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

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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 STATE’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 Maine.

Maine ESSER I allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER I Allocation
Acadia Academy $68,787
Acton Public Schools $46,395
Airline CSD $1,045
Alexander Public Schools $17,315
Andover Public Schools $954
Appleton Public Schools $17,541
Athens Public Schools $43,331
Auburn Public Schools $802,432
Augusta Public Schools $751,461
Baileyville Public Schools $100,131
Bangor Public Schools $1,410,689
Bar Harbor Public Schools $99,194
Beals Public Schools $0
Biddeford Public Schools $564,718
Blue Hill Public Schools $102,309
Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD $96,602
Brewer Public Schools $293,368
Bristol Public Schools $38,540
Brooklin Public Schools $0
Brooksville Public Schools $0
Brunswick Public Schools $306,398
Calais Public Schools $212,218
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools $23,099
Castine Public Schools $0
Caswell Public Schools $27,598
Charlotte Public Schools $15,141
Cherryfield Public Schools $41,158
Community Regional Charter School $42,307
Cutler Public Schools $13,153
Dayton Public Schools $10,417
Dedham Public Schools $17,810
Deer Isle-Stonington CSD $129,478
East Machias Public Schools $51,176
East Millinocket Public Schools $93,361
East Range CSD $1,105
Easton Public Schools $47,561
Eastport Public Schools $69,236
Ecology Learning Center $0
Edgecomb Public Schools $29,771
Education in Unorganized Territories $73,612
Ellsworth Public Schools $214,199
Eustis Public Schools $23,233
Falmouth Public Schools $22,605
Fayette Public Schools $9,336
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences $16,430
Five Town CSD $0
Georgetown Public Schools $1,168
Glenburn Public Schools $64,569
Gorham Public Schools $187,306
Great Salt Bay CSD $74,836
Greenbush Public Schools $62,138
Greenville Public Schools $44,609
Hancock Public Schools $44,955
Harmony Public Schools $30,339
Harpswell Coastal Academy $44,951
Hermon Public Schools $119,305
Hope Public Schools $20,906
Jefferson Public Schools $43,081
Jonesboro Public Schools $20,502
Jonesport Public Schools $94,303
Kittery Public Schools $111,664
Lamoine Public Schools $18,908
Lewiston Public Schools $2,216,410
Limestone Public Schools $49,468
Lincolnville Public Schools $23,441
Lisbon Public Schools $279,284
Machias Public Schools $191,045
Machiasport Public Schools $31,371
Madawaska Public Schools $104,696
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences $36,181
Maine Arts Academy $19,796
Maine Connections Academy $71,140
Maine Virtual Academy $92,306
Medway Public Schools $46,323
Milford Public Schools $97,240
Millinocket Public Schools $187,410
Moosabec CSD $0
MSAD 27 $193,697
MSAD 46 $462,789
Mt Desert CSD $33,468
Nobleboro Public Schools $30,904
Northport Public Schools $25,566
Orrington Public Schools $48,128
Otis Public Schools $19,746
Pembroke Public Schools $35,743
Penobscot Public Schools $0
Perry Public Schools $39,785
Portland Public Schools $1,926,769
Princeton Public Schools $43,357
RSU 01 - LKRSU $431,775
RSU 02 $330,642
RSU 03/MSAD 03 $472,011
RSU 04 $385,576
RSU 05 $142,025
RSU 06/MSAD 06 $447,096
RSU 08/MSAD 08 $47,922
RSU 09 $582,866
RSU 10 $913,118
RSU 11/MSAD 11 $389,572
RSU 12 $258,540
RSU 13 $605,392
RSU 14 $335,788
RSU 15/MSAD 15 $261,770
RSU 16 $336,312
RSU 17/MSAD 17 $768,910
RSU 18 $522,105
RSU 19 $691,080
RSU 20 $199,245
RSU 21 $155,468
RSU 22 $268,059
RSU 23 $211,769
RSU 24 $323,699
RSU 25 $288,514
RSU 26 $94,111
RSU 28/MSAD 28 $116,999
RSU 29/MSAD 29 $468,347
RSU 30/MSAD 30 $80,823
RSU 31/MSAD 31 $172,198
RSU 32/MSAD 32 $74,744
RSU 33/MSAD 33 $47,610
RSU 34 $419,325
RSU 35/MSAD 35 $142,402
RSU 37/MSAD 37 $214,109
RSU 38 $159,164
RSU 39 $366,650
RSU 40/MSAD 40 $450,884
RSU 41/MSAD 41 $358,053
RSU 42/MSAD 42 $87,034
RSU 44/MSAD 44 $184,118
RSU 45/MSAD 45 $90,086
RSU 49/MSAD 49 $690,533
RSU 50 $140,929
RSU 51/MSAD 51 $42,396
RSU 52/MSAD 52 $266,303
RSU 53/MSAD 53 $254,028
RSU 54/MSAD 54 $1,116,703
RSU 55/MSAD 55 $340,083
RSU 56 $289,066
RSU 57/MSAD 57 $382,345
RSU 58/MSAD 58 $183,255
RSU 59/MSAD 59 $251,078
RSU 60/MSAD 60 $439,856
RSU 61/MSAD 61 $472,348
RSU 63/MSAD 63 $72,362
RSU 64/MSAD 64 $297,991
RSU 67 $369,714
RSU 68/MSAD 68 $193,013
RSU 70/MSAD 70 $174,679
RSU 71 $467,044
RSU 72/MSAD 72 $189,712
RSU 73 $478,205
RSU 74/MSAD 74 $276,799
RSU 75/MSAD 75 $350,302
RSU 78 $44,141
RSU 79/MSAD 01 $429,975
RSU 80/MSAD 04 $210,766
RSU 82/MSAD 12 $32,820
RSU 83/MSAD 13 $77,556
RSU 84/MSAD 14 $67,056
RSU 85/MSAD 19 $74,159
RSU 86/MSAD 20 $195,808
RSU 87/MSAD 23 $128,726
RSU 88/MSAD 24 $147,172
RSU 89 $126,966
Saco Public Schools $262,993
Sanford Public Schools $923,456
Scarborough Public Schools $106,145
Sebago Public Schools $19,008
Sedgwick Public Schools $0
South Bristol Public Schools $10,071
South Portland Public Schools $516,210
St George Public Schools $42,189
Surry Public Schools $0
Vassalboro Public Schools $125,818
Veazie Public Schools $19,939
Waterville Public Schools $721,114
Wells-Ogunquit CSD $98,765
West Bath Public Schools $18,397
Westbrook Public Schools $821,349
Whiting Public Schools $10,260
Winslow Schools $272,209
Winthrop Public Schools $160,455
Wiscasset Public Schools $152,272
Woodland Public Schools $60,481
Yarmouth Schools $50,907
York Public Schools $55,265


