Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

CRRSA EANS Programs

CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program

Nonpublic schools that are participating in the Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools program under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA EANS) are eligible to receive direct reimbursements for certain allowable expenses that were incurred between March 13, 2020, and August 23, 2021. The U.S. Department of Education has advised NJDOE that remaining unobligated CRRSA EANS funds must be used to provide direct reimbursements to CRRSA EANS participating nonpublic schools

EANS Services and Assistance Eligible for Reimbursement

A nonpublic school may apply to receive direct reimbursement for the following services and assistance to address educational disruptions resulting from COVID-19 for:

  • Supplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities;
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE);
  • Portable air purification systems to ensure healthy air in the non-public school;
  • Physical barriers to facilitate social distancing;
  • Other materials, supplies, or equipment to implement public health protocols, including guidelines and recommendations from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff during the qualifying emergency;
  • Expanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress Coronavirus, to conduct surveillance and contact tracing activities, and to support other activities related to coronavirus testing for students, teachers, and staff at the non-public school;
  • Educational technology (including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment) to assist students, educators, and other staff with remote or hybrid learning;
  • Leasing of sites or spaces to ensure safe social distancing to implement public health protocols, including guidelines and recommendations from the CDC; and
  • Reasonable transportation costs.

Note: Partial reimbursements for services and assistance are not allowable; this program requires 100% reimbursement of the cost to the nonpublic school and 100% transfer of ownership/title to NJDOE.

Not Eligible for Reimbursement

The following services and assistance are not eligible for reimbursement:

  • Improvements to ventilation systems (including windows), except for portable air purification systems, which may be reimbursed.
  • Staff training and professional development on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of COVID-19./li>
  • Redeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development, for remote or 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 PPP (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) prior to December 27, 2020.

Allocations for Reimbursement

Initial Allocations

The initial allocations are based on the remaining unobligated CRRSA EANS funds (approximately $2.4 million), and have been allocated to all CRRSA EANS participants. Initial Allocations for CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program were calculated based on each school's student enrollment and Free/Reduced Meals (FRM) counts, as submitted in its 2019-2020 Nonpublic School Enrollment Report. (The calculations are based on those used to develop the allocations for the CRSSA EANS Program.)

Revised Allocations

The initial allocations were revised based on the Intent to Participate in CRRSA EANS Direct Reimbursement Program applications received. View the Revised Allocations for CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program.

Instructions for Nonpublic School Participation

Step 1: Nonpublic schools that intend to participate in the CRRSA EANS Direct Reimbursement Program must review the following information:
Step 2: Submit the Intent to Participate in CRRSA EANS Direct Reimbursement Program Application by July 29, 2022 (extended from July 8).
Step 3: Follow the Reimbursement Process by October 31, 2022 (extended from September 30).

Nonpublic schools that submitted the intent to participate application must complete the following steps to file for reimbursements by October 31, 2022:

  1. Review the Revised Allocations for CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program and the EANS services and assistance eligible for reimbursement (see above).
  2. Register as a vendor with the New Jersey Department of Treasury procurement system, NJSTART, and receive a Vendor Identification (click on the “register” button on upper right).
  3. Download, save to your computer, and sign the CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program Statement of Assurances for Nonpublic Schools.
  4. Download, save to your computer, and complete the CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Payment Voucher.Note: there are 2 tabs that must be completed for reimbursement consideration; fill out the "Reimbursement Cover Sheet" tab first.
  5. Submit the following documentation to email box EANSreimbursement@doe.nj.gov by October 31, 2022. All documents must be submitted and completed for reimbursement consideration.
    • Proof of expenditure for item(s) to be reimbursed: copy of original paid invoice or receipt with date included (credit card statements are not acceptable)
    • Completed CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Payment Voucher
    • Signed CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program Statement of Assurances
  6. In the subject line of the email submission to EANSreimbursement@doe.nj.gov, provide the following: 4-digit School Code, School name and County of location

