Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, 2021 provides $2.75 billion for the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, which is part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. (See below for more information on the key differences between CRRSA EANS and ARP EANS). Under the EANS program, the Department will award grants by formula to each Governor with an approved Certification and Agreement to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address the impact that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on non-public school students and teachers in the State.

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It is a $1.9 trillion package of assistance measures, including $2.75 billion for the American Rescue Plan’s Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (ARP EANS) program. These funds are available to Governors under the ARP EANS program to provide services or assistance to non-public schools that enroll a significant percentage of low-income students and are most impacted by the qualifying emergency. On July 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education posted final requirements here regarding the implementation of ARP EANS. Under the ARP EANS program, the Department will award grants by formula to each Governor with an approved application to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address the impact that the COVID-19 emergency has had, and continues to have, on non-public school students and teachers in the State.

On September 17, 2021, the Department released an updated set of Frequently Asked Questions: Frequently Asked Questions EANS Program as authorized by the CRRSA Act and the ARP Act. The document contains revisions to the Purpose of the Document, 23 updated FAQs, and 19 new FAQs.