Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds
NC State Plan for the ARP ESSER Fund
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund provides nearly $122 billion to states to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic on the Nation's students by addressing students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Of this amount, NC received $3.6 billion.
The NC State Plan outlines how the state will implement the grant program and track its outcomes.
North Carolina ARP ESSER State Plan Conditions Removal Approval Letter 6.23.23 (signed)
ARP ESSER NC Plan 05-20-21 DRAFT
ARP ESSER NC Plan 06-24-21 Final
Reminders on ESSER Funded Construction Projects.
Covid Relief Monies can be used for construction, renovation, repairing and improving school facilities to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs.
As Public School Units begin to use these funds for projects, please remember to review and apply procurement and project related Uniform Guidance (UG), EDGAR and State procurement laws (for LEAs) and Capital Project Submittal and Review requirements. As a reminder, guidance related to the federal requirements and project submittal and review requirements can be found on the DPI COVID Fund page: Federal Requirements for Federally Funded Construction Activity Guide .
Some of the construction requirements from the EDGAR regulations noted in the guidance state the grantee must:
- Have title or other interest in the site, including right of access, that is sufficient to ensure that the grantee will have use and possession of the facility for 50 years or the useful life of the facility, whichever is longer;
- Consider the probable effects of proposed construction on any district, site, building, or structure that is included or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places;
- Ensure the construction is functional, economical, and not elaborate in design or extravagant in the use of materials as compared to other facilities in the State or other applicable geographic area;
- Ensure plans and designs for the facilities comply with applicable Federal, State and local health and safety standards, as well as Federal requirements regarding access by persons with disabilities;
- Ensure the grantee has sufficient operational funds to operate and maintain the facility once the construction is complete; and
- HVAC work must be in accordance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Please review the guidance for additional requirements. We will be discussing this topic at the NCASBO conference and will plan a future webinar as well. If any questions, please contact Shirley McFadden at Shirley.McFadden@dpi.nc.gov
Construction Management at Risk, Design Build Service Procurement and Federal Grant Funds
Uniform Guidance and the U.S. Department of Education will require competition and the consideration of price in procurement related to construction expenditures using ESSER funds. This requirement applies to the selection of a design-build services, surveying, and construction management at risk, and public-private partnership construction services. However, North Carolina General Statute § 143-64.31 requires the selection of these types of services based on competence and qualifications without consideration of price. Local Education Agencies and other State Agencies must follow this State statute in their procurement practices.
NC Department of Public Instruction is responsible for ensuring subrecipients expend federal grant funds in compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the expectations established by the U.S. Department of Education. Construction procurement practices using ESSER funding will need to comply with the established Uniform Guidance to be deemed an allowable cost. The procurement method will be considered noncompliant if DPI conducts a review and the LEA, or other State Agency, does not consider price in the procurement process. There are other options available for the procurement and delivery of construction projects that would be in compliance with State laws and the Uniform Guidance. Consider a discussion with your attorney to identify the best way to proceed with your procurement approach for construction projects.
Please contact Shirley McFadden at Shirley.McFadden@dpi.nc.gov , Monitoring and Compliance Manager, if there are any questions.
Architecture and Engineering Services and Federal Funds
Uniform Guidance allows for the selection of architecture and engineering services where price is not a selection factor. § 200.320 The non-Federal entity may use competitive proposal procedures for qualifications-based procurement of architectural/engineering (A/E) professional services whereby offeror's qualifications are evaluated and the most qualified offeror is selected, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation. The method, where price is not used as a selection factor, can only be used in procurement of A/E professional services. It cannot be used to purchase other types of services through A/E firms that are a potential source to perform the proposed effort.
ESSER Capital Expenses and Prior Approvals
Prior Written Approval Required for Capital Expenditures
The ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III Funds are subject to the Uniform Grants Guidance (Uniform Guidance) regulations. Uniform Guidance requirements state that capital expenditures for general purpose equipment (with a unit cost of $5,000 or more), buildings and land, including material improvements to buildings and land, are allowable as direct costs only with prior written approval of the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity, as found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in 2 CFR 200.439. Please ensure that your organization has identified planned capital expenditures in the allowable use table of the ESSER I, ESSER II, and/or ESSER III application. The approved plan gives DPI’s approval as to the allowability of what is presented in the plan. If plans change, and a capital expenditure need is identified after the application is approved, the application must be amended, and planned use of the funds must be approved prior to any funds being spent on a capital expenditure. Documentation of this approval should be maintained as support showing prior approval and allowability of the purchase as a direct cost of the program. Next steps should be followed as outlined below accordingly.
DPI Capital Project Submittal and Review Requirements After Allowability Approval
- A registered Architect and/or registered Engineer shall prepare the drawings and specifications in accordance with G.S. 133‐1 through 133‐4.1 and other applicable state requirements. Certain school projects may require NC DOI Code Review per G.S. 58-31-40.
- School Planning review is required per G.S. 115C-521(c). Submit design documents at appropriate phases of the design (SD/DD/CD). Construction expenditures may not proceed prior to completion of the review process.
