During its 2025 regular legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly made a number of changes to how the State funds special education, including the creation of a new formulaic grant to support special education services.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund was created by Congress in March 2020 to help states and school districts throughout the country combat the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students and K-12 education. This infographic breaks down the federal ESSER funding the State of Connecticut and its school districts have been awarded under the three COVID-19 relief packages passed by Congress.
This frequently asked questions document covers the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the federal aid it has provided to states and school districts as part of the stimulus and relief packages passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This policy briefing provides an overview of the process state education agencies and local education agencies must follow to access their allocated Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund dollars under each of the federal coronavirus relief and stimulus acts.
On December 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed Public Law 116-260, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), which is the second stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This policy briefing outlines the amounts and eligible uses of education aid provided by the CRRSA Act to states, analyzes how the CRRSA Act compares to the CARES Act, and details how the CRRSA Act impacts education in Connecticut.
On March 27, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion package that provides emergency financial assistance to: individuals; state, local, and tribal governments; nonprofit organizations, including healthcare providers; and for-profit businesses. This policy briefing and FAQ document summarize the provisions of the CARES Act that impact elementary and secondary education in the United States, and details the $138.8 million the State of Connecticut is due to receive from the federal government in formulaic grant assistance to help the State and local educational agencies (LEAs) respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.