District $190,253
Columbus Community School District $755,171
Coon Rapids Community School District $247,121
Corning Community School District $316,266
Council Bluffs Community School District $8,026,343
Creston Community School District $1,214,637
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District $470,086
Danville Community School District $165,007
Davenport Community School District $21,515,608
Davis County Community School District $1,345,678
Decorah Community School District $466,519
Delwood Community School District $111,733
Denison Community School District $2,103,874
Denver Community School District $120,557
Des Moines Independent Community School District $41,093,188
Diagonal Community School District $140,207
Dike-New Hartford Community School District $234,960
Dubuque Community School District $6,505,712
Dunkerton Community School District $159,638
Durant Community School District $185,853
Eagle Grove Community School District $756,968
Earlham Community School District $141,153
East Buchanan Community School District $210,993
East Marshall Community School District $303,019
East Mills Community School District $306,074
East Sac County Community School District $490,436
East Union Community School District $371,636
Eastern Allamakee Community School District $178,796
Easton Valley Community School District $255,606
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District $457,771
Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District $396,221
Eldora-New Provid Community School District $503,255
Emmetsburg Community School District $401,508
English Valleys Community School District $249,031
Essex Community School District $129,739
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District $832,098
Exira Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District $199,582
Fairfield Community School District $1,070,727
Forest City Community School District $443,847
Fort Dodge Community School District $3,863,308
Fort Madison Community School District $1,569,881
Fremont-Mills Community School District $211,800
G M G Community School District $193,235
Galva-Holstein Community School District $197,865
Garner Hayfield Ventura Community School District $273,336
George-Little Rock Community School District $169,926
Gilbert Community School District $107,104
Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District $98,207
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District $190,615
Glenwood Community School District $787,414
Glidden-Ralston Community School District $108,930
Graettinger Terril Community School District $202,468
Greene County Community School District $796,149
Grinnell-Newburg Community School District $677,697
Griswold Community School District $307,692
Grundy Center Community School District $178,653
Guthrie Center Community School District $226,458
Hamburg Community School District $168,418
Hampton-Dumont Community School District $1,134,649
Harlan Community School District $646,457
Harris-Lake Park Community School District $81,994
Hartley-Melvin- Sanborn Community School District $337,975
Highland Community School District $202,630
Hinton Community School District $90,104
Hlv Community School District $118,415
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District $749,234
Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District $114,778
Hudson Community School District $186,604
Humboldt Community School District $659,890
Ikm-Manning Community School District $300,688
Independence Community School District $627,674
Indianola Community School District $1,193,001
Interstate 35 Community School District $230,480
Iowa City Community School District $12,288,034
Iowa Falls Community School District $604,703
Iowa Valley Community School District $265,120
Janesville Community School District $62,251
Jesup Community School District $350,900
Johnston Community School District $1,034,071
Keokuk Community School District $1,953,263
Keota Community School District $212,583
Kingsley-Pierson Community School District $222,812
Knoxville Community School District $1,026,944
Lake Mills Community School District $266,602
Lamoni Community School District $367,140
Laurens-Marathon Community School District $299,067
Lawton-Bronson Community School District $137,477
Le Mars Community School District $955,773
Lenox Community School District $338,404
Lewis Central Community School District $850,834
Linn-Mar Community School District $2,086,675
Lisbon Community School District $174,751
Logan-Magnolia Community School District $159,156
Lone Tree Community School District $153,218
Louisa-Muscatine Community School District $347,662
Lu Verne Community School District $143,760
Lynnville-Sully Community School District $110,823
Madrid Community School District $177,823
Manson-Nw Webster Community School District $258,794
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District $498,250
Maquoketa Community School District $1,105,594
Maquoketa Valley Community School District $354,497
Mar-Mac & M-F-L- Community School District $395,354
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District $146,304
Marion Independent Community School District $991,028
Marshalltown Community School District $3,909,353
Martensdale-St Marys Community School District $85,591
Mason City Community School District $2,771,386
Mediapolis Community School District $270,866
Melcher-Dallas Community School District $163,789
Mid-Prairie Community School District $883,436
Midland Community School District $357,220
Missouri Valley Community School District $507,532
Moc-Floyd Valley Community School District $411,813
Montezuma Community School District $272,294
Monticello Community School District $388,809
Moravia Community School District $252,830
Mormon Trail Community School District $213,012
Morning Sun Community School District $122,815
Moulton-Udell Community School District $163,533
Mount Ayr Community School District $528,962
Mount Pleasant Community School District $1,634,124
Mount Vernon Community School District $140,884
Murray Community School District $198,297
Muscatine Community School District $3,919,013
Nashua-Plainfield Community School District $253,813
Nevada Community School District $577,963