ESSER II

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

Maine ESSER II allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER II Allocation
Acadia Academy $284,424
Acton Public Schools $191,836
Airline CSD $4,319
Alexander Public Schools $71,596
Andover Public Schools $3,946
Appleton Public Schools $72,528
Athens Public Schools $179,169
Auburn Public Schools $3,327,034
Augusta Public Schools $3,072,168
Baileyville Public Schools $414,026
Bangor Public Schools $5,758,938
Bar Harbor Public Schools $410,154
Beals Public Schools $96,972
Biddeford Public Schools $2,325,970
Blue Hill Public Schools $159,138
Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD $407,116
Brewer Public Schools $1,218,910
Bristol Public Schools $159,359
Brooklin Public Schools $56,895
Brooksville Public Schools $55,847
Brunswick Public Schools $1,239,262
Calais Public Schools $877,491
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools $95,510
Castine Public Schools $2,782
Caswell Public Schools $114,112
Charlotte Public Schools $62,606
Cherryfield Public Schools $170,185
Community Regional Charter School $174,934
Cutler Public Schools $54,387
Dayton Public Schools $43,074
Dedham Public Schools $73,641
Deer Isle-Stonington CSD $357,949
East Machias Public Schools $211,604
East Millinocket Public Schools $386,035
East Range CSD $4,568
Easton Public Schools $196,660
Eastport Public Schools $286,279
Ecology Learning Center $42,576
Edgecomb Public Schools $71,787
Education in Unorganized Territories $304,376
Ellsworth Public Schools $888,083
Eustis Public Schools $96,067
Falmouth Public Schools $93,467
Fayette Public Schools $38,604
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences $67,934
Five Town CSD $194,315
Georgetown Public Schools $4,828
Glenburn Public Schools $273,918
Gorham Public Schools $777,465
Great Salt Bay CSD $311,680
Greenbush Public Schools $256,930
Greenville Public Schools $184,451
Hancock Public Schools $185,882
Harmony Public Schools $125,446
Harpswell Coastal Academy $185,867
Hermon Public Schools $497,962
Hope Public Schools $90,463
Jefferson Public Schools $178,134
Jonesboro Public Schools $84,771
Jonesport Public Schools $182,486
Kittery Public Schools $461,716
Lamoine Public Schools $78,183
Lewiston Public Schools $9,135,011
Limestone Public Schools $206,869
Lincolnville Public Schools $96,926
Lisbon Public Schools $1,158,729
Machias Public Schools $789,946
Machiasport Public Schools $129,714
Madawaska Public Schools $432,903
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences $149,604
Maine Arts Academy $81,855
Maine Connections Academy $294,153
Maine Virtual Academy $381,672
Medway Public Schools $191,541
Milford Public Schools $402,075
Millinocket Public Schools $774,915
