Funding for Private Schools: Upgrade Your Learning Spaces with EANS Funds

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are still greatly impacting schools today, and federal funds from pandemic relief programs can be the key to recovery. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund allocated roughly $190 billion to K-12 schools across the country, with a focus on schools with the greatest need and the largest populations of underserved students. In addition to this emergency educational funding, Congress created a separate reservation of funds specifically for non-public schools, which is known as Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS). EANS can enable private schools to upgrade their learning spaces with EANS funds to help remediate educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

What is EANS?

Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools is a federally-funded relief program created to provide financial support to private and independent schools experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first round of EANS funding was allocated in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, then additional funding was allocated to the program in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). In total, EANS has provided $5.5 billion to eligible non-public schools through their State educational agencies (SEA).

Who Can Use EANS?

EANS funding is available to non-public elementary and secondary schools that are accredited or licensed nonprofit organizations and enroll a significant percentage of students from low-income families. Qualifying schools must have been in existence prior to March 13, 2020, and did not and will not apply for or receive a loan under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) after December 27, 2020.

Making an EANS Purchase Request

When requesting to build your learning spaces with EANS funding for your school, it’s important to provide data and documentation that validates the benefits of your intended purchases. Your SEA will prioritize funding for services and equipment that are recommended by the CDC, will halt learning loss and promote learning recovery, will improve student mental health, or will improve learning conditions for underserved student populations.

Using EANS Funding

EANS funding can be used for equipment, supplies, staff, and services that address pandemic learning loss and to prepare for or respond to COVID-19. Some of the ways your school can utilize EANS funding include**:

• Purchasing furniture that keeps students and staff safe and healthy in the classroom
  • Mobile furniture to improve social distancing in the classroom
  • Mobile marker boards to use as partitions for health and safety
  • Surfaces made of materials that can withstand regular cleaning and disinfection
  • Tray storage to keep students’ personal supplies separate
  • Modular, multipurpose furnishings to accommodate future challenges
• Purchasing or upgrading health and safety supplies and systems such as HVAC systems, air purifiers, and cleaning and disinfection supplies
• Investing in educational technology
• Hiring staff or school personnel to help recover learning loss and keep learning spaces safe and healthy
• Purchasing furniture and supplies that accommodate students with diverse learning needs and,
• Improving or expanding school transportation services for students

Obtaining funding through EANS can help non-public schools purchase, hire, and expand the supplies, equipment, staff, and services they need to address the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Investing this funding in learning space upgrades can help remediate learning loss and positively impact your school for years to come.

**It’s important to note that EANS purchases are subject to recall by your SEA after the deadline for these funds, though it’s unlikely this will occur.