P.O. Box 202501 • Helena, MT 59620-2501
Putting Montana Students First
On March 24, 2021, the Montana OPI received from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Funds, authorized under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The ARP-ESSER provides $382,019,236 (ESSER III) for Montana schools to safely reopen and sustain safe operations of schools while meeting the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the third round of ESSER funding that Montana has received and is available through September 2024.
Broadband Survey for Schools
ESSER ARP Summer Enrichment Grant Info
ESSER ARP Afterschool Grant Info
ARP-HCY Homeless Grant Information
Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director, 406-437-8595
Meet the ESSER / EANS Team
On August 5th, the U.S. Department of Education approved the ARP ESSER State Plan for Montana that the OPI had submitted on June 7th. This action allows the OPI to begin transferring the remaining one-third of the ESSER III Fund balance to school districts. It also gives the OPI an approved roadmap for helping our great Montana schools use this large influx of Federal funding to innovate and improve instruction for our Montana students. Our plan recognizes local control, removes obstacles and barriers for schools, and enhances accountability without being overly burdensome.
DOE ESSER Chart Fact Sheet for CARES (I), CRRSA (II), and ARP (III)
ESSER CARES (I) Guidance
DOE Mode of Equity FAQ and Chart February 2022
DOE Mode of Equity FAQ August 2021
DOE Mode of Equity FAQ June 2021
DOE Construction and Late Liquidation Letter May 2022
CCSSO memo on ESSER Funds for Construction December 2021
DOE Construction Slides September 2, 2021
DOE Staffing Labor Shortages April 14, 2021
DOE DUN UEI Fact Sheet May 2022
ESSER II Grant Guidelines
ESSER II Guidance Document
ESSER III Guidance Document
NEW! Enrollment Increases Allocation
ESSER Funds Review
Please see the following link for Frequently Asked Questions about how funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, including the American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER program, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund may be used in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students in pre-K-12 education.
ESSER and GEER Use of Funds FAQ
Montana OPI ARP-ESSER State Plan (submitted to USED on June 7, 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions from the U.S. Department of Education on ARP Act Section 2004 (b) and (c) Maintenance of Equity Guidelines
MT OPI FAQs for Montana LEAs (as of June 8, 2021)
ESSER Consolidated Training (May 13, 2021) - Video Recording | Access Passcode: WW@9syH#
ARP Q&A Session 1 (June 8, 2021) - Slide Deck and Video Recording
US Department of Education Fact Sheet: Section 2014 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Sample Responses
Application to USED for ARP-EHCY
Guidance for ARP-EHCY I Funded Homeless Program
ARP-EHCY Intent to Apply Email
ESSER Construction & Capital Expenditures Video
NEW! ESSER Frequently Asked Questions- Use of Funds for Student Transportation
August 2022 - ESSER Monthly Report
Preparing and Participating in a Desk Audit
ESSER Criteria and Data Points
ESSER Criteria and Data Points Response Sheet
ESSER Monitoring Point of Contact Final
MT OPI ESSER Internal Control and Subrecipient Monitoring Plan