Florida Missed Deadlines to Receive $2.3B in ESSER Funds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is the last state to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Education that’s required before more than $2.3 billion in federal aid for Florida schools can be released, according to a letter sent to the state Monday.

The letter sent to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said the state Department of Education missed the deadline to release American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) money.

“The Department released the first two-thirds of each State’s allocation in March and required each State to submit its plan for spending its ARP ESSER funds by June. FDOE did not meet this deadline, nor did it meet the July and August submission timelines that were anticipated following conversations with your staff,” wrote Ian Rosenblum, the federal department’s deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs.

Rosenblum said the delay makes it harder for school districts to plan. Read the full article at https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/feds-florida-missed-deadline-to-receive-2-3b-in-school-aid.