- DPI Capital Project Submittal Form:
- DPI Capital Project Submittal Procedures:
- DPI Facility Design Guidelines:
- DPI School Science Facility Requirements:
- DPI School Facility Closing Procedures:
- For projects involving the demolition of an existing school building, follow the procedures noted above and submit the analysis required by G.S. 115C-521(c):
ESSER and Child Nutrition Funds
ESSER I, II, and III funds can be used for atypical child nutrition related expenses that are a result of COVID. With the additional child nutrition expenses associated with summer school due to COVID, there may also be eligible excess meal related expenses if the federal School Lunch Program and Breakfast Program reimbursement doesn’t cover the total cost. Things to remember when using these funds for child nutrition expenses:
- If your organization is considering using ESSER funds for child nutrition related purposes, please ensure your application has indicated this type of usage.
ESSER funds should not be used to cover the expenses that are already reimbursed through the Department of Agriculture School Lunch Program and Breakfast Program meal reimbursement revenue. To determine if there are excess costs associated with the meal costs and avoid duplicate payments, on a monthly basis the organization must:
Determine Current Actual Meal Expenditures
Less: Actual Meal Reimbursement Revenue (received in current month for the prior month)
Less: Meal Reimbursement Revenue Remaining from the prior month reconciliation
Equals: Excess Costs or Additional Meal Reimbursement Revenue
- Atypical child nutrition related expenses that are not allowable or typically reimbursed under the meal reimbursement revenue, can be directly charged to ESSER, if approved in the plan and funds are available.
The Child Nutrition Division can provide additional guidance related to the monthly reconciliation if needed and Federal Programs should be contacted for ESSER related questions.
ESSER/GEER FAQ for Allowable Uses-Released May 26th by US Dept. of ED
The Use of Funds FAQ document can be found on the following webpages:
American Rescue Plan ESSER Resources page:
Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) ESSER webpage:
ESSER II & III Webinar Updates-PRC 173 and 182
ESSER II and III Updates-July 7, 2021
ESSER II and III Recording link:
Password: Vc2UDHAm
ESSER II (PRC 171) Resources
COVID Funding Information Website
ESSER II and ESSER III Technical Assistance Webinar.pdf
ESSER II Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Link:
Password: fMAKYXh2
ESSER II (PRC 172) Supplementation Funds for Charters Resource
ESSER II PRC 172 Technical Assistance Webinar.pdf
ESSER II PRC 174 and PRC 176/177 CCIP Technical Assistance Webinar
ESSER II PRC 174 and PRC 176/177 Webinar PDF
ESSER II PRC 174 and PRC 176/177 Webinar Recording
Password: eKfweJA7
PRC 178 iReady/Competency Based Assessment (CBA) Funding
May 18 PRC 178 Webinar Recording:
Password: Nws3FVNr
PRC 178 Resource Files:
- NC-iready-summer-school-flyer 5.21.21.pdf
- PRC 178 Technical Assistance Webinar 5.21.21.pdf
- PRC 178 LEA Planning Allotments 5.21.21.pdf
ESSER III (PRC 181) Resources
COVID Funding Information Website
ARPA ESSER III Office of Elementary & Secondary Education Website
ARPA ESSER III Interim Final Rule Issued April 22, 2021-*IMPORTANT*
USED Releases Updated ARPA Information April 21, 2021
ESSER III Technical Assistance Webinar April 12 2021.pdf
FINAL_ARP_ESSER_FACT_SHEET (1)[4].pdf
Final ESSER Planning Guide-FPMS.docx
Final ESSER Planning Guide-FPMS.pdf
ESSER II & III Application Assignments.pdf
ESSER III Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Links:
Afternoon ESSER III Technical Assistance Webinar Recording
Password: Nvfm6mN7
Morning ESSER III Technical Assistance Webinar Recording
Password: 4Cc4UppP
ESSER III Fund
Maintenance of Equity (MoEquity)
Information from USED
NC Memo PDF
NC MoEquity Data
North Carolina LEAs exempt from MoEquity Testing:
"Highest quartile of schools in each North Carolina LEA by poverty:
North Carolina's ARP MoEquity Calculations:
School Operational Status
As part of American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) compliance requirements, metrics about the number of NC schools operating in remote, hybrid, or live-in-person modes will be provided on a regular basis.
LEA Return to in-person Instruction
NCDPI ESSER III District URLs for Return-to-School Plans_November 5, 2021
LEA Uses of Funds Plan
Please reference the videos below for additional resources to assist with the ESSER-GEER Monitoring Process.
ESSER-GEER Monitoring Instrument rev 9.8.22
ESSER-GEER Monitoring 2022-23 List of PSUs by Month
Notes on Sharing Documents for ESSER-GEER Monitoring 2022-23
Pre-monitoring Meeting Agenda 2022-23
2020-2024 Federal Programs ESSER-GEER Monitoring Four Year Cycle
Notice regarding CARES-ESSER Equitable Services, as of September 24, 2020:
Until more specific updated guidance can be provided here, please consult the weekly Federal Program Monitoring and Support Updates for recent information about changes in ESSER equitable servcies in the wake of the US Department of Education’s invalidated Interim Final Rules. For calculation of ESSER proportionate, please use the Title I tab of the Proportionate Share Calculator on our equitable services web page. (The ESSER allotment, instead of the Title I allotment should be used for the calculation.)
- CARES Act HR 748
- CARES Act Overview - 04.27.2020
- ESSER Application
- ESSER Training PowerPoint
- ESSER Application Checklist
- ESSER Example Applications
- NCDPI ESSER Early Learning Funding Guidance
- ESSER Collected Q and A
As of 9/29/20, information previously appearing here regarding CARES-ESSER Equitable Services has been removed. Updated information on this topic can now be found on DPI's equitable services web page.