The Fannin County School System will receive $721,600 in COVID-19 relief funds after the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) applied for and received $411,452,867 through the Education Stabilization Fund Program Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund.
This funding is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the federal stimulus aimed at COVID-19 relief.
“I am pleased that Georgia school districts will receive substantial funding through the CARES Act,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “My department worked to apply for these funds as soon as they were announced, and we remain committed to getting the funds to districts as quickly as possible, as we know the need is immediate. We will continue to pursue all possible funding avenues to help our school districts through the COVID-19 crisis and the related economic downturn.”
According to GaDOE, CARES Act funds are “flexible in nature,” and districts can use them for multiple efforts including distance/remote learning, school meals, supporting at-risk student populations, mental and physical health, supplemental learning, facilities/equipment, professional development and maintaining continuity of core staff and services. The funds can also be used to reimburse expenses retroactive to March 13, 2020, and do not expire until September 2022.
Fannin County Superintendent Dr. Michael Gwatney said Fannin County will use the funds to off-set costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
CARES Act allocations are based on Title I, Part A eligibility and funding, and school districts received an exact proportionate amount of their 2019-2020 Title I allocation. GaDOE was required by law to use this funding formula for CARES Act allocations.