Moosabec CSD $110,474
MSAD 27 $803,360
MSAD 46 $1,927,991
Mt Desert CSD $138,384
Nobleboro Public Schools $127,785
Northport Public Schools $105,711
Orrington Public Schools $203,024
Otis Public Schools $81,648
Pembroke Public Schools $147,794
Penobscot Public Schools $72,030
Perry Public Schools $164,506
Portland Public Schools $7,966,404
Princeton Public Schools $179,277
RSU 01 - LKRSU $1,809,057
RSU 02 $1,374,733
RSU 03/MSAD 03 $1,955,701
RSU 04 $1,599,076
RSU 05 $587,255
RSU 06/MSAD 06 $1,851,263
RSU 08/MSAD 08 $198,152
RSU 09 $2,410,072
RSU 10 $3,775,616
RSU 11/MSAD 11 $1,615,123
RSU 12 $1,077,347
RSU 13 $2,503,212
RSU 14 $1,388,437
RSU 15/MSAD 15 $1,082,384
RSU 16 $1,402,491
RSU 17/MSAD 17 $3,179,335
RSU 18 $2,179,008
RSU 19 $2,873,200
RSU 20 $823,851
RSU 21 $642,837
RSU 22 $1,108,387
RSU 23 $875,634
RSU 24 $1,354,459
RSU 25 $1,195,617
RSU 26 $389,136
RSU 28/MSAD 28 $279,857
RSU 29/MSAD 29 $1,930,714
RSU 30/MSAD 30 $334,193
RSU 31/MSAD 31 $712,013
RSU 32/MSAD 32 $309,055
RSU 33/MSAD 33 $196,859
RSU 34 $1,738,403
RSU 35/MSAD 35 $592,636
RSU 37/MSAD 37 $885,311
RSU 38 $666,348
RSU 39 $1,518,850
RSU 40/MSAD 40 $1,879,170
RSU 41/MSAD 41 $1,480,500
RSU 42/MSAD 42 $363,582
RSU 44/MSAD 44 $761,302
RSU 45/MSAD 45 $379,868
RSU 49/MSAD 49 $2,819,315
RSU 50 $582,721
RSU 51/MSAD 51 $175,300
RSU 52/MSAD 52 $1,101,127
RSU 53/MSAD 53 $1,058,073
RSU 54/MSAD 54 $4,621,848
RSU 55/MSAD 55 $1,413,055
RSU 56 $1,195,246
RSU 57/MSAD 57 $1,589,281
RSU 58/MSAD 58 $757,733
RSU 59/MSAD 59 $1,038,174
RSU 60/MSAD 60 $1,818,743
RSU 61/MSAD 61 $1,953,093
RSU 63/MSAD 63 $307,519
RSU 64/MSAD 64 $1,239,830
RSU 67 $1,528,717
RSU 68/MSAD 68 $798,082
RSU 70/MSAD 70 $737,091
RSU 71 $1,940,675
RSU 72/MSAD 72 $784,434
RSU 73 $1,977,309
RSU 74/MSAD 74 $1,144,527
RSU 75/MSAD 75 $1,448,452
RSU 78 $182,519
RSU 79/MSAD 01 $1,743,411
RSU 80/MSAD 04 $871,488
RSU 82/MSAD 12 $135,706
RSU 83/MSAD 13 $320,685
RSU 84/MSAD 14 $277,268
RSU 85/MSAD 19 $306,636
RSU 86/MSAD 20 $809,641
RSU 87/MSAD 23 $540,612
RSU 88/MSAD 24 $612,591
RSU 89 $524,987
Saco Public Schools $1,101,473
Sanford Public Schools $3,803,167
Scarborough Public Schools $438,893
Sebago Public Schools $78,595
Sedgwick Public Schools $134,398
South Bristol Public Schools $41,640
South Portland Public Schools $2,113,790
St George Public Schools $176,322
Surry Public Schools $95,949
Vassalboro Public Schools $524,906
Veazie Public Schools $89,316
Waterville Public Schools $2,954,828
Wells-Ogunquit CSD $408,378
West Bath Public Schools $76,070
Westbrook Public Schools $3,401,554
Whiting Public Schools $42,423
Winslow Schools $1,129,536
Winthrop Public Schools $671,264
Wiscasset Public Schools $659,893
Woodland Public Schools $252,858
Yarmouth Schools $215,755
York Public Schools $224,690