New Hampton Community School District $522,045
New London Community School District $219,341
Newell-Fonda Community School District $292,050
Newton Community School District $1,624,713
Nodaway Valley Community School District $329,072
North Butler Community School District $251,933
North Cedar Community School District $409,432
North Fayette Valley Community School District $580,075
North Iowa Community School District $257,409
North Kossuth Community School District $211,637
North Linn Community School District $241,120
North Mahaska Community School District $197,071
North Polk Community School District $191,648
North Scott Community School District $768,017
North Tama County Community School District $226,993
North Union Community School District $246,467
Northeast Community School District $251,099
Northwood-Kensett Community School District $279,205
Norwalk Community School District $597,616
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District $446,108
Oelwein Community School District $1,355,767
Ogden Community School District $205,902
Okoboji Community School District $393,897
Olin Consolidated Community School District $168,853
Orient-Macksburg Community School District $170,464
Osage Community School District $418,471
Oskaloosa Community School District $1,633,786
Ottumwa Community School District $4,262,744
Panorama Community School District $282,964
Paton-Churdan Community School District $109,481
Pcm Community School District $275,721
Pekin Community School District $395,388
Pella Community School District $405,463
Perry Community School District $1,909,477
Pleasant Valley Community School District $366,761
Pleasantville Community School District $273,798
Pocahontas Area Community School District $481,709
Postville Community School District $933,244
Prairie Valley Community School District $279,792
Red Oak Community School District $977,651
Remsen-Union Community School District $145,570
Riceville Community School District $359,429
River Valley Community School District $224,439
Riverside Community School District $284,030
Rock Valley Community School District $361,268
Roland-Story Community School District $284,266
Rudd-Rockford-Marble Community School District $220,952
Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District $164,974
Saydel Community School District $658,330
Schaller-Crestland Community School District $269,421
Schleswig Community School District $186,232
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District $378,092
Seymour Community School District $557,642
Sheldon Community School District $524,971
Shenandoah Community School District $856,427
Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District $463,586
Sidney Community School District $255,300
Sigourney Community School District $315,400
Sioux Center Community School District $704,381
Sioux Central Community School District $257,828
Sioux City Community School District $17,311,110
Solon Community School District $99,044
South Central Calhoun Community School District $528,072
South Hamilton Community School District $230,872
South Obrien Community School District $320,796
South Page Community School District $184,797
South Tama County Community School District $1,320,259
South Winneshiek Community School District $233,638
Southeast Polk Community School District $1,756,189
Southeast Warren Community School District $148,649
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District $301,926
Spencer Community School District $1,036,966
Spirit Lake Community School District $383,220
Springville Community School District $116,914
St Ansgar Community School District $186,022
Stanton Community School District $88,576
Starmont Community School District $343,903
Storm Lake Community School District $2,558,448
Stratford Community School District $105,287
Sumner Fredericksburg Community School District $306,157
Tipton Community School District $294,119
Treynor Community School District $89,974
Tri-Center Community School District $190,346
Tri-County Community School District $237,955
Tripoli Community School District $207,144
Turkey Valley Community School District $189,280
Twin Cedars Community School District $192,332
Twin Rivers Community School District $154,686
Underwood Community School District $112,610
Union Community School District $305,706
United Community School District $80,015
Urbandale Community School District $976,804
Van Meter Community School District $104,360
Vanburen County Community School District $1,022,295
Villisca Community School District $196,852
Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District $744,053
Waco Community School District $310,488
Wapello Community School District $344,358
Wapsie Valley Community School District $254,743
Washington Community School District $1,123,606
Waterloo Community School District $15,084,832
Waukee Community School District $831,221
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District $524,316
Wayne Community School District $571,706
Webster City Community School District $1,253,306
West Bend - Mallard Community School District $179,975
West Branch Community School District $194,069
West Burlington Community School District $453,922
West Central Community School District $203,700
West Central Valley Community School District $450,130
West Delaware County Community School District $620,790
West Des Moines Community School District $3,534,641
West Fork Community School District $343,774
West Hancock Community School District $259,644
West Harrison Community School District $197,974
West Liberty Community School District $895,946
West Lyon Community School District $314,111
West Marshall Community School District $294,617
West Monona Community School District $431,652
West Sioux Community School District $486,298
Western Dubuque Community School District $1,190,733
Westwood Community School District $209,232
Whiting Community School District $148,977
Williamsburg Community School District $303,089
Wilton Community School District $283,113
Winfield-Mt Union Community School District $249,522
Winterset Community School District $580,102
Woodbine Community School District $248,848
Woodbury Central Community School District $304,603
Woodward-Granger Community School District $190,609

