The Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) are primarily comprised of three federal acts enacted between 2020 and 2021 to support education during the COVID-19 pandemic: the CARES Act, the CRRSA Act, and the ARP Act. These acts established key funding streams, including the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), and Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) funds. The ESF was designed to support state and institutional efforts to address the pandemic's impact on students.
- The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, provided economic stimulus to individuals, businesses, hospitals, and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in response to the economic distress caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
- The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020. It provided additional money for local educational agencies (LEAs) for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) programs originally created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020.
- The ARP Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, provided the third economic stimulus package to individuals, businesses, hospitals, and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in response to the economic distress caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Chart comparing the usage of funds for all three ESSER programs (Google document)
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Federal Waivers Information for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
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ESSER I
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The CARES Act plan included a four-pronged approach to providing direct, immediate, and comprehensive relief to LEAs.
- Provide grants to LEAs—More than 90 percent of the state’s ESSER funds was directly awarded to LEAs. No LEA received less than $40,000.
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Build capacity for, and expanding access to, high-quality online instructional resources. For more information, visit the Building Capacity for and Expanding Access to High-Quality Online Instructional Resources page.
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Provide training for educators in the provision of online and remote instruction. For more information, visit the Providing Training for Educators in the Provision of Online and Remote Instruction page.
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Expand and build capacity of school staff to provide mental health services, to better support students. For more information, visit the Expanding and Building Capacity of School Staff to Provide Mental Health Services page.
Plan Approval from Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee
Wisconsin's Approved Application for ESSER Funds
Part C Narrative Responses for the Application
The DPI awarded more than $158 million in ESSER I funds directly to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) through grants.
DPI's Federal Stimulus Relief Funding FAQ (Google doc)
ESSER I, II, and III Overview (Google Doc)
U.S. Department of Education ESSER web page
Preparing for the Federal Single Audit (Google Doc) technical assistance document
Equitable Participation for Private School Students
Equitable participation for private school students applied to ESSER I grant funds. The process was the same as that for ESEA, involving meaningful consultation and submission of Affirmation of Consultation forms.
21-22 ESSER Private School Equitable Share Report
20-21 ESSER Private School Equitable Share Report
The CARES Act required that an Local Education Agency (LEA) maintain all control of federal funds, materials, equipment, and property. LEAs made purchases and contract for services on behalf of the private school, but did not reimburse the private school for any purchases or contract of services made by the private school (CARES Act, Section 18005(b)).
- GEER
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On July 23, 2020, Gov. Evers announced that 156 LEAs and 3 Tribal Schools are eligible to apply for the $46.6 million provided to Wisconsin through the GEER program. Based on recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and in consultation with State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, the governor outlined eligibility criteria for schools most significantly impacted by COVID-19. Criteria are based on economic disadvantage, access to personal computing devices, access to internet, and students’ score on the English Language Arts Assessment. DPI administered these grants through WISEgrants
The GEER Grant Program, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provided funds to help local education agencies (LEAs) respond to changes in student needs due to COVID-19 (CARES Act, Section 18002).
The Governor asked the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award $46.6 million to 156 Wisconsin LEAs and 3 Tribal Schools.
List of allocations for eligible school districts, independent charters, and tribal schools
- ESSER II
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ESSER II provided additional money for local educational agencies (LEAs) to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. All activities allowed under ESSER I were also allowed under ESSER II, with an additional emphasis on assessing and addressing learning loss, preparing schools for reopening, and projects to improve air quality in school buildings.
The total ESSER II allocation for the State of Wisconsin is $686,056,238.00. 90 percent ($617,450,615) was distributed to LEAs using the 2020-21 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, Part A formula calculation as required under CRRSA. LEA allocations were based on the number and percentage of children from low-income families. Although ESSER II award amounts were calculated based on Title I, Part A allocations, they were not Title I, Part A funds. Title I requirements did not apply to ESSER II.
The remaining 10 percent of the state’s ESSER II allocation ($68.6 million) was directed to LEAs in two ways, based on Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance Motion #16
ESSER II allocations included additional funds for in-person instruction to eligible LEAs and recalculation of formula amounts based on changes to independent charter school economically disadvantaged student counts.
- Emergency Assistance for Non-Public School (EANS)
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The Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) program was established in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act) to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address educational disruptions caused by COVID-19. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act continued the program with some changes. See the EANS web page and EANS and Choice Programs web page for more details.
- ESSER III
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ESSER III, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grant program authorized under American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, provided additional money for local educational agencies (LEAs) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. ESSER III supplemented ESSER I, created by the CARES Act in March 2020, and ESSER II, created by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act in December 2020.
Wisconsin’s allocation under ESSER III was more than $1.5 billion. States were required to subgrant 90% directly to LEAs and use the remaining 10% primarily for activities and interventions that address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student groups, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.
Timeline of ARP ESSER Funds (Google document)
Wisconsin's ESSER III State Plan - Modifications to Wisconsin's ESSER III State Plan and the use of the state set-aside portion of ESSER III funds.