Timeline for CRRSA EANS Reimbursement Program

  • Intent to participate application and initial nonpublic school allocations posted on website: June 21, 2022
  • Intent to participate application deadline: July 29, 2022 (extended from July 8)
  • Nonpublic schools’ allocations revised and posted: August 3, 2022
  • Nonpublic schools submit required reimbursement documents to EANSreimbursement@doe.nj.gov: August 3 - October 31, 2022
  • NJDOE processes reimbursements to nonpublic schools: January 2023

Questions

Please send questions regarding the EANS program to EANS@doe.nj.gov

EANS Equipment and Supplies Management and Monitoring

The NJDOE takes title/ownership of equipment and supplies that are purchased or reimbursed through the EANS program. As such, the equipment and supplies are subject to the Code of Federal Regulations inventory management and monitoring rules and processes (C.F.R. § 200.313 Equipment (a) through (d) and § 200.314 Supplies), and the nonpublic schools that participate in the program must adhere to them as well.

Nonpublic schools that participated in the EANS program are responsible for tracking the inventoried equipment and supplies and providing necessary maintenance until the end of their useful life or until disposition [C.F.R. § 200.313(b)]. The nonpublic schools are required to complete an EANS Inventory Management Form to ensure proper inventory management.

Allowable equipment and supplies purchased with EANS funds for students and teachers in a nonpublic school may be used for the authorized purposes of the EANS program during the period of performance (for CRRSA EANS: through September 2023; for ARP EANS: through September 2024) or until the equipment and supplies are no longer needed for the purposes of the EANS program [C.F.R. § 76.661(b); 2 C.F.R. § 200.313(a)(1), (c)(1) and 200.314(a)].

NJDOE must maintain an inventory of all supplies and equipment placed in a nonpublic school and implement periodic checks with nonpublic schools to determine if they are still in use and being used for allowable purposes. Periodic checks will include emails and surveys to collect needed information.

The Inventory form must be submitted to the EANS program office atEANS@doe.nj.gov no later than December 15, 2023.

Inventory Management Guidance and Forms

As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, (CRRSA Act) , Congress set aside $2.75 billion of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund specifically to provide emergency assistance to students and teachers in nonpublic schools through the Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (CRRSA EANS) program.

The purpose of the CRRSA EANS program is to provide services or assistance to eligible nonpublic schools to address the impact that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on nonpublic school students and teachers.

On February 23, 2021, New Jersey received an EANS formula grant in the amount of $68,749,847 to provide awards to nonpublic schools in the State. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is responsible for the administration of the CRRSA EANS program.

For more information on the EANS program, please see United States Department of Education Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS) Program, including FAQs.

Eligible Nonpublic Schools

For a nonpublic school to be eligible for the CRRSA EANS program, the nonpublic school must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Is non-profit;
  • Operates in accordance with New Jersey State law;
  • Was in existence prior to March 13, 2020, the date the President declared the national emergency due to COVID-19; and
  • Did not, and will not, apply for and receive a loan under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(37)) that is made on or after December 27, 2020. Note: If a non-public school applies for a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020, but does not receive funds under the PPP, the school may apply for services or assistance under the EANS program.

Nonpublic schools that do not meet all the above criteria are not eligible for EANS program services.

Nonpublic School Allocations

Initial Allocations

The NJDOE calculated preliminary allocations of CRRSA EANS funds to each nonpublic school based on student enrollment and its Free/Reduced Meals (FRM) counts, as submitted in its 2019-2020 Nonpublic School Enrollment Report. Each nonpublic school was also allocated an amount based on COVID-19 impact. If the nonpublic school did not experience an impact due to COVID-19, as determined by the school via the CRRSA EANS application submitted by May 26, 2021, this portion of the school's allocation was not provided in the initial allocations. The following are some possible impacts due to COVID-19:

  • loss of tuition revenue
  • decrease in enrollment
  • lack of capacity to provide remote learning due to insufficient technological support
  • student learning loss attributable to the educational disruptions caused by COVID-19
Revised Total Allocations

Approved applicant schools were provided a supplemental EANS allocation to be used for any additional needs that schools may have to address COVID related impact. Schools that submitted the CRRSA EANS Provider Matching Survey (deadline was July 15, 2021) and indicated they have additional needs beyond those submitted in the original CRRSA EANS application, were allocated supplemental funds.

