Home & Private School COVID Funding

 *Home and private school and student numbers reflect the most recent data from the annual non-public school collection completed in October 2020.

What types of services or assistance may a non-public school receive? 

(Question D-1 from the Department of Education FAQ Document)

• Supplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities 
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 
• Improving ventilation systems, including windows or portable air purification systems
• Training and professional development for staff on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases 
• Physical barriers to facilitate social distancing
• Other materials, supplies or equipment recommended by the CDC for reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain health and safety 
• Expanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress the virus 
• Educational technology 
• Redeveloping instructional plans for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss 
• Leasing sites or spaces to ensure social distancing 
• Reasonable transportation costs 
• Initiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss
• Reimbursement for the expenses of any services or assistance described above that a non-public school incurred on or after March 13, 2020, except for services or assistance described in D-3. 

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May a non-public school receive reimbursement for COVID-19-related expenses? 

(Question D-2 from Department of Education FAQ Document)

Yes. A non-public school may request reimbursement in its application for expenses it has incurred or will incur for most allowable services or assistance. (See D-1). An SEA may reimburse a non-public school only for expenses for allowable services or assistance it incurred on or after March 13, 2020, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19, that have not already been reimbursed with Federal funds, including PPP. Reimbursements under the EANS program do not make non-public schools 11 recipients of Federal financial assistance. (See D-7). With respect to a request in a non-public school’s application for reimbursement of future services or assistance, the SEA should have a process in place to review the requested services or assistance to ensure that they are necessary, reasonable, and allowable under the CRRSA Act, and approve reimbursement to the non-public school. 

To maintain control over the EANS funds, the SEA must ensure that the non-public school’s expenditures are allowable expenses, that the non-public school has sufficient documentation supporting such expenditures, that the school actually received the services or assistance related to those expenditures, and that the SEA or another public agency gains title to materials, equipment, and property for which it provides reimbursement. For example, if a non-public school purchased laptops for students and teachers to facilitate online learning, the SEA may use EANS funds to purchase those laptops from the non-public school, thereby also obtaining title for the laptops from the non-public school. Provided these conditions are met, the SEA may continue to allow the laptops to be used by non-public school students and teachers.

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Are there otherwise allowable expenses for services or assistance for which an SEA may not reimburse a non-public school? 

(Question D-3 from Department of Education FAQ Document)

Yes. Although the following are allowable services or assistance under the EANS program, an SEA may not reimburse a non-public school for: 

• Improvements to ventilation systems (including windows), except for portable air purification systems, which may be reimbursed. 
• Any expenses reimbursed through a loan guaranteed under the PPP (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) prior to December 27, 2020. 
• Staff training and professional development on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. 
• Developing instructional plans, including curriculum development, for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss. 
• Initiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss. 

With the exception of expenses reimbursed through a PPP loan, while an SEA may not reimburse a nonpublic school for the above expenses, an SEA may provide these services or assistance direct.

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Timeline for EANS Funds

February 22 – Submit Montana certification and agreement to OESE

February 23 – Receive funding from OESE

March 2 – Bring website up with proposed program

March 2 – Initiate outreach to private schools and home school parents

March 24 – Open up applications from PNPs. Applications must be approved within 30 days.

June 1 – Suggested ending deadline for PNPs to apply for funds

August 23 – All EANS funds must be obligated by the OPI

September of 2023 – End of grant period