As required, DPI calculated ESSER III allocations to LEAs using the 2020-21 Every Student Succeeds Act, Title I, Part A formula, which is based on the number and percentage of children from low-income families. Title I requirements do not apply to ESSER III funds.
The ESSER III grant performance period was March 13, 2020-September 30, 2024. (American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Interim Final Requirements Footnote 13)
All ESSER III funds had to be obligated by September 30, 2024. [34 CFR §75.707] and final claims were due to DPI by December 6, 2024. [2 CFR §200.344]
All activities allowed under ESSER I and ESSER II were also allowed under ESSER III, with an additional emphasis on assessing and addressing learning loss. All activities supported by ESSER III must prevent, prepare for, or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LEAs that received funds under ESSER III were required to reserve no less than 20 percent of their allocation for the purpose of addressing learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. These interventions must respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children and youth in foster care, and migratory students.
- ESSER III LEA Plans
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Every LEA that received ESSER III funding authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) must have developed and made publicly available on the LEA's website, a plan for the LEA's use of ESSER III funds. Details on the ESSER III LEA Plan Requirements are available in this Google document for LEAs. This requirement has now expired.
Find the LEA plans listed here - ESSER III LEA plans - ESSER III Summer School Grant
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The American Rescue Plan (ARP) 2021 authorized states to use 1% of their total ARP allocation ($15.4 million for Wisconsin) for evidence-based summer enrichment programs. Evidence-based summer enrichment programs use Evidence-based Improvement Strategies (EBIS) designed to address unfinished learning and social, emotional, and academic needs of students most impacted by COVID-19.
Funds were allocated through a competitive grant process. See DPI's ESSER III Summer School Grant web page for more details.
- Homeless Children and Youth Grant (ARP-HCY)
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The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), a COVID-19 relief act passed by Congress in 2021, provided Wisconsin with $10,097,813 in funding specifically dedicated to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including through wrap-around services. Funds were intended to support the specific and urgent needs of homeless children and youth due to the extraordinary impact of the pandemic on students experiencing homelessness, including academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs due to decreased enrollment in school, interrupted classroom instruction, and challenges navigating services for shelter/housing, clothing and school supplies, food, and child care. This funding was referred to as American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY). 75% of the total allocation was distributed to Wisconsin local education agencies (LEAs). ARP-HCY grant funds were available from April 23, 2021 to September 30, 2024.
See DPI's ARP-HCY web page for more details. - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
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Wisconsin received approximately $47.6 million in ARP funding to offset costs of providing programs and services to students with disabilities under IDEA. These funds were administered as additional funding under the existing IDEA Flow-through and Preschool formula subgrants to LEAs for 2021-22.
- Public Libraries
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Wisconsin received $3,270,854 for public libraries from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), to be administered as subgrants to regional public library systems and public libraries. Funds supported digital inclusion efforts, implementation of public health protocols, library services that meet community needs, and reaching tribal and museum partners best positioned to assist with pandemic response efforts.
- EANS II
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The ARP Act provided continued funding under the EANS program. As with EANS I, Governors applied for the funds, and the program then was administered by the state education agency. The application deadline was July 15, 2021. EANS II functioned like EANS I, with the exception that reimbursements were no longer allowed; all expenses were for direct services and assistance. See the DPI’s EANS webpage for additional information.
- Digital Access
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Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF): ECF supported remote learning by reimbursing libraries and schools for devices and internet services for students, staff, and patrons. Schools that provided face-to-face instruction can apply for funds to close the homework gap.
Broadband Access Grant: Up to $100 million for projects to expand high speed broadband internet to unserved and underserved households. Application credit was awarded for proposals with public-private partnerships.
- Back to School Aid
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On August 30, 2022, Governor Evers announced an additional $75 million allocation for local education agencies (LEAs) from Wisconsin's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
See DPI's Back to School Aid web page for more details
- Graduation Alliance Partnership
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The Department of Public Instruction awarded $5 million to Graduation Alliance to identify and re-engage chronically absent students. This project was part of the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance’s Motion 57 for ESSER III funding and was approved by the United States Department of Education (USDE)
See DPI's Graduation Alliance web page for more details
- EBIS Grant
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The ESSER III evidence-based improvement strategies (EBIS) Grant required LEAs receiving additional ESSER III funds to raise the minimum per pupil amount to $578 or the minimum grant amount to $323,074 (or $200,000 for LEAs with fewer than 25 total pupils) to select the EBIS the LEA will implement or maintain using the ESSER III EBIS Grant and budget 100 percent of EBIS Grant funds for activities necessary to implement or maintain EBIS.
- Construction and Remodeling using Federal Funds
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Federal Procurement Standards 2 CFR 200 (Google document) includes information on specific dollar thresholds required for bidding. LEAs must have local written procedures that are set at or lower than these amounts when using federal funds.
Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Compliance and Federal Stimulus Funds (Google document)
Real Property Status Report (SF 429) Technical Assistance (Google document)
Recording a Notice of Federal Interest (NFI) Technical Assistance (Google document)
Real Property Presentation Video and Real Property Presentation Slides
The information on this web-page is available through June 30, 2031 for auditing purposes - any questions can be directed to essergrants@dpi.wi.gov