View the CRRSA EANS Program Revised Total Allocations.

CRRSA EANS Services and Assistance

A nonpublic school may apply to receive services or assistance to address educational disruptions resulting from COVID-19 for:

  • Supplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities
  • 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 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
Notes:
  • The NJDOE or another public agency gains title to materials, equipment, and property that it purchases under this program. Schools must label all purchases as “property of the New Jersey State Department of Education.”
  • 34 C.F.R. § 76.661 requires that equipment and supplies purchased with EANS funds must be able to be removed from a nonpublic school without remodeling the school facility. A ventilation system that is installed and becomes a capital improvement does not meet these requirements. Similarly, new windows would not be permissible, however, servicing windows that are not opening properly to improve ventilation is permitted. A portable air purification system and repairing old windows to facilitate air flow could be allowable.
  • None of the services or assistance requested in the application can have already been supported by a loan under the PPP or State or Federal program funds.
  • All services or assistance requested, including any materials, equipment, and any other items used to provide such services or assistance, must be limited to secular, neutral, and non-ideological purposes.

Nonpublic School Application

The deadline to submit the application to receive services or assistance through the CRRSA EANS program was May 26, 2021, and the application is now closed. 

Service Providers

Nonpublic schools may choose their desired provider/s for CRRSA EANS program services and assistance from the list of providers. View the CRRSA EANS Providers by Service and County which lists each provider, the counties they serve, and the services they can provide. Note that we have also provided a link to each provider’s website and contact information so they can be contacted for information on their services and costs.

CRRSA EANS Provider Selection Survey

The deadline to submit the EANS Provider Selection Survey was July 15, 2021, and is now closed.

The EANS Provider Selection Survey allows the nonpublic school to select the provider for each desired service. Nonpublic schools must reference the CRRSA EANS Providers by Service and County and contact their desired provider for information on their services and costs before completing the survey. This resource lists each provider, the counties they serve, and the services they can provide.

Nonpublic schools must also reference the CRRSA EANS Program Revised Total Allocations in order to complete the survey. Approved applicant schools have been provided a supplemental CRRSA EANS allocation to be used for any additional needs that schools may have to address COVID related impact. Should schools have additional needs beyond those submitted in the original CRRSA EANS application, these supplemental funds may be used to address those needs.

The survey requires schools to allocate funds to each of the selected CRRSA EANS services, not to exceed the revised total allocation. The NJDOE will develop contracts with the providers using the data submitted in the survey, including the selected services and costs. The CRRSA EANS Provider Matching Survey deadline is July 15, 2021. Provider contracts will be finalized no later than August 20, 2021, where upon the selected provider/s will reach out and discuss the nonpublic schools’ needs.

Timeline

  • NJDOE posts CRRSA EANS application for nonpublic schools to participate: March 25, 2021
  • NJDOE Program Office holds technical assistance session for nonpublic schools: April 2021
  • Nonpublic schools submit application to NJDOE: On or before May 12, 2021 — extended to May 26
  • NJDOE approves/denies applications: On or before June 11, 2021 — extended to June 24
  • NJDOE holds technical assistance sessions on the CRRSA EANS Provider Matching Survey: June 28, 2021
  • CRRSA EANS Provider Matching Survey deadline: July 15, 2021
  • NJDOE finalizes contracts with providers: By end November 2021
  • Nonpublic schools receive services and assistance: December 2021 through September 30, 2023

Questions and Technical Assistance