American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding must be obligated by September 30, 2024, and liquidated by January 28, 2025.

The U.S Department of Education (ED) has announced a process for school districts and state education agencies to request extensions for liquidating/spending nearly $130 billion in federal ESSER III pandemic aid. In a letter sent to state education agencies outlining the extension process,  the Department is encouraging ARP ESSER III grantees to highlight investments in three of the evidence-based strategies that can significantly contribute to improved student performance:

  • increasing access to before-school, afterschool, summer learning and extended learning time
  • increasing daily student attendance
  • providing high-quality tutoring

State agencies, school districts and other subrecipients of ESSER III funding can request up to 14 months extension, on a case by case basis, for liquidation of funds. This is not a blanket extension and the Department has released a template form for state agencies to request the extra time on behalf of state agencies and districts, as well as a new frequently asked questions resource. Learn more on our blog . Explore the full background of the American Rescue Plan on our website.

Sustainability and funding

The Afterschool Alliance estimates more than $10 billion in ARP funding was used to support afterschool and summer learning programs for 5 million additional students. Learn strategies to sustain these programs after the September 2024 obligation deadline on the Sustainability & Federal Pandemic Funding page.

Impact of ARP Funding

Explore the research

MAP

Learn about how afterschool and summer learning programs are using pandemic relief funds with our map, City, State, and School District Investments in Afterschool and Summer Learning. This map shows hundreds of examples of state and local agencies are investing these critical funds into afterschool and summer learning programs.

REPORT
Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts' Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities

This report analyzes data from more than 6,300 school districts’ ARP ESSER spending plans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and reflects insights from interviews with school district staff and program providers.

FACT SHEET
Investments in Student Recovery: 5 Facts about High-Poverty School Districts’ Pandemic Relief Spending on Afterschool and Summer Programs

This fact sheet examines high-poverty school districts’ spending of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds on afterschool and summer programming.

FACT SHEET
5 Facts about Rural School Districts’ Pandemic Relief Spending on Afterschool and Summer Programs

This fact sheet takes a closer look at if and how rural school districts have allocated their American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds toward afterschool and summer programming.

FACT SHEET
Using American Rescue Plan Funds For Afterschool And Summer Programs

This fact sheet describes the impact of American Rescue Plan (ARP) investments in afterschool and summer learning programs, along with what funds are still available and next steps for these programs as we approach the end of the funding period.

SPOTLIGHTS
Chickasaw City Schools: Braiding pandemic relief funds to enhance afterschool and summer programming

This spotlight takes a closer look at one school district in Alabama that braided federal pandemic relief funds with 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding to address afterschool teacher retention and expand the type of afterschool and summer activities offered to students.

SPOTLIGHTS
Tuscaloosa City Schools: Braiding pandemic relief funds to support a district-wide summer of learning

This spotlight takes a closer look at one school district in Alabama that braided federal pandemic relief funds with funds from their city and 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding to scale up their summer learning programs.

SPOTLIGHT
Pandemic Relief Funds Expand Supports for Underserved Students

This spotlight dives deep into how St. Louis Park Public Schools in Minnesota used American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ARP ESSER) to expand support and opportunities for underserved students in afterschool and summer programs. It also provides strategies that program providers can use to replicate their success.

SURVEY DATA
Afterschool Program Provider Survey

Starting in the spring of 2020, the Afterschool Alliance commissioned a series of surveys of parents and afterschool and summer program providers to monitor the state of the afterschool field. The surveys examine topics ranging from the barriers parents face accessing afterschool programs to the resources providers report are most needed to better support their students and families.

SURVEY DATA
Then and Now: A Retrospective on the Afterschool in the Time of COVID-19 survey series

This dashboard provides an overview of the afterschool field’s changing landscape as it responded to the immediate needs of the children and families they served.

SURVEY DATA
Afterschool Programs Support Learning Recovery But Struggle with Staffing and Program Costs

This survey of 1,116 afterschool program providers, conducted between October 31 and December 5, 2023, finds that afterschool programs are keeping young people connected, engaged, and inspired, but also continue to face challenges largely due to staffing and program costs.