The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund is a COVID-19 relief program for states and school districts. The American Rescue Plan Act requires states and districts to set aside a certain amount of their ESSER funds for specific activities, including summer and after-school programming, with an obligation deadline of September 30, 2024. As the ESSER program winds down, states and districts are thinking about how to sustain the investments they have made in summer and after-school programming.
This report co-authored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Summer Learning Association outlines frequently asked questions for accessing federal COVID-19 relief funds and sustaining programs after 2024.
