Nevada has received about $1.7 billion in federal funds to enhance student learning and support teachers since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. These funds aim to help schools bounce back from the shutdowns and changes that came with the crisis.
On January 8, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert shared details about these investments with the State Board of Education. The goal has been to prevent students from falling behind due to the pandemic. The money is meant to improve teaching and provide better resources in classrooms.
As of late 2024, around $18.1 million of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds remain unspent, according to the Nevada Department of Education’s tracker at www.nevadaesser.org.
Back in March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that provided direct payments and loans to individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic. Following this, the CRSSA was enacted in December 2020, further supporting education through emergency funds.
Nevada’s funding came in three rounds: ESSER I, ESSER II, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER funds. The first tranche, ESSER I, awarded Nevada $117 million, with 90% going directly to local schools. This money helped with online learning, buying cleaning supplies, and addressing learning loss.
By September 2021, nearly all ESSER I funds—98.7%—were utilized for professional development, teaching materials, and devices for students. The second round, ESSER II, allocated an additional $477 million to continue this support, especially for disadvantaged students. This funding had to be spent by September 2023 and supported various initiatives, such as DonorsChoose for classroom needs, mental health programs, and the NDE’s Portrait of a Graduate project.
The ARP ESSER funds represented the largest relief effort, with $122 billion available nationally, and Nevada received approximately $1.07 billion. These funds are set to be used by September 2024. So far, the state has spent about 98.8% of these funds on important projects like curriculum development and summer enrichment programs.
Superintendent Ebert noted that as we move into the new year, there will be no new projects accepted, emphasizing careful planning and intentional use of these resources to benefit students effectively.
