The US Department of Education (ED) has issued an important clarification regarding the end of the EANS program in 2023 and 2024.
In an email from April 4, the department made it clear that equipment and supplies purchased with EANS funds may be used for the grant period. Once the program ends, in either 2023 (for EANS I or CRRSA EANS) or in 2024 (for EANS II or ARP EANS), all supplies and equipment purchased with those program funds must be returned to the state.
One option for the school to continue using the items is if the school participates in another federal education program such as ESEA or IDEA. The state may allow the use of the EANS items to be used within the allowable uses of those programs. However, the private school does not own the items and must return them to the state if the state requests it
Under this clarification, there is no way for a private school to keep or retain ownership of EANS items indefinitely unless it moves to another federal program. Therefore private schools must be prepared to return the equipment and supplies purchased under EANS back to the state at the end of the program, or get your school signed up for another Title program through your local school district. That process must begin now so the title program is operative in your school well before EANS expires.
