Durham County Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Program

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund provided nearly $122 billion to states to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic on the Nation's students by addressing students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. ESSER funds were used to replace HVAC-related equipment and water fountains, and to purchase and install outdoor classroom furniture. To further increase sanitary conditions in schools and reduce contact areas, many of the district’s water fountains will be outfitted with kits that fill water bottles.