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ESSER III Rapid Request

ESSER III Rapid Request

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Rapid Request Application will be submitted through the Grants Administration Implementation and Navigation System (GAINS). 

An application webinar will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 10:00 am.

Overview of ESSER III Rapid Request

The ESSER III Rapid Request competitive grant allows LEPs to apply for award funding for: 

  1. Previously incurred ESSER-eligible expenses from FY2023-24 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) that were paid for from the LEP’s General Fund or another funding source, and/or 
  2. Intended future ESSER-eligible expenditures for FY2024-25 up to September 30, 2024 (July 1, 2024-September 30, 2024).   

Priority will be given to budget items that demonstrate they have been or will be directed towards student learning loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All activities must be obligated by September 30, 2024. 

ESSER III Rapid Request Process

Eligibility and Priority Criteria

Local Education Providers (LEPs) are eligible to apply for this opportunity. An eligible LEP is: 

  • A School District, 
  • A Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), 
  • A Charter School authorized by a School District, 
  • A Charter School authorized by the Charter School Institute, 
  • Administrative Units (AUs), 
  • Facility Schools, or 
  • Native Tribes. 

 Note: Applications will not be accepted from individual non-charter schools and must be authorized and submitted through the LEP. 

Charter Schools: Pursuant to C.R.S. 22-30.5-104 (11), a charter school may choose to apply apart from their authorizer for a competitive grant program created by a federal or state statute or program. The charter school is considered the LEP only for the purposes of applying and determining eligibility. A charter school’s authorizer will be the fiscal agent, if funded. 

  • A charter school that applies for a grant shall provide to its authorizing district: 
  • A copy of the grant application at the time the application is submitted to CDE; and 
  • If the charter school receives the grant moneys, a summary of the grant requirements, a summary of how the charter school is using the grant moneys, and periodic reports on the charter school’s progress in meeting the goals of the grant as stated in its application. 
  • If a charter school intends to apply for a grant that the school’s authorizing school district is also intending to apply for, the charter school shall seek to collaborate with the school district in the application and to submit the application jointly. If the charter school and the school district are unable to agree to collaborate in applying for the grant, the charter school may apply for the grant independently or in collaboration with other charter schools. 

Priority Criteria: Available grant funding will be distributed to Education Providers with school(s) demonstrating high need based on Priority Criteria. Priority will be given to the following: 

  • Budget items that were for previously incurred expenses from FY2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) and will be moved to this ESSER III Rapid Request grant award, if funded. 
  • Budget items that were or will be used for evidence-based student learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Budget items that were or will be used to specifically support underserved students disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including: low-income families, students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, students experiencing homelessness, children and youth in foster care, migratory students, newcomer students, and/or children who are incarcerated. 
  • Budget items that were or will be used on initiatives, programs, or other uses specifically addressing strengthening student engagement, student attendance, or used for student social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives. 
  • LEP applicants who had a total reduction in Titles 1-5 funding.

Available Funds and Duration of Grant

Approximately $3 million* is available for this grant program. Grants will be awarded for (1) reimbursing the awardee’s ESSER-eligible FY2023-24 expenses that were originally paid for using another funding source, and/or (2) for planned FY2024-25 budget items (up to September 30, 2024). A request for reimbursement for approved budget items must be submitted by November 15, 2024. 

*The amount available to award is subject to change based on revisions to awards of other ESSER III programs. 

Review Process and Timeline

Applications will be reviewed by CDE staff and peer reviewers to ensure they contain all required components. Applicants will be notified of final award status no later than June 30, 2024. 

 Note: This is a competitive process – applicants must score at least 16 points out of the 24 possible narrative points to be approved for funding. Applications that score below 16 points may be asked to submit revisions that would bring the application up to a fundable level. There is no guarantee that applying will result in funding or funding at the requested level. All award decisions are final. Applicants that do not meet the qualifications may reapply for future grant opportunities. 

Allowable Use of Funds

A Local Education Provider that receives a grant under the program shall use the monies for (1) reimbursement of any previously incurred FY2023-24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) ESSER-eligible expenses paid for out of the LEP’s General Fund or another funding source, and/or (2) for planned FY2024-25 ESSER-eligible expenditures (up to September 30, 2024). Priority will be given to LEPs with submitted budget items that were or will be used to remediate student learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those student populations most impacted by the pandemic. 

All costs must be (1) allowable under the ARP Act, (2) reasonable, (3) allocable and (4) necessary to respond to, prepare for, prevent the spread of COVID-19, or emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic. For questions related to ESSER allowable costs, refer to the ESSER allowable expenditures matrix

Funding may not be used for food, FTE beyond 9/30/2024, capital equipment, construction or any other contracted projects that would be subject to Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).  

Submission and Review Process

Applications must be completed and submitted through GAINS by June 13, 2024, at 5:00pm. 

Applications will be reviewed by CDE staff and peer reviewers to ensure they contain all required components. Applicants will be notified of final award status no later than June 30, 2024. 

Application Assistance

Program Questions:

Matt Koziol

Strategic Recovery Office Supervisor

Koziol_M@cde.state.co.us

Budget/Fiscal Questions:

Steven Kaleda

Grants Fiscal Management

Kaleda_S@cde.state.co.us

Application Process Questions:

Grants Program Administration Office

GAINS@cde.state.co.us