On Friday, the Department of Education (ED) provided written responses to several outstanding questions sent by the community related to the second round of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) aid that was authorized under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.
The questions and answers were provided directly to the higher education community from ED staff, and they have indicated that they will formally publish the Q&A document in the near future.
In their communication, ED confirmed that institutions have one year to spend funds from the date when ED processed the most recent obligation of funds for that specific grant. This is consistent with the law, but needed clarification because many institutions received Grant Award Notifications (GANs) for their HEERF II funds with spending deadline dates that incorrectly reflected their Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act HEERF I spending deadlines. ED has indicated separately that it will issue revised HEERF II GANs with correct spending deadlines, but is focusing first on getting HEERF II funds distributed to institutions.