Family and Community Voice & COVID Relief for Education
On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was signed into law. Pursuant to this law, the U.S. Department of Education is adding an additional $54.3 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund for K-12 education (ESSER Fund). These are commonly referred to as ESSER II funds. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law and provides an additional $121.9 billion to the ESSER Fund; these funds are commonly referred to as ESSER III funds.
ESSER II and ESSER III funds will be distributed to state educational agencies (SEAs) like SC Department of Education for the purpose of providing states and local school districts such as yours with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools and students across the nation.
South Carolina will receive $3,052,472,269 in ESSER funds at least 90% of which will flow through to school districts according to a need-based formula. You can be a part of shaping where those funds go. Visit the links below to see how you can direct where over $3 billion will be spent in South Carolina.
Check out our Newest Guide: ESSER and Academic Recovery Plans: Monitoring Implementation in Districts and Schools
View our webinar to learn more about the over $3 billion in one-time federal relief funding to South Carolina to address the impacts of COVID-19 on K-12 education and the role of SICs and community organizations in generating discussions and input from families to inform district and school spending decisions.
SCDE document Guide for ESSER Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of Education resources
SIC Community Stakeholders Meeting Project
Looking for other ways to get involved and make your voice heard, check out the following opportunities!
IDRA-Equity Assistance Center South https://www.idraeacsouth.org/
Family Connections SC https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/training/classes/
First Steps, South Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council https://earlychildhoodsc.org/what-we-do/two-generation-approach/
Save the Children Action Network https://savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/state/south-carolina/