ESSER III

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER III funding allocated to each district in Iowa.

Iowa ESSER III allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER III Allocation
Adair-Casey Community School District $764,932
Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District $828,478
Agwsr Community School District $750,882
Ahstw Community School District $782,910
Akron-Westfield Community School District $456,103
Albert City-Truesdale Community School District $312,006
Albia Community School District $1,585,154
Alburnett Community School District $271,363
Alden Community School District $331,949
Algona Community School District $1,485,031
Allamakee Community School District $1,768,332
Alta Aurelia Community School District $851,536
Ames Community School District $3,795,121
Anamosa Community School District $1,495,775
Andrew Community School District $371,838
Ankeny Community School District $1,866,114
Aplington Parkersburg Community School District $530,697
Ar-We-Va Community School District $390,372
Atlantic Community School District $2,137,956
Audubon Community School District $795,547
Ballard Community School District $727,642
Baxter Community School District $239,594
Bcluw Community School District $477,062
Bedford Community School District $762,120
Belle Plaine Community School District $540,339
Bellevue Community School District $389,328
Belmond-Klemme Community School District $1,215,436
Bennett Community School District $241,392
Benton Community School District $924,925
Bettendorf Community School District $3,782,791
Bondurant-Farrar Community School District $850,239
Boone Community School District $2,408,754
Boyden-Hull Community School District $620,047
Boyer Valley Community School District $552,218
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District $648,291
Burlington Community School District $10,635,214
Cal Community School District $467,004
Calamus-Wheatland Community School District $441,539
Cam Community School District $592,762
Camanche Community School District $876,238
Cardinal Community School District $963,350
Carlisle Community School District $1,272,055
Carroll Community School District $1,958,689
Cedar Falls Community School District $3,990,067
Cedar Rapids Community School District $32,443,699
Center Point-Urbana Community School District $500,770
Centerville Community School District $2,896,456
Central City Community School District $404,836
Central Community School District $394,458
Central Decatur Community School District $1,586,027
Central Dewitt Community School District $1,289,676
Central Lee Community School District $1,137,103
Central Lyon Community School District $668,673
Central Springs Community School District $837,343
Chariton Community School District $2,700,986
Charles City Community School District $3,135,915
Charter Oak-Ute Community School District $451,386
Cherokee Community School District $1,078,100
Clarinda Community School District $1,289,709
Clarion Goldfield Dows Community School District $1,742,440
Clarke Community School District $2,686,557
Clarksville Community School District $312,768
Clay Central-Everly Community School District $398,905
Clayton Ridge Community School District $585,960
Clear Creek Amana Community School District $1,319,026
Clear Lake Community School District $1,052,399
Clinton Community School District $8,104,825
Colfax-Mingo Community School District $902,891
College Community School District $3,795,750
Collins-Maxwell Community School District $349,992
Colo Nesco Community School District $427,576
Columbus Community School District $1,697,183
Coon Rapids Community School District $555,387
Corning Community School District $710,778
Council Bluffs Community School District $18,038,534
Creston Community School District $2,729,790
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District $1,056,479
Danville Community School District $370,838
Davenport Community School District $48,354,511
Davis County Community School District $3,024,298
Decorah Community School District $1,048,465
Delwood Community School District $251,109
Denison Community School District $4,728,281
Denver Community School District $270,944
Des Moines Independent Community School District $92,353,470
Diagonal Community School District $315,103
Dike-New Hartford Community School District $528,050
Dubuque Community School District $14,621,041
Dunkerton Community School District $358,770
Durant Community School District $417,686
Eagle Grove Community School District $1,701,223
Earlham Community School District $317,230
East Buchanan Community School District $474,185
East Marshall Community School District $681,013
East Mills Community School District $687,875
East Sac County Community School District $1,102,214
East Union Community School District $835,219
Eastern Allamakee Community School District $401,826
Easton Valley Community School District $574,454
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District $1,028,805
Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District $890,476
Eldora-New Provid Community School District $1,131,024
Emmetsburg Community School District $902,356
English Valleys Community School District $559,672
Essex Community School District $291,581
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District $1,870,067
Exira Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District $448,542
