An additional deadline on $1.9 billion of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER3) public education funds has school boards scrambling to encourage Missouri legislatures to pass legislation distributing the money by the March 2022 deadline.

Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy informed the board of education on Nov. 15 that the additional deadline would need to be met, according to the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA).

“By now, our members are aware that this money must be expended by September. 2024,” the MASA wrote in a press release. “On Nov. 2, our office was made aware of an additional deadline regarding ESSER3.” 

Federal regulation/guidance dictates that if ESSER3 funds are not awarded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by March 24, 2022, the funds will revert back to the federal treasury for redistribution to other states. DESE cannot formally award the funds until they are appropriated by the legislature.

MASA indicated that the governor and key legislative leaders are aware and are developing a plan to appropriate said funds before the deadline expires in four months. However, they are encouraging school boards across the state to take action.

“It is important for you to reach out to your state legislators to make them aware of the approaching deadline,” MASA wrote. “This will help ensure when they return for the legislative session in January, they are fully aware of the situation and can move quickly to appropriate these funds.”