ESSER III

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

Maine ESSER III allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER III Allocation
Acadia Academy $638,971
Acton Public Schools $430,967
Airline CSD $9,703
Alexander Public Schools $160,844
Andover Public Schools $8,864
Appleton Public Schools $162,938
Athens Public Schools $402,512
Auburn Public Schools $7,474,336
Augusta Public Schools $6,901,768
Baileyville Public Schools $930,130
Bangor Public Schools $12,937,721
Bar Harbor Public Schools $921,431
Beals Public Schools $0
Biddeford Public Schools $5,225,400
Blue Hill Public Schools $357,511
Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD $914,604
Brewer Public Schools $2,738,337
Bristol Public Schools $358,007
Brooklin Public Schools $0
Brooksville Public Schools $125,463
Brunswick Public Schools $2,784,059
Calais Public Schools $1,971,324
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools $214,568
Castine Public Schools $6,250
Caswell Public Schools $256,358
Charlotte Public Schools $140,648
Cherryfield Public Schools $382,328
Community Regional Charter School $392,996
Cutler Public Schools $122,183
Dayton Public Schools $96,768
Dedham Public Schools $165,438
Deer Isle-Stonington CSD $1,233,896
East Machias Public Schools $475,379
East Millinocket Public Schools $867,246
East Range CSD $10,263
Easton Public Schools $441,805
Eastport Public Schools $643,140
Ecology Learning Center $95,648
Edgecomb Public Schools $161,273
Education in Unorganized Territories $683,794
Ellsworth Public Schools $1,995,120
Eustis Public Schools $215,818
Falmouth Public Schools $209,979
Fayette Public Schools $86,726
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences $152,617
Five Town CSD
Georgetown Public Schools $10,845
Glenburn Public Schools $615,369
Gorham Public Schools $1,746,611
Great Salt Bay CSD $700,203
Greenbush Public Schools $577,206
Greenville Public Schools $414,377
Hancock Public Schools $417,593
Harmony Public Schools $281,820
Harpswell Coastal Academy $417,560
Hermon Public Schools $1,118,695
Hope Public Schools $203,229
Jefferson Public Schools $400,187
Jonesboro Public Schools $190,442
Jonesport Public Schools
Kittery Public Schools $1,037,266
Lamoine Public Schools $175,642
Lewiston Public Schools $20,522,226
Limestone Public Schools $464,740
Lincolnville Public Schools $217,748
Lisbon Public Schools $2,603,137
Machias Public Schools $1,774,651
Machiasport Public Schools $291,409
Madawaska Public Schools $972,537
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences $336,093
Maine Arts Academy $183,892
Maine Connections Academy $660,828
Maine Virtual Academy $857,444
Medway Public Schools $430,306
Milford Public Schools $903,279
Millinocket Public Schools $1,740,883
Moosabec CSD $875,998
MSAD 27 $1,804,785
MSAD 46 $4,331,322
