State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Offers Update on Federal ESSER II Closeout
HELENA - Superintendent Arntzen is updating Montana school districts on the closeout of the federal COVID Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) II funds. There was over $170 million in federal ESSER II funds distributed to 402 school districts across Montana. All cash requests for the approximately $13 million remaining were due by October 25. A cash request is a reimbursement submitted to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for dollars spent by the district. All final expenditures are due by November 10. An expenditure is the item the cash request is for which has already been purchased.
“The federal COVID funds have many flexible uses that address teaching and learning, hiring, and building upgrades to water and air quality systems,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “I am Montana proud of the work our ESSER Team has done in holding multiple listening sessions and partnering with Montana school districts to ensure that the closeout of these federal dollars was completed in a timely fashion.”
In September, the US Department of Education provided an opportunity for school districts to extend the “liquidation” period for ESSER II funds. No Montana school districts have requested an extension. Over the past 30 days, 61 school districts have submitted 135 cash requests. Most districts have fully processed their ESSER II funds to meet the deadline.
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