ESSER is over—but not totally gone. Spending authority ended, but “late liquidation” approvals were restored. Many states/districts can keep liquidating approved costs into March 30, 2026 if their state has secured late-liquidation permission. Don’t assume money is dead just because September 2024 passed; there may be runway to close out projects correctly. K-12 Dive+2Forvis Mazars+2
Connectivity & cybersecurity are heating up. E-Rate now explicitly supports Wi-Fi on school buses, and the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot is seeding dollars and evidence for a longer-term funding path. Universal Service Administrative Company+4Federal Communications Commission+4Federal Communications Commission+4
Big competitive programs continue. The U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research (EIR) competition is active for FY2025, and Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) continues to scale integrated academic/social-health services; states also subgrant Stronger Connections dollars for school climate and safety. U.S. Department of Education+3Federal Register+3U.S. Department of Education+3
Non-ED federal dollars matter more than ever. EPA’s Clean School Bus rebates remain sizable; USDA’s Distance Learning & Telemedicine and other rural programs are active for 2025; NSF’s STEM K-12 opportunity is open. NSF - National Science Foundation+4US EPA+4US EPA+4
Core formula funding persists—even as politics churn. Title I, IDEA, and other formula streams continue (with contentious budget proposals for FY26 in play). Leaders should track state allocations and congressional moves, but also keep maximizing the status quo rules of Title I/IDEA. afterschoolalliance.org+4U.S. Department of Education+4U.S. Department of Education+4
“Post-ESSER, the winners will be the districts that treat grants like a portfolio, not a one-time rescue.” — Charlie Isham, CEO, K12 Data
Grant makers want proof of impact and plans to sustain it after the grant. Programs such as EIR explicitly prioritize strong evidence and scaling plans; FSCS funds comprehensive “whole-child” pipelines—academics and social-health supports—on a multi-year arc. Federal Register+1
What this means in practice
Tie literacy, math, and attendance interventions to concrete outcome targets and pre-agree on data sources.
Build sustainability logic: which costs shift to Title I, IDEA, Medicaid, or local funds in Year 3–4?
E-Rate can now support Wi-Fi on buses (eligible as Category One internet access), and the Cybersecurity Pilot is underwriting advanced firewalls, identity protection, and more—explicitly to gather evidence and potentially inform future permanent eligibility. Universal Service Administrative Company+2Federal Communications Commission+2
What to do
Add rolling bus Wi-Fi to your connectivity strategy (credit-recovery, after-school riders, rural routes).
Prepare a cybersecurity baseline (asset inventory, risk register, controls) so you’re “grant-ready” the next cycle.
The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has been awarding hundreds of millions to electrify fleets; districts that pair buses with workforce/CTE and community air-quality outcomes are especially compelling. US EPA+1
What to do
Align CSB applications with workforce pathways (EV tech, energy management) and health outcomes (asthma reduction).
Consider bundling depots, chargers, and power management into a broader facilities modernization narrative.
USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine grants are funding high-quality remote instruction and tele-mental-health reaching high schools and feeder schools. NSF’s STEM K-12 is backing scalable STEM learning designs. Rural Development+2Simpler Grants+2
What to do
Build regional consortia (one “hub” + multiple end-user sites) that share advanced coursework or counselors.
Use a dual-credit angle—colleges and districts partnering to close course gaps is persuasive to USDA reviewers. Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Short answer: no—but the shape of opportunity changed.
ESSER: The emergency fire hose ended, but the late-liquidation lifeline remains for previously approved costs (through March 30, 2026, depending on state approvals). Many states had to reapply after a federal wobble; ED has now directed states to resume liquidating approved funds. If you left eligible costs stranded, you may still land them. K-12 Dive+2Forvis Mazars+2
Formula programs (Title I/IDEA): Despite FY26 budget fights (proposed Title I cuts on one side; level or modest increases on the other), Title I and IDEA remain the bedrock of district finance. They can carry personnel, interventions, and special education services when one-time funds fall away. Stay close to your state’s allocations and federal updates. K-12 Dive+3U.S. Department of Education+3U.S. Department of Education+3
Competitive programs: EIR, FSCS, Stronger Connections and others are active. The 2025 EIR Mid-phase Notice Inviting Applications is out now; FSCS continues to run cycles. Stronger Connections is administered by states—watch your SEA. Federal Register+2U.S. Department of Education+2
Non-ED sources: EPA, USDA, FCC/USAC, and NSF are underwriting big chunks of what districts need (transportation, broadband, cybersecurity, STEM). NSF - National Science Foundation+4US EPA+4US EPA+4
“We’re not in a funding desert; we’re in a funding puzzle. Districts that stitch federal, state, philanthropic, and private dollars together—backed by good data—are thriving.” — Charlie Isham
Attendance & re-engagement
Chronic absenteeism is still elevated in many systems; funders want credible re-engagement strategies (family liaisons, tele-mentoring, wraparound supports). The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) flagged absenteeism and tech’s role as priority research questions for FY2025 grants, signaling where evidence (and future dollars) are headed. Institute of Education Sciences
Student mental health & safety
States are still pushing out Stronger Connections (BSCA) subgrants for climate, safety, and mental-health supports; FSCS braids services across agencies. Pair SEL/behavior interventions with community-based providers in your narrative. U.S. Department of Education+1
AI & high-impact tutoring (HIT)
Districts are combining interventionists with adaptive tools. While there isn’t a single “AI grant,” EIR and state innovation funds increasingly tolerate (or invite) tech-enabled models when paired with solid evaluation.
College/career pathways
Perkins V state plans, state CTE/Pathways grants, and rural EIR projects all point to CTE + dual-credit + work-based learning. Strengthen employer MOUs and credential maps.
Connectivity & cybersecurity
Think beyond classroom Wi-Fi: add bus Wi-Fi, device onboarding security, and identity management (SSO/MFA) to your next E-Rate + cybersecurity submissions. Universal Service Administrative Company+1
Transportation modernization
Electrification is a facilities and instruction story—bus tech can anchor CTE pathways while cleaner air improves student health outcomes. EPA rebates are still large. US EPA
K12 Data equips vendors and organizations selling into schools with accurate contacts and segmentation (leaders, program owners, funding influencers). That same infrastructure helps district teams source partners and letters of support fast—a frequent bottleneck in competitive grants. See recent posts on how the two platforms interplay and on educator retention:
“How K12 Data and Peertopia Are Redefining Education Marketing and Hiring” (K12 Data blog). K12 Data
“Understanding K-12 Educator Attrition … and How K12 Data + Peertopia Can Help” (K12 Data blog). K12 Data
How districts use it for grants
Find ideal partners (tele-health, tutoring, STEM vendors) by region and evidence track record; secure MOUs/LOIs quickly for FSCS/EIR/USDA proposals.
Map decision networks—who signs off on buses (EPA), who owns E-Rate, who leads MTSS—so your timeline and budget narrative match real approval paths.
Target stakeholder letters (employers, CBOs, higher ed) with clean lists, raising your competitiveness.
Peertopia is a marketplace/community that helps hire and support educators (and classified staff) quickly, and helps educators connect and share practice. In a tight labor market, grants that depend on staffing (tutors, mental-health providers, bus techs) fall apart if you can’t fill roles; Peertopia shortens that runway and sustains teams through peer support. peertopia.com
How districts use it for grants
Talent plan inside the proposal: show how you’ll source specialized staff (bilingual paras, EV bus techs, cybersecurity analysts) and retain them via mentoring and professional communities.
Faster launch after award: fill positions on time, hit Year-1 milestones, and protect your continuation funding.
Exploit late-liquidation smartly
Audit prior ESSER-approved commitments; if your state has late-liquidation authority, schedule drawdowns through March 30, 2026 and finish projects cleanly (e.g., edtech renewals, evidence evaluations, PD). K-12 Dive+1
Rebalance to formula funds you already control
Title I: Position your biggest-bang interventions (HIT, literacy coaching, attendance teams) inside Title I schoolwide plans. U.S. Department of Education
IDEA: Shift appropriate specialized staffing and assistive tech to Part B where allowable, aligning IEP service delivery and maintenance-of-effort realities. CEC
Braid non-ED dollars
EPA Clean School Bus for transportation + career pathways; USDA DLT for rural tele-learning/tele-mental health; E-Rate/Cybersecurity Pilot for network hardening. Build one narrative across multiple applications. US EPA+2Simpler Grants+2
Pursue competitive anchors
Make EIR your R&D spine (evidence + scale), FSCS your community pipeline, and Stronger Connections your climate/safety accelerator via the state SEA process. Federal Register+2U.S. Department of Education+2
Reframe staffing as a grant-worthiness signal
Funders increasingly ask, “Can you actually implement?” Show hiring pipelines, retention supports, and realistic timelines. This is where Peertopia helps (recruitment + peer supports) and K12 Data accelerates partnerships and vendor capacity statements. K12 Data+1
Document outcomes obsessively
Use pre-post metrics (DIBELS, MAP, attendance, FAFSA submissions, CTE credential attainment). EIR and state reviewers reward clean logic models with specific measures. Federal Register
“In grants, clarity wins: one page that ties need → strategy → budget → measures beats 40 pages of buzzwords.” — Charlie Isham
Weeks 1–2: Portfolio scan
Inventory all current grants and candidates; mark renewal/close-out dates and reporting deliverables.
Confirm with your SEA whether late-liquidation applies to your district’s ESSER items and what documentation is needed. K-12 Dive
Weeks 3–4: Target near-term opportunities
EIR Mid-phase (FY2025)—assess fit if you have promising evidence and a scale story. Federal Register
E-Rate + bus Wi-Fi—align with transportation and attendance goals. Universal Service Administrative Company
Cybersecurity Pilot (future windows)—prepare your baseline controls and cost model now. Universal Service Administrative Company
EPA Clean School Bus—line up fleet data, routes, charging partners. US EPA
USDA DLT (rural blends)—build a hub-and-spoke concept with a college or hospital. Simpler Grants
Weeks 5–8: Build the coalition
Use K12 Data to source partner orgs and secure MOUs (tutoring, mental-health, EV maintenance training). K12 Data
Use Peertopia to map hiring timelines and retention supports for grant-funded roles. peertopia.com
Weeks 9–12: Draft & proof
Lock a logic model with 3–5 measures (achievement, attendance, climate, graduation/credentials).
Create a sustainability matrix: which costs move to Title I/IDEA, which to operations, which sunset?
Pre-collect data-sharing consents and evaluation scopes (reviewers care about feasibility).
Q: Are we really allowed to keep spending ESSER funds?
A: You can’t create new obligations, but approved costs in states with late-liquidation authority can be liquidated (paid out) into March 30, 2026. Confirm your state’s status and your district’s approved items. K-12 Dive+1
Q: Is there any money for cybersecurity, or is that still “not E-Rate-eligible”?
A: The FCC Cybersecurity Pilot is real—$200M over three years to test eligible solutions. While not yet permanent E-Rate eligibility, the pilot is a bridge toward evidence and potential rulemaking. Get your baseline ready. Universal Service Administrative Company+1
Q: Our rural high school keeps losing upper-level courses. Anything we can do?
A: Look hard at USDA DLT (hub-and-spoke distance learning, dual-credit), and NSF STEM K-12 for program design. Regional consortia are compelling to reviewers. Simpler Grants+1
Q: We want to electrify buses but can’t staff maintenance.
A: Frame a Clean School Bus application with a CTE workforce strand (EV systems, power electronics) and employer MOUs. That makes your plan both environmental and economic. US EPA
Play 1: “Grant-ready partnerships in 10 days.”
Use K12 Data to shortlist providers with proven outcomes (e.g., evidence-based tutoring).
Secure letters of commitment that match the scope, cost, and timeline in your budget narrative—before you write page one. K12 Data
Play 2: “Staffing insurance.”
In your management plan, show Peertopia-enabled recruiting (e.g., bilingual paras within 30 days) plus peer supports (mentoring cohorts) to reduce 90-day attrition. Reviewers notice realistic staffing plans. peertopia.com
Politics will swing; your fundamentals shouldn’t. FY26 proposals include sharp differences on Title I and program consolidations; stay agile, but keep building multi-funded, measurable programs. K-12 Dive+1
Evidence beats adjectives. Even philanthropic funders ask for pre-post comparisons and independent evaluation. Borrow EIR’s mindset for every grant—even small ones. Federal Register
Rural wins are coalition wins. USDA and NSF love partnerships that last beyond the grant. Simpler Grants+1
K12 Data blog: How K12 Data and Peertopia Are Redefining Education Marketing and Hiring (on partner sourcing & educator pipelines). K12 Data
K12 Data blog: Understanding K-12 Educator Attrition … and How K12 Data + Peertopia Can Help. K12 Data
Late-liquidation explainer (K-12 Dive; ED updates). K-12 Dive
E-Rate & Bus Wi-Fi (FCC/USAC overview and ruling). Universal Service Administrative Company+1
FCC Cybersecurity Pilot (program page). Universal Service Administrative Company
EPA Clean School Bus (rebates page). US EPA
USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine (program and opportunity listing). Rural Development+1
EIR 2025 Mid-phase NIA (Federal Register). Federal Register
FSCS overview (ED & Coalition for Community Schools). U.S. Department of Education+1
Title I overview (ED). U.S. Department of Education
IDEA funding context (CEC policy sheet). CEC
0
POST A COMMENT