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State superintendent warns sudden federal change threatens $137 million in pandemic school funds
Summary
Mississippi Department of Education officials told the State Board of Education that a U.S. Department of Education change to ESSER late-liquidation authority could leave districts with about $137 million in at-risk spending, including roughly $33 million already paid by the state and about $89.4 million on district books.
Mississippi State Superintendent Dr. Michael Evans told the State Board of Education on April 17 that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) had curtailed a previously granted extension for late liquidation of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, putting roughly $137 million of state and district spending at risk.
The superintendent said the department immediately began contacting districts and other officials after an April notification and is working to request reinstatement of the late-liquidation period. “We originally thought it was in the number of a 80,000,000, but it's a hundred and $37,000,211,” Dr. Evans said during the board meeting, adding that about $33 million represents funds the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has already distributed and $89,400,000 is on local districts’ books.
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