On April 28, 2021, the California Department of Education sent a notice to school district and county superintendents and charter school administrators with a reminder that two federal stimulus funding sources issued through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act will expire in the next 30 to 60 days. The Coronavirus Relief Fund sources are listed below.

Section 110 (4)(1)(A) Assembly Bill 86, Chapter 10, Statutes 2021 states:

“As a condition of receipt of the funds pursuant to this section, an eligible local educational agency shall report, on or before October 15, 2020, the balance of any unexpended funds received from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the Superintendent (SSPI). Funds that are not expended by May 31, 2021, shall be reported to the Superintendent as part of the quarterly reporting period ending June 30, 2021, and the Superintendent shall recover funds from the eligible local educational agency.”

NOTE: It is not necessary for local education agencies (LEAs) to receive equipment/goods by the May 31, 2021, expenditure deadline, provided that at the time the order is placed, the equipment/goods are expected to be received by May 31, 2021, and any delays are due to supply-chain interruptions beyond the LEA’s control. In these circumstances, LEAs may use the Coronavirus Relief Fund (Resource Code 3220) to pay for goods within 90 days of receipt.

LEAs should not order devices late in the covered period (March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021) which, at the time the order is placed, are not expected to be received by May 31, 2021.

On June 30, 2021, the General Fund (Resource Code 7420) will expire. The General Fund dollars must be completely expended by the deadline.

Section 110 (d) of Senate Bill 820, Chapter 110, Statutes 2020, states:

“Funds apportioned from the General Fund pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be used from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.”

These funds were issued to support academic achievement and mitigate learning loss created by the COVID-19 pandemic. All expenses from these funding sources must be tied to the pandemic, must address a need created by the pandemic, and should address learning loss recovery.

Please direct any questions to EdReliefFunds@cde.ca.gov or visit their website at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/cr/esseriifaqs.asp.