Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

Colorado received a historic infusion of $1.8 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds to support students, families and educators. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, known as ESSER, was allocated in three installments – March 2020, December 2020 and March 2021 and was designed to help schools and communities respond to the pandemic and recover from lost learning opportunities.

ESSER I, II & III Funding and Timelines

Chart with time frame showing March 2020 to September 2024. ESSER 1: $120,993,846 Addressing the immediate health and operational challenges of education students. Spending Deadline: Sept. 30, 2022. $108,850,808 (99.96% Distributed to LEAs) $11,483,070 (10% State Reserve) ESSER 2: $519,335,311 Supporting safe operation of schools for students and educators. Spending Deadline: Sept. 30, 2023. $467,391,880 (90% Distributed to LEAs) $49,335,810 (10% State Reserve) ESSER 3: $1,167,153,961 Recovering from lost learning opportunities Spending Deadline: September 30, 2024. $1,050,438,565 (90% distributed to LEAs) $110,879,627 (10% State Reserve)

ESSER Funds Distributed

As of March 20, 2023

Common Uses of ESSER Funds

View Common Uses of ESSER Funds Data Table

ESSER Fund	Activities to Address Learning Loss	Other Instructional Programming	Preparedness and Response Efforts	Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies	Summer Learning & Supplemental Afterschool Programs	Other Support Programs	Educational Technology	Facility Repairs and Improvements	Improving Indoor Air Quality	Mental Health Services & Supports	Other Administration Activities	Remote Learning Supports	Evidence-based Activities to Meet Comprehensive Needs of Students	Supports for Students with Disabilities	Cleaning & Sanitization Supplies	Other Improvements of Instructional Services	Other Activities Necessary to Maintain Operation and Continuity of Services	Professional Learning Related to Remote Learning	Staff Training on Sanitation	Improvement of Secondary and Postsecondary Career and Technical Education	Discretionary Funds for Principals	Administering High Quality Assessments	Planning for Long-Term School Closures	Tracking Student Attendance and Improving Student Engagement	Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness	Supports for Adult Education and Family Literacy
ESSER I Total	-	$17,252,936	$12,761,079	$11,468,164	$2,669,575	$19,029,796	$8,996,424	-	-	$4,103,530	$1,073,601	$21,800,648	-	$533,649	$3,382,315	$269,711	-	$622,436	$926,733	-	$489,679	-	$385,447	-	-	-
ESSER II Total	$58,007,572	$81,591,717	$45,224,937	$34,263,066	$29,534,008	$41,409,411	$22,463,230	$38,303,493	$11,343,541	$20,387,104	$47,20648	$33,962,833	$3,553,494	$8,525,543	$3,910,072	$288,972	$632,051	$3,112,142	$539,349	$398,706	$982,281	$1,265,302	$696,851	$1,011,364	$45,449	-
ESSER III Total	$283,631,812	$64,582,077	$96,547,587	$95,363,608	$88,138,354	$41,598,893	$46,880,232	$40,015,242	$62,603,312	$42,817,444	$59,080,376	-	$38,629,244	$19,231,003	$7,260,383	$7,654,312	$3,108,198	-	$1,022,524	$1,379,619	-	-	$169,353	-	-	$40,000
Total	$341,639,384	$163,426,730	$154,533,603	$141,094,838	$120,341,937	$102,038,100	$78,339,886	$78,318,735	$73,946,853	$67,308,078	$64,874,625	$55,763,481	$42,182,738	$28,290,195	$14,552,770	$8,212,995	$3,740,249	$3,734,578	$2,488,606	$1,778,325	$1,471,960	$1,265,302	$1,251,651	$1,011,364	$45,449	$40,000

ESSER Public Data Reports

Each state that receives ESSER funding under the ARP Act must publicly post and regularly update data on how students are learning (i.e., mode of instruction), including for student groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESSER Public Data Reports page provides an overview of the enrollment and attendance of Colorado schools by mode of instruction (i.e., in-person, online, or hybrid). Learn more about ESSER Public Data Reports