Fairfield Community School District $2,406,368
Forest City Community School District $997,511
Fort Dodge Community School District $8,682,459
Fort Madison Community School District $3,528,171
Fremont-Mills Community School District $476,000
G M G Community School District $434,280
Galva-Holstein Community School District $444,688
Garner Hayfield Ventura Community School District $614,303
George-Little Rock Community School District $381,894
Gilbert Community School District $240,710
Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District $220,713
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District $428,390
Glenwood Community School District $1,769,647
Glidden-Ralston Community School District $244,809
Graettinger Terril Community School District $455,028
Greene County Community School District $1,789,278
Grinnell-Newburg Community School District $1,523,068
Griswold Community School District $691,513
Grundy Center Community School District $401,507
Guthrie Center Community School District $508,944
Hamburg Community School District $378,503
Hampton-Dumont Community School District $2,550,024
Harlan Community School District $1,452,855
Harris-Lake Park Community School District $184,274
Hartley-Melvin- Sanborn Community School District $759,567
Highland Community School District $455,396
Hinton Community School District $202,501
Hlv Community School District $266,127
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District $1,683,839
Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District $257,954
Hudson Community School District $419,377
Humboldt Community School District $1,483,051
Ikm-Manning Community School District $675,770
Independence Community School District $1,410,643
Indianola Community School District $2,681,169
Interstate 35 Community School District $517,984
Iowa City Community School District $27,616,325
Iowa Falls Community School District $1,359,017
Iowa Valley Community School District $595,834
Janesville Community School District $139,902
Jesup Community School District $788,616
Johnston Community School District $2,323,987
Keokuk Community School District $4,389,794
Keota Community School District $477,760
Kingsley-Pierson Community School District $500,753
Knoxville Community School District $2,307,967
Lake Mills Community School District $599,162
Lamoni Community School District $825,114
Laurens-Marathon Community School District $672,129
Lawton-Bronson Community School District $308,966
Le Mars Community School District $2,148,020
Lenox Community School District $760,532
Lewis Central Community School District $1,912,177
Linn-Mar Community School District $4,689,624
Lisbon Community School District $392,736
Logan-Magnolia Community School District $357,691
Lone Tree Community School District $344,345
Louisa-Muscatine Community School District $781,340
Lu Verne Community School District $323,087
Lynnville-Sully Community School District $249,066
Madrid Community School District $399,644
Manson-Nw Webster Community School District $581,618
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District $1,119,776
Maquoketa Community School District $2,484,725
Maquoketa Valley Community School District $796,701
Mar-Mac & M-F-L- Community School District $888,523
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District $328,806
Marion Independent Community School District $2,227,249
Marshalltown Community School District $8,785,940
Martensdale-St Marys Community School District $192,358
Mason City Community School District $6,228,460
Mediapolis Community School District $608,746
Melcher-Dallas Community School District $368,102
Mid-Prairie Community School District $1,985,446
Midland Community School District $802,825
Missouri Valley Community School District $1,140,639
Moc-Floyd Valley Community School District $925,517
Montezuma Community School District $611,958
Monticello Community School District $873,813
Moravia Community School District $568,211
Mormon Trail Community School District $478,727
Morning Sun Community School District $276,014
Moulton-Udell Community School District $367,525
Mount Ayr Community School District $1,188,797
Mount Pleasant Community School District $3,672,553
Mount Vernon Community School District $316,624
Murray Community School District $445,653
Muscatine Community School District $8,807,655
Nashua-Plainfield Community School District $570,421
Nevada Community School District $1,298,921
New Hampton Community School District $1,173,249
New London Community School District $492,952
Newell-Fonda Community School District $656,359
Newton Community School District $3,651,402
Nodaway Valley Community School District $739,564
North Butler Community School District $566,198
North Cedar Community School District $920,167
North Fayette Valley Community School District $1,303,666
North Iowa Community School District $578,503
North Kossuth Community School District $475,633
North Linn Community School District $541,897
North Mahaska Community School District $442,904
North Polk Community School District $430,716
North Scott Community School District $1,726,056
North Tama County Community School District $510,144
North Union Community School District $553,914
Northeast Community School District $564,324
Northwood-Kensett Community School District $627,487
Norwalk Community School District $1,343,089
