Stimulus Funds and Non-Public Schools

The new stimulus bill, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA), earmarks $2.75 billion for non-public schools. Here’s what non-public schools can anticipate from the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) program.

How funds will be distributed:

Within 30 days of receiving the EANS funds, State Education Agencies will release an application so that non-public schools can apply for services or assistance. Find out how much your State will receive here.

Who is eligible:

Non-public elementary or secondary schools that are non-profit, accredited/licensed, and existed before March 13, 2020. In order to be eligible, non-public schools must provide an assurance they did not, and will not, apply for a PPP loan.

States must prioritize non-public schools serving students from low-income families and are most impacted by COVID-19.

How EANS funds can be used:

• Cleaning schools, PPE, training on sanitation


• Improving ventilation


• Physical barriers for social distancing, including leasing space


• Coronavirus testing and contact tracing


• Education technology for remote/hybrid learning (hardware, software, connectivity)


• Redeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development


• Initiating and maintaining education and support services for remote/hybrid learning


• Remediating learning loss


• Reimbursement for allowable expenses incurred after March 13, 2020

Download our Guide to Federal COVID-19 Relief Bills for K-12 Education

Who is eligible:

Non-public elementary or secondary schools that are non-profit, accredited/licensed, and existed before March 13, 2020. In order to be eligible, non-public schools must provide an assurance they did not, and will not, apply for a PPP loan.

States must prioritize non-public schools serving students from low-income families and are most impacted by COVID-19.

How EANS funds can be used:

• Cleaning schools, PPE, training on sanitation


• Improving ventilation


• Physical barriers for social distancing, including leasing space


• Coronavirus testing and contact tracing


• Education technology for remote/hybrid learning (hardware, software, connectivity)


• Redeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development


• Initiating and maintaining education and support services for remote/hybrid learning


• Remediating learning loss


• Reimbursement for allowable expenses incurred after March 13, 2020

Download our Guide to Federal COVID-19 Relief Bills for K-12 Education

Who controls the funds?

The legislative language is clear that non-public schools are applying for services or assistance. The actual funding, as well as title to materials purchased, will remain in control of a public agency. Provision of services or assistance must be independent of the non-public school. All services, assistance, equipment, and materials must be secular, neutral, and non-ideological.

What does this mean for Equitable Services?

Local Education Agencies are required to offer equitable services to non-public school students with funding from the CARES Act. However, districts are not required to provide equitable services to non-public schools with funding from the second stimulus (CRRSA).

The Savvas Funding Team has put together a handy Guide to Federal COVID-19 Relief Bills for K12 Education

Read Grace Stopani’s blog on the CARES vs Second Stimulus: What’s Different for K-12?

Note: Fresh Ideas for Teaching blog contributors have been compensated for sharing personal teaching experiences on our blog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer or company.