Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Grant Program

About GEER EANS I

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which passed in December 2020, created the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant within the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) II Fund. The $2.75 billion program will provide funding for emergency assistance to nonpublic schools with $28,433,931 allocated to Colorado. 

Under this provision, state education agencies (SEAs) will administer the funds. Nonpublic schools can apply for these funds for “secular, neutral, and non ideological” services and assistance, including sanitization, personal protective equipment, COVID testing, educational technology, and connectivity. State education agencies must provide these services directly or under contract, and retain control of funds and title to equipment.  SEAs are required to prioritize services or assistance to nonpublic schools that enroll low-income students and are most impacted by the qualifying emergency.  The U.S. Department of Education issued an FAQ document (PDF) that provides additional information regarding this grant program. 

On Friday, Feb. 5, the Governor’s Office submitted Colorado’s application for the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant, which will bring close to $28 million to provide emergency Coronavirus relief for nonpublic schools in the state.  Under this program, nonpublic schools can apply for these funds for “secular, neutral, and non-ideological” services and assistance, including sanitization, personal protective equipment, COVID testing, educational technology, and connectivity. 

CDE was awarded funds on February 11, 2021.

About ARP EANS II

The American Rescue Plan Act, which passed in March 2021, created the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant within the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) III Fund. The $2.75 billion program will provide funding for emergency assistance to nonpublic schools with $28,709,729 allocated to Colorado. 

Under this provision, state education agencies (SEAs) will administer the funds. Nonpublic schools can apply for these funds for “secular, neutral, and non ideological” services and assistance, including sanitization, personal protective equipment, COVID testing, educational technology, and connectivity. State education agencies must provide these services directly or under contract, and retain control of funds and title to equipment.  SEAs are required to prioritize services or assistance to nonpublic schools that enroll low-income students and are most impacted by the qualifying emergency.  The U.S. Department of Education issued an FAQ document (PDF) that provides additional information regarding this grant program. 

On September 9, 2021 the Governor’s Office submitted Colorado’s application for the American Rescue Plan Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant, which will bring close to $28 million to provide emergency Coronavirus relief for nonpublic schools in the state.  Under this program, nonpublic schools can apply for these funds for “secular, neutral, and non-ideological” services and assistance, including sanitization, personal protective equipment, COVID testing, educational technology, and connectivity.

Governor's Additional Emergency Nonpublic School (GAENS)

Under the CRSSA Act, all unobligated EANS funds, totaling $12,201,900, were reverted to the Governor’s office on January 31, 2022. Of the $12,201,900 reverted funds, $2,000,000 is being re-awarded to CDE for the administering of the “Governor’s Additional Emergency Nonpublic School” (GAENS) program to assist with addressing learning loss caused by COVID-19 in non-public schools. 

Under this program, nonpublic schools can apply for these funds for “secular, neutral, and non-ideological” services and assistance that are in response to, in preparation for and or to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including sanitization, personal protective equipment, COVID testing, educational technology, and connectivity. All costs included in the application must be allowable, reasonable, and allocable to the grant purpose (i.e., necessary for the non-public school to respond to, prepare for, or prevent the spread of COVID-19). State education agencies must provide these services directly or under contract, and retain control of funds and title to equipment.

The application opens on September 23rd, 2022 and closes on October 21, 2022.