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District $1,002,589
Oelwein Community School District $3,046,972
Ogden Community School District $462,749
Okoboji Community School District $885,248
Olin Consolidated Community School District $379,485
Orient-Macksburg Community School District $383,103
Osage Community School District $940,481
Oskaloosa Community School District $3,671,792
Ottumwa Community School District $9,580,159
Panorama Community School District $635,939
Paton-Churdan Community School District $246,047
Pcm Community School District $619,662
Pekin Community School District $888,598
Pella Community School District $911,242
Perry Community School District $4,291,390
Pleasant Valley Community School District $824,263
Pleasantville Community School District $615,335
Pocahontas Area Community School District $1,082,600
Postville Community School District $2,097,387
Prairie Valley Community School District $628,813
Red Oak Community School District $2,197,190
Remsen-Union Community School District $327,154
Riceville Community School District $807,783
River Valley Community School District $504,407
Riverside Community School District $638,330
Rock Valley Community School District $811,921
Roland-Story Community School District $638,861
Rudd-Rockford-Marble Community School District $496,573
Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District $370,767
Saydel Community School District $1,479,540
Schaller-Crestland Community School District $605,504
Schleswig Community School District $418,537
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District $849,729
Seymour Community School District $1,253,256
Sheldon Community School District $1,179,828
Shenandoah Community School District $1,924,748
Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District $1,041,874
Sidney Community School District $573,769
Sigourney Community School District $708,832
Sioux Center Community School District $1,583,033
Sioux Central Community School District $579,443
Sioux City Community School District $38,905,257
Solon Community School District $222,592
South Central Calhoun Community School District $1,186,802
South Hamilton Community School District $518,862
South Obrien Community School District $720,961
South Page Community School District $415,314
South Tama County Community School District $2,967,172
South Winneshiek Community School District $525,082
Southeast Polk Community School District $3,946,884
Southeast Warren Community School District $334,078
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District $678,551
Spencer Community School District $2,330,492
Spirit Lake Community School District $861,257
Springville Community School District $262,752
St Ansgar Community School District $418,068
Stanton Community School District $199,065
Starmont Community School District $772,893
Storm Lake Community School District $5,749,898
Stratford Community School District $236,621
Sumner Fredericksburg Community School District $688,066
Tipton Community School District $661,011
Treynor Community School District $202,213
Tri-Center Community School District $427,784
Tri-County Community School District $534,783
Tripoli Community School District $465,536
Turkey Valley Community School District $425,389
Twin Cedars Community School District $432,248
Twin Rivers Community School District $347,647
Underwood Community School District $253,081
Union Community School District $687,047
United Community School District $179,826
Urbandale Community School District $2,195,285
Van Meter Community School District $234,538
Vanburen County Community School District $2,297,519
Villisca Community School District $442,411
Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District $1,672,193
Waco Community School District $697,798
Wapello Community School District $773,912
Wapsie Valley Community School District $572,515
Washington Community School District $2,525,211
Waterloo Community School District $33,901,891
Waukee Community School District $1,868,097
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District $1,178,355
Wayne Community School District $1,284,863
Webster City Community School District $2,816,699
West Bend - Mallard Community School District $404,480
West Branch Community School District $436,151
West Burlington Community School District $1,020,153
West Central Community School District $457,798
West Central Valley Community School District $1,011,629
West Delaware County Community School District $1,395,170
West Des Moines Community School District $7,943,803
West Fork Community School District $772,603
West Hancock Community School District $583,529
West Harrison Community School District $444,931
West Liberty Community School District $2,013,560
West Lyon Community School District $705,935
West Marshall Community School District $662,129
West Monona Community School District $970,101
West Sioux Community School District $1,092,913
Western Dubuque Community School District $2,676,072
Westwood Community School District $470,229
Whiting Community School District $334,812
Williamsburg Community School District $681,164
Wilton Community School District $636,272
Winfield-Mt Union Community School District $560,778
Winterset Community School District $1,303,732
Woodbine Community School District $559,261
Woodbury Central Community School District $684,573
Woodward-Granger Community School District $428,376

