The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provides an additional $2.75 billion for the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public School Fund (EANS Fund) of which $41,697,717 was awarded to Minnesota. The Minnesota State Governor Office will be applying for the EANS funds for the non-public schools and will be administered by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). MDE is distributing these funds by application in alignment with the federal guidance on distribution. This funding is intended to help non-public schools safely reopen or keep schools open.

Allowable Uses. A non-public school may apply to receive services or assistance from the State Education Agency (SEA) or its contractors to address educational disruptions resulting from COVID-19 for:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Improving ventilation systems, including windows or portable air purification systems
• Training and professional development for staff on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases
• Physical barriers to facilitate social distancing
• Other materials, supplies or equipment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain health and safety
• Expanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress the virus
• Educational technology
• Redeveloping instructional plans for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss
• Leasing sites or spaces to ensure social distancing
• Reasonable transportation costs
• Initiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss
• Reimbursement for the expenses of any services or assistance described above that a non-public school incurred on or after March 13, 2020, except for:
  • Improvements to ventilation systems including windows to ensure healthy air in the non-public school (portable air purification systems shall be allowable for reimbursement).
  • Training and professional development for staff on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
  • Redeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development, for remote learning, hybrid learning, or to address learning loss.
  • Initiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss.
  • Any expenses reimbursed through a loan guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) prior to December 27, 2020.

Non-allowable Uses. CRRSA funds cannot be used for:

• Direct or indirect financial assistance to scholarship granting organizations or related entities
• Providing or supporting vouchers, tuition tax credit programs, education savings accounts, scholarships, scholarship programs, or tuition-assistance programs.
• Subsidizing or offsetting executive salaries and benefits of individuals who are not employees of the LEAs or
• Expenditures related to state or local teacher or faculty unions or associations.
• EANS funds generally will not be used for bonuses, merit pay, or similar expenditures.

Information from Minnesota Department of Education