State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Hosts Conference on Federal Covid Dollar Usage
HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is hosting a free Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds Management Conference on August 9, 2022. This conference will aid our Montana public schools in finding solutions to utilize and spend their federal ESSER dollars. Help will be given in processing applications, documentation, reporting, and more. To register and view the agenda for this free conference please click here. The conference will take place online from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
“The transparent and responsible use of these federal taxpayer dollars to invest in our public schools is a high priority,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Never in Montana’s history have schools been given an extra $605 million to spend on student learning opportunities! Join us in this state and local conversation to offer great insights into supporting safety and innovation in our classrooms.”
ESSER funds may be used for but are not limited to:
- Physical and mental health support for students
- Professional development for school and district staff
- Repairs and improvement of school facilities
- Learning resources such as educational technology
- Afterschool and summer learning opportunities
The federal ESSER dollars are divided into three rounds with different timeframes for expending funds.
- The first round of $41 million must be fully spent by September 30, 2022.
- The second round of $170 million must be fully expended by September 30, 2023.
- The third round of $382 must be fully expended by September 30, 2024.
As of June 15, 2022, only 82% of the first round of funds have been spent. Any funds that have not been expended must be sent back to the federal government. Districts shall include ESSER funds in their annual budget reports through the Montana Automated Education Financial and Information Reporting System (MAEFAIRS). School districts use this system to report their Trustee Financial Summary (TFS) and district budgets. All school districts and special education co-ops report their TFS. The TFS shows what dollars have been spent during the previous year. District TFS and budgets must be reported to the Office of Public Instruction by September 15, 2022.