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Update - WISEgrants Open for Federal CARES Act ESSERF Application

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

WISEgrants is currently open for part of the federal CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF) application. Local educational agencies (LEAs) may:

  • Have LEA authorizers digitally sign required assurances for the CARES Act and for the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA);
  • Complete the CARES Act section 180006 certification regarding the LEA’s commitment to pay employees and contractors to the greatest extent practicable. See the Paying Employees and Contractors to the Greatest Extent Practicable web page for more information; and
  • Upload the ESSERF Affirmation of Consultation Form from all private schools located within the LEA’s jurisdiction, indicating their participation ESSERF services. (Note: The Department of Public Instruction needs to accept the affirmation form for each private school prior to the LEA submitting the necessary data for determining equitable participation).

The rest of the application will open on Thursday, July 30. The application is designed to calculate both methods for the private school proportionate share, but limits the amount the LEA is allowed to budget for private schools to the guaranteed amount for equitable participation, which is the lesser of the two calculated methods. LEAs will be able to budget and claim allowed costs and demonstrate compliance with GEPA 427.

More information about ESSERF grants is available at https://dpi.wi.gov/cares/esser-grants. If you have questions, please contact essergrants@dpi.wi.gov.