Allowable Uses of CARES Act - ESSER Funds for Private Schools
Private Schools can request their equitable share of ESSER Funds be used for:
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Any activity authorized by ESEA, IDEA, AEFLA, Perkins or McKinney Vento;
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Coordination of preparedness and response efforts to COVID-19;
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Providing principals and other school leaders with resources to address individual school needs;
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Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth, including outreach and service delivery;
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Procedures and systems to improve Private School’s preparedness and response efforts;
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Training and professional development for Private School staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious disease;
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Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean Private School facilities;
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Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including how to provide the following: meals, technology for online learning, guidance for carrying out IDEA requirements, and educational services consistent with applicable requirements;
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Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) for the Private School’s students;
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Providing mental health services and supports;
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Planning and implementing summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs;
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Nonpublic schools do not qualify as LEAs, therefore, the activity of maintaining LEA operations and services and employing existing LEA staff would not be considered an allowable activity for nonpublic schools.
For a full description of allowable activities, please see Section 18003(d) of the CARES Act. See the FAQ document for specific uses of funds on the DESE CARES Act webpage.