ESSER allocations by state

Click a state below to see a detailed breakdown of ESSER allocations by district in each state.

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.[9]

Congress also allocated about 10% of ESSER funding—or about $19 billion—to state education agencies.[10]

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.[11] Districts were required to have spent the funds by the end of January 2025 (though they could request an extension from the federal government).[12]

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.”[13]

Districts, already facing declining public school enrollment, grappled with the loss of billions of dollars in federal aid as ESSER funds expired.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Some districts announced staff and teacher layoffs due to losing ESSER funds.[18][19][20] Districts also cut expenses in other ways, including ending after-school programs, tutoring services, and more.[21][22]

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See also

Footnotes

  1. U.S. Department of Education, "ESSER Fund Cover Letter," accessed June 13, 2025
  2. The 74, "ESSER Post-Mortem: How Did Districts Spend $190B in Federal Funds? Did It Work?" June 29, 2025
  3. Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
  4. District Administration, "Learning loss can still be overcome with ESSER," August 15, 2024
  5. Brookings, "The ESSER fiscal cliff will have serious implications for student equity," September 12, 2023
  6. Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
  7. McKinsey & Company, "When the money runs out: K–12 schools brace for stimulus-free budgets," September 18, 2024
  8. Edunomics Lab,"ESSER Expenditure Dashboard," accessed June 29, 2025
  9. K-12 Dive, "ESSER funding: What it is and how to use it before it expires," February 21, 2023
  10. CCSSO, "States Leading: How State Education Agencies Leveraged Pandemic Relief Funds," accessed February 4, 2025
  11. New America, "Size: More Money Than Ever Before," accessed February 4, 2025
  12. School Superintendents Assocation, "The Advocate March 2024: ESSER Late Liquidation," March 8, 2024
  13. U.S. Department of Education, "Frequently Asked Questions," May 2021
  14. Brookings, "Breaking down enrollment declines in public schools," March 14, 2024
  15. United States Census, "K-12 School Spending Up 4.7% in 2019 From Previous Year," May 18, 2021
  16. Education Next, "The Massive ESSER Experiment: Here’s what we’re learning.," April 4, 2023
  17. Education Week, "When ESSER Funds Are Gone, Here’s Where Districts May Turn to Fill Gaps," December 5, 2023
  18. NBC DFW, "Arlington ISD faces layoffs with COVID-era ESSER grants coming to an end," March 25, 2024
  19. K-12 Dive, "Teacher layoffs are growing — and won’t be going away anytime soon," March 26, 2024
  20. CT Insider, "Hartford school board approves $429 million budget with staffing cuts across the district," April 18, 2024
  21. Chalkbeat, "Many schools want to keep tutoring going when COVID money is gone. How will they pay for it?" February 1, 2024
  22. KOSU, "The end of pandemic-era federal dollars may mean the end of some Oklahoma school programs," April 18, 2024