CRRSAA (HEERF II) Information
April 1, 2023
American Rescue Plan Federal Emergency Grants for Spring 2023
York County School of Technology signed & returned a Certification & Agreement with the Department of Education to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial aid grants. These critical funds help eligible YCST students cover expenses related to unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting: As of January 1, 2023, YCST received $311,846 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants in quarter ending 3/31/23 was 163. As of January 1, 2023, $177,750 in HEERF funds has been disbursed to students.
The Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology distributed this round of Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III) Grant funds in received in May 2021. In this distribution of emergency grant funds, 163 Adult Education students received an average of $933 in federal grant funds. These distributions are needs based so students received between $600 to $1,200 based upon their household income, household size, and additional needs as noted.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Criteria and Eligibility:
All students were required to complete an Emergency Aid Grant Application to be considered for an award. For students who completed a FAFSA, award amounts were based on EFC as well as emergency costs that arose due to coronavirus or eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.
The terms of the grant restrict funding to ADULT STUDENTS ONLY in Title IV-eligible programs including Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, HVAC, Mechatronics, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Practical Nursing, and Welding Technology.
Summary Data
- Postsecondary Student Awards: 163
- Total Award Dollars Distributed: $152,100
- ARP HEERF III: $152,100
Minimum Award: $600
Maximum Award: $1200
Average Award per Student: $933
December 31, 2021
American Rescue Plan Federal Emergency Grants for Fall 2021
York County School of Technology signed & returned a Certification & Agreement with the Department of Education to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial aid grants. These critical funds help eligible YCST students cover expenses related to unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting: As of December 31, 2021, YCST received $311,846 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants in quarter ending 12/31/21 was 136. As of December 31, 2021, $177,750 in HEERF funds has been disbursed to 135 unduplicated students.
The Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology distributed this round of Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III) Grant funds in received in May 2021. In this distribution of emergency grant funds, 135 Adult Education students received an average of $1317 in federal grant funds. These distributions are needs based so students received between $1000 to $1,500 based upon their household income, household size, and additional needs as noted.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Criteria and Eligibility:
All students were required to complete an Emergency Aid Grant Application to be considered for an award. For students who completed a FAFSA, award amounts were based on EFC as well as emergency costs that arose due to coronavirus or eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare.
The terms of the grant restrict funding to ADULT STUDENTS ONLY in Title IV-eligible programs including Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, HVAC, Mechatronics, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Practical Nursing, and Welding Technology.
Summary Data
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- Postsecondary Student Awards: 135
- Total Award Dollars Distributed: $177,750
- ARP HEERF III: $177,750
Minimum Award: $1000
Maximum Award: $1500
Average Award per Student: $1317
March 4, 2021
Dear Student,
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this challenging time.
The ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to create enormous challenges for educational institutions throughout the country. Effectively responding to the coronavirus threat and keeping staff and students safe while preserving the learning environment imposes additional costs to both institutions and students.
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was enacted by Congress on December 27, 2020. As a result, the Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology has been allocated $102,596 in emergency student aid. This aid will be awarded as Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II grants. HEERF II provides emergency funding to educational institutions to assist students in need during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, this funding was known as the CARES Act Funding.
The Adult & Continuing Education Center has established the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund to distribute grants to eligible students to help cover expenses related to the cost of attendance (i.e., food, housing and utilities, health insurance including mental health care, transportation, or childcare) or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.
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- Funds may be used for costs incurred on or after December 27, 2020.
- Institutions must make financial aid grants to students, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arrive due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental health), or child care.
- Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive federal Pell grants, and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
- Students must be a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen.
- Students must be enrolled in an academic/technical program approved to participate in Title IV programs.
Students who are enrolled in the Spring 2021 term and meet the following criteria may be considered for these funds:
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- Enrolled in an academic/technical program approved to participate in Title IV programs.
- Have a 20-21 FAFSA or 21-22 FAFSA on file with York County School of Technology indicating they meet the citizenship requirements.
Additionally, unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need when awarding HEERF II grants, such as students who receive Pell grants. The York County School of Technology has defined exceptional need for the purpose of these funds based on two populations:
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- First – Federal Pell Grant-eligible students
- Second – All other Title IV eligible students may be determined to have exceptional need based on the nature of their emergency student aid application.
In order to process CRRSAA funding assistance for students, we ask that all students complete the attached application and return it to the school no later than March 31, 2021. Only active students who are currently enrolled in an academic program approved to participate in Title IV programs during the Spring 2021 term and are in good standing will be eligible to receive a grant. Once we have received your application, our financial staff will begin processing funds for eligible students.
You may return the completed application via email or US mail to the addresses below:
Mail: York County School of Technology Adult Education
2179 S. Queen St. York, PA 17402
Email: dhumer@ytech.edu
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.
CRRSAA Student Emergency Funds Distributed The Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology distributed the second round of Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II) Grant funds in April 2021. In this second distribution of emergency grant funds, 131 Adult Education students received an average of $900 in federal grant funds. These distributions are needs based so students received between $650 to $1,150 based upon their household income, household size, and additional needs as noted.
The terms of the grant restrict funding to ADULT STUDENTS ONLY in Title IV-eligible programs including Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, HVAC, Mechatronics, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Practical Nursing, and Welding Technology.
Summary Data
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- Postsecondary Student Awards: 131
- Total Award Dollars Distributed: $116,900
- CARES ACT HEERF 1: $8,346
- CRRSAA HEERF II: $108,554
Average Award per Student: $900
HEERF Quarterly Reports
CARES ACT HEERF STUDENT RELIEF GRANT
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I Report – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
October 30, 2020 Update
Applications were received from students requesting emergency funds beginning May 22, 2020. Distributions began June 18, 2020 and ran through October 22, 2020. Of the $102,596 allocated for student emergency grants, $94,250 was disbursed to 145 students in need. The remaining $8,346 will be disbursed as part of a second round of student emergency financial aid grants.
YCST Quarterly Reporting – Q1
September 28, 2020 Update
Total Amount Emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $91,650. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 141.
August 14, 2020 Update
Total Amount Emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $83,850. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 129.
July 1, 2020 Update
York County School of Technology (OPE ID: 536500) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.
The institution appreciates that Congress and the President have made these critical funds available for eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. We take receipt of these federal funds seriