What is EANS?
EANS stands for Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools, a federal relief program approved by the Department of Education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides emergency financial assistance to eligible non-public schools across the country.
Eligible non-public schools may use EANS funding to address pandemic learning loss and invest in infrastructure and programs to open and operate safely. EANS stands for Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools, a federal relief program approved by the Department of Education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides emergency financial assistance to eligible non-public schools across the country.
To date, the government has approved two rounds of EANS funding, totaling $5.5 billion.
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What can EANS funding be used for?
The government stipulates that EANS funding can be used to address pandemic learning loss and prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
This leaves open a wide range of uses, including:
Investing in furniture and equipment to keep teachers, students and staff safe and/or distanced during in-person instruction, such as individual desks and mobile chairs, tabletop screens and PPE.
Investing in outdoor furniture and equipment to account for an increase in outdoor activities and dining, such as picnic tables, benches and portable sinks.
Hiring additional personnel to keep school spaces safe and clean, such as nurses and custodians.
Purchasing health and safety equipment to help prevent the spread of disease, such as air purifiers, sanitation stations and universal cleaners.
Investing in educational technology and remote learning tools, including hardware like headphones, software and connectivity to support student learning.
Purchasing furniture and equipment to implement before and after-school enrichment programs, including table and chair sets.
Hiring additional educators and support staff.
Purchasing adaptive furniture and equipment to support students with special needs.
CRRSA EANS funding can be used to provide reimbursements on allowable expenses incurred since March 13, 2020.
ARP EANS funding, on the other hand, cannot be used to provide reimbursements.
Is my school eligible for EANS funding?
Your elementary or secondary school is eligible for EANS funding if:
Was in existence prior to March 13, 2020
Has not received a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan on or after December 27, 2020
Your elementary or secondary school is only eligible for ARP EANS funds if it enrolls a percentage of students from low-income families and is most impacted by COVID-19.
How can my school apply for EANS funding?
Non-public schools can apply for EANS funding through their state educational agency, or SEA, which is responsible for administering the funds. However, your state’s Governor remains the grantee and is responsible for the program’s oversight. (This ensures that your non-public school isn’t the recipient of federal funds – your Governor is.)
Funding is prioritized to schools most impacted by COVID-19. Your SEA will determine which schools need aid the most by looking at loss of tuition revenue, enrollment decline, learning loss and more.
How can I make sure my EANS purchase requests are approved?
Your SEA is more likely to approve your EANS purchase requests if your school provides the following:
Documentation that provides direct links between the items you request and the recommendations of an authoritative institution, like the CDC
Data that shows a decline in functioning as a result of the pandemic and a need to procure items that will enable a return to functionality
Data that shows a need to remediate learning loss, boost student mental health, address students most impacted by COVID-19, create greater distancing or prepare for remote learning
What resources are there to help my school make its case for EANS purchases?
Luckily, there are many resources school administrators can use to support their case for EANS purchases. These resources provide operational guidance, roadmaps to returning to safe, in-person instruction or ideas on how schools can support students most impacted by COVID-19. A few are:
Resources
Explore our expert resources to learn how EANS funding can be used to create school spaces that not only keep students and staff safe but address issues like learning loss and mental health.
How long are services and equipment provided?
CRRSA EANS equipment and supplies may be used until September 30, 2023, while ARP EANS equipment and supplies may be used until September 30, 2024.
Technically, all furnishings purchased with EANS funding are subject to recall by your SEA after the September 30th deadline. However, SEAs are not required to do this and total recalls are unlikely to occur.
