KDE: 5/19/20 Press Release
(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) released a new guidance document May 19 about the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to help districts decide how best to spend the funding designed to help districts respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ESSER Fund was authorized by Section 18003 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency aid to states. The KDE received $193,186,874 – 90% of which is to be distributed to local education agencies (LEAs) to support their crisis response efforts.

The document “COVID-19 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Guidance for LEAs” – provides guidance for schools and districts on how to evaluate their needs. LEAs should remain mindful that the ESSER Fund is an emergency fund meant to overcome barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be used for regular, recurring expenses. Some of the items that ESSER funds may be used for include coordinating and preparing for response efforts, training on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases, purchasing cleaning and sanitizing products, as well as activities to address the needs of certain groups of students such as low-income, English learners and racial and ethnic minorities…. Continue Reading