Mt Desert CSD $310,887
Nobleboro Public Schools $287,074
Northport Public Schools $237,484
Orrington Public Schools $456,103
Otis Public Schools $183,426
Pembroke Public Schools $332,025
Penobscot Public Schools $161,820
Perry Public Schools $369,570
Portland Public Schools $17,896,895
Princeton Public Schools $402,753
RSU 01 - LKRSU $4,064,130
RSU 02 $3,088,400
RSU 03/MSAD 03 $4,393,573
RSU 04 $3,592,398
RSU 05 $1,319,295
RSU 06/MSAD 06 $4,158,948
RSU 08/MSAD 08 $445,157
RSU 09 $5,414,338
RSU 10 $8,482,096
RSU 11/MSAD 11 $3,628,449
RSU 12 $2,420,309
RSU 13 $5,623,583
RSU 14 $3,119,187
RSU 15/MSAD 15 $2,431,626
RSU 16 $3,150,761
RSU 17/MSAD 17 $7,142,523
RSU 18 $4,895,243
RSU 19 $6,454,776
RSU 20 $1,850,819
RSU 21 $1,444,164
RSU 22 $2,490,044
RSU 23 $1,967,153
RSU 24 $3,042,855
RSU 25 $2,686,009
RSU 26 $874,213
RSU 28/MSAD 28 $1,065,249
RSU 29/MSAD 29 $4,337,439
RSU 30/MSAD 30 $750,780
RSU 31/MSAD 31 $1,599,571
RSU 32/MSAD 32 $694,307
RSU 33/MSAD 33 $442,254
RSU 34 $3,905,402
RSU 35/MSAD 35 $1,331,384
RSU 37/MSAD 37 $1,988,892
RSU 38 $1,496,983
RSU 39 $3,412,166
RSU 40/MSAD 40 $4,221,642
RSU 41/MSAD 41 $3,326,012
RSU 42/MSAD 42 $816,804
RSU 44/MSAD 44 $1,710,300
RSU 45/MSAD 45 $853,392
RSU 49/MSAD 49 $6,333,723
RSU 50 $1,309,109
RSU 51/MSAD 51 $393,819
RSU 52/MSAD 52 $2,473,733
RSU 53/MSAD 53 $2,377,010
RSU 54/MSAD 54 $10,383,196
RSU 55/MSAD 55 $3,174,493
RSU 56 $2,685,176
RSU 57/MSAD 57 $3,570,392
RSU 58/MSAD 58 $1,702,283
RSU 59/MSAD 59 $2,332,307
RSU 60/MSAD 60 $4,085,891
RSU 61/MSAD 61 $4,387,713
RSU 63/MSAD 63 $690,857
RSU 64/MSAD 64 $2,785,336
RSU 67 $3,434,333
RSU 68/MSAD 68 $1,792,929
RSU 70/MSAD 70 $1,655,910
RSU 71 $4,359,816
RSU 72/MSAD 72 $1,762,266
RSU 73 $4,442,117
RSU 74/MSAD 74 $2,571,232
RSU 75/MSAD 75 $3,254,014
RSU 78 $410,037
RSU 79/MSAD 01 $3,916,653
RSU 80/MSAD 04 $1,957,838
RSU 82/MSAD 12 $304,869
RSU 83/MSAD 13 $720,434
RSU 84/MSAD 14 $622,895
RSU 85/MSAD 19 $688,872
RSU 86/MSAD 20 $1,818,895
RSU 87/MSAD 23 $1,214,511
RSU 88/MSAD 24 $1,376,214
RSU 89 $1,179,407
Saco Public Schools $2,474,510
Sanford Public Schools $8,543,991
Scarborough Public Schools $985,994
Sebago Public Schools $176,567
Sedgwick Public Schools $0
South Bristol Public Schools $93,547
South Portland Public Schools $4,748,726
St George Public Schools $396,115
Surry Public Schools $215,555
Vassalboro Public Schools $1,179,227
Veazie Public Schools $200,653
Waterville Public Schools $6,638,159
Wells-Ogunquit CSD $917,440
West Bath Public Schools $170,894
Westbrook Public Schools $7,641,748
Whiting Public Schools $95,306
Winslow Schools $2,537,555
Winthrop Public Schools $1,508,026
Wiscasset Public Schools $1,482,480
Woodland Public Schools $568,057
Yarmouth Schools $484,704
York Public Schools $504,777

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
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