November 2024 ESSER Compass Bulletin

ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) 

ESSER Close-Out Process: In partnership with the district, the ESSER Team is closing out the ESSER Grant.  The aim of this process is to ensure district documentation and processing is in compliance with grant regulations and best accounting/grant management practices.  Thank you to the 154 districts who have already completed their full ESSER Closeout.  We greatly appreciate your working with us to ensure compliances are met. 

Please schedule and view the ESSER Close Out resources (video and pdf) before your meeting. Note this process is different than the E-Grants Final Expenditure Report (FER). It includes a full review of ESSER I, II & III Budget Pages and other relevant documentation. To schedule Close Out please contact Allison Agostino at allison.agostino@mt.gov. Please complete a Return Funds form if you are returning awarded funds for any reason.

• An email on ESSER spending and compliances for each District was sent in July to start the Close-Out Process.
• If you did not receive an email by July 15, 2024, check your spam and contact ESSER Meet the Team.

ESSER III Closeout Deadlines

• Cash Requests(final request for reimbursements) are due by October 25, 2024.
• Final Expenditure Reports(FERs) due by November 10, 2024.

ESSER Compliances (delays may occur in ESSER III if below are incomplete)

Thank you to all entities that have completed their ESSER Compliances.

• Self-Assessment is past due November 30^th, 2023.
• ESSER Budget pages detailing salaries and large projects/purchases 

ESSER System of Support includes 6 days/week via Zoom, phone, email, text, and in person.

• A Monthly District Status Report with allocation and remaining balance is posted on the OPI website.

ESSER III Funding Requests (expenditures, cash requests, request for reimbursements):

• Schools can NOT submit expenditures/Cash Requests embedded in Final Expenditure Reports (FER)
• Cash Requests are due by the 25^th of each month and paid on the following 10^th
• Cross-reference E-Grants Cash Requests and FERs with onsite accounting. Excel File provided by Corvallis Business Manager may be helpful: E-Grants Prep & Processing - Amendments & Cash Requests OPI Oct22 (pdf), (video), (Excel workbook)

ESSER III 20% Set-Aside - Schools cannot return Lost Instructional Time (LIT) funds

• Schools are required to spend 20% of ESSER III on Lost Instructional Time (LIT). 

OPI Posted Resources:  

• OPI ESSER webpage
• Department of Education ESSER FAQs
• All previous Compass newsletters (2021-22) (2023) (2024)
• The liquidation extension for CARES, CRRSA, has been extended to ARP (CCSSO Summary of DOE Liquidation, Department of Education FAQs for liquidation extensions and Template).

For further information please contact:

Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov  (406) 437-8595   

Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov (406) 437-4795

Allison Agostino, Project Communication Specialist at allison.agostino@mt.gov (406) 202-7685

Questions? Contact: 

Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov

Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov

The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.