Did you know that teachers have access to money from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes – there is still plenty of opportunity to receive education based funds!
I know – you might be thinking – that money has expired.
Well… we’re both right!

We have had clients utilize pandemic related education relief funds to pay for Challenge Discovery programs!

Here’s a little backstory.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020, the government passed the CARES Act.
Part of the CARES Act put $30.75 billion toward education stabilization.
Two of the categories of funding were the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (called ESSER) funds, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (called GEER) funds.
The first designated quantity of each was referred to as ESSER I and GEER I.
These quantities expired in September 2022.

That doesn’t mean you are out of luck!
Let’s continue.

Subsequently, in December 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was passed.
Within this – $82 billion was allocated toward education stabilization.
Thus was born the ESSER II and GEER II funds.
These funds don’t expire until this year – September 2023.

To finish our history lesson, in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was passed.
It put forward the highest of the three, $122 billion toward education stabilization.
Thus was born ESSER III.
These funds don’t expire until September 2024.

If you want to see more specific information on this – take a look at this page via the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE):
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/programs-services/federal-programs/federal-pandemic-relief-programs

Why does this matter??

Our clients are always excited about including programming that involves social and emotional learning.
Teachers are typically in heavy support of teaching the WHOLE CHILD, not just the core curricular subjects.
But paying for these opportunities is always the challenge.

We have had clients use this type of funding to participate in Challenge Discovery programs!

The difficult part is that every school, county and district approaches the dissemination of the funds differently.
The only advice that can be offered at this point is to ask around!
Here are some people to ask:

• School level administrators (Principal or Assistant Principal)
• District or County level supervisors
• County level specialists (eg. music specialist, math specialist)

This type of funding opportunity is not going to be around every school year!
Give us a call at 804-876-9733 to learn more about our pricing, and sign up for a program that will help develop the social and emotional skills of your students!