Strategies for Using Non-Recurring Federal Aid for Public Education

NEA’s guide, Strategies for Using Non-Recurring Federal Aid for Public Education, offers suggestions on how to increase pay, address educator shortages, hire additional staff, and promote more equitable opportunity for all students using one-time federal emergency aid. An unprecedented amount of federal dollars are available right now, but they come with an expiration date. How then to navigate this challenge? The guide presents some options to consider, such as:

• braiding ESSER & GEER funds with other funding,
• providing professional growth opportunities to educators to meet expanded or different needs,
• alternative approaches to augment staffing,
• pilot or demonstration programs,
• investments to reduce future costs, and
• hiring now to advance equity.

All recommendations should be considered in light of your local bargaining environment, and should be negotiated or implemented in collaboration with the local association if bargaining is not legally permitted. The guide also includes a one-pager on how the influx of federal dollars catalyzes the economic resiliency and vitality of local communities.