Detroit Regional Chamber > Business Resources > COVID-19 > Michigan Schools to Receive $65M in CARES Act Funding

Michigan Schools to Receive $65M in CARES Act Funding

August 19, 2020
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today announced that $65 million in CARES Act funding will be allocated to school districts, higher education institutions, and other education entities that have been impacted most by COVID-19. The funding, coming from the Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund (GEER), will be directed to the state’s economically disadvantaged districts to address issues like the technological barriers to remote learning faced by students and educators in the community.

$60 million will be distributed among districts based on their number of:

  • Students in high-need student groups.
  • Economically disadvantaged students.
  • Special education students.
  • English language learners.

Districts’ concentration of economically disadvantaged pupils – compared to total district enrollment – must be greater than 50% to be eligible. These GEER funds must be used toward connectivity, student mental health, combatting learning loss, remote learning training and materials, teacher training, out-of-school-time learning, and other health and safety needs in line with the MI Return to School Roadmap.

$5.4 million will go to other education-related entities, distributed for mental health services, teacher professional learning, public television learning resources, and the Early On program.


Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Formula Grant

Under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund), the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools in Michigan. LEAs must provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools as required under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  This page will serve as a resource to all CARES Act grants administered by MDE. View estimated distribution by district.