COVID Funding for Education

CARES, ESSER, HEERF, GEER....is your head spinning with letters? With additional funding for education to assist with planning in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, there's a lot to process in terms of what is meant for which purpose, and we're here to help. Below you'll find some explanations, links, and a downloadable resource to help guide you through the COVID Funding for Education "jungle" and offer some suggestions on investments that align with the funding to enhance learning and safety today, tomorrow, and beyond!

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER - CARES Act, ESSER II - CRRSA Act)

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that received Title I, Part A funding for the 2019-2020 school year are eligible for ESSER funds - which can be distributed to any school in the district regardless of that school’s Title I status, including Charter Schools.

See also: FAQs About ESSER, Department of Education, Updates on K-12 Covid Funding, Title I Justification

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

The vast majority of HEERF funds will be distributed following Title IV qualifications, along with dollars for the Higher Education Act (HEA)’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institution programs, emergency student-grant aid at for-profit institutions of higher education, and minimal discretionary funding

Head Start/Early Education Programs

Funding will be distributed among existing federal programs that support the care and education of young children & families, including a majority for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Program, followed by dollars for Head Start programs to respond to the needs of children and families.

Certified Community Health Clinics/Mental Health & Substance Abuse Programs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has distributed grants to increase access to and to improve the quality of community mental and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services through the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)

Also Available: Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER)

Funds were also allocated for each State Governor to distribute for education. Check your state department of education website for additional information regarding these dollars.

Want to learn more? Download our COVID Funding for Education one-sheeter on the various funding streams and how these dollars can work for you.

The VariQuest® Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite, featuring educational tools powered by Engage Every Learner® Content, was designed to support education, whether in the middle of a pandemic, or not. Some uses aligning with COVID Funding Include:

• Create and customize directional posters, floor markers, and room labels to promote social distancing and designate restricted areas/entries
• Organize PPE equipment with custom labels for organization, cleaning and sanitization needs, and healthcare items
• Customize training materials and displays for staff safety and cleaning procedures with posters and labels for presentations, hallway and room reminders, and more
• Design collections of manipulatives, math and reading supports, graphic organizers, and K-W-L charts for take-home lessons and activities during hybrid and distance learning
• Produce social-emotional learning supports including calming charts, mental health check-ins, feelings discussion diagrams, flash card exercise collections, and more
• Display progress initiatives and student achievement charts to track learning development and growth
• Choose from thousands of education-specific templates to support curriculum in all subject areas

Contact us today for a no-obligation price quote for the VariQuest tools best equipped to solve challenges in your school, aligning with COVID-19 Funding Streams. Or request a [virtual] demonstration with one of our expert education consultants to see more examples of how our tools can work for you.