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Federal Stimulus Funds for Education

May 13, 2022

Relief Aid for Education

In 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three stimulus bills that provided nearly $279 billion as relief aid for education through the Education Stabilization Fund.

NCSL is tracking how states are using the Education Stabilization Fund and other stimulus funds to address education challenges.

Resources

State Stimulus Spending Trackers

State Stimulus Spending Analysis

Stimulus Bill Explainers

Podcast

Education Stabilization Fund Summary

The American Rescue Plan Act, passed on March 11, 2021, provided $166 billion through the Education Stabilization Fund, divided across three separate funds:

  • $122.7 billion to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief (ESSER) Fund.
  • $2.75 billion to billion to governors through the existing Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Program to provide services or assistance to non-public schools that enroll a significant percentage of low-income students and are most impacted by the qualifying emergency.
  • $40 billion to the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), passed on Dec. 27, 2020, provided an additional $82 billion through the Education Stabilization Fund, divided across three separate funds:

  • $54.3 billion to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief (ESSER) Fund.
  • $4.1 billion to the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.
  • $2.75 billion is reserved for relief for private schools.
  • $22.7 billion to the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed on March 27, 2020, provided $30.75 billion through the Education Stabilization Fund, divided across three separate funds:

  • $13.5 billion to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief (ESSER) Fund.
  • $3 billion to the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.
  • $14.25 billion to the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund.

NCSL will continue to track how states are spending additional stimulus funds provided by the CRRSA and ARPA.

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