Description

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides substantial relief to students and educators who have been profoundly affected by the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, the US Department of Education (USED) awarded a grant to the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs) with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID–19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools in South Carolina. This includes both continuing to provide educational services, such as remote learning, while schools and campuses are closed, and developing and implementing plans for the return to normal operations.

Program Office

Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Eligible Applicants

Public South Carolina school districts/LEAs

Total Funding Available

 Approximately $194,680,042 will be available for subgrants in this 2020 funding period.

Funding Detail

One subgrant per LEA (i.e., school district) will be awarded. By law, award amounts will be determined based on the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Title I methodology. Please see the table on page 20 of the Application Guidance Part I for the LEA allocations.

Project Term

 March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2022

Application Window

Opens June 2, 2020

Technical Assistance Session

The SCDE’s Office of the State Superintendent provided a pre-application technical assistance (TA) session on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. The session consisted of an overview of the CARES Act and ESSER Program Requirements, a review of the Application Package and Instructions, the SCDE’s Grants Accounting Processing System (GAPS) and new procedures, and Auditing information. Use the hyperlinks below to access the recording and to download the presentation handout.

CARES Act ESSER TA Session Recording
CARES Act ESSER TA Session Presentation Handout (PDF, 1.68mb - 6/2/2020)

Contact

Dr. John R. Payne
Deputy Superintendent
SCESSER@ed.sc.gov

Documents

Applicant Guidance Part I - Purpose and Requirements (DOCX, 404kb - 6/2/2020 )
Applicant Guidance Part II - Application and Form Instructions (DOCX, 919kb - 6/2/2020)
Online Application
SC CARES ESSER Spending Plan (PDF, 1.64mb - 5/29/2020)
SC CARES ESSER Certification Signature Page (PDF, 1.44mb, - 5/29/2020)
Non-Public School Consultation Form (DOCX, 135kb - 6/1/2020) - Deadline: 7/31/2020

Program Web Page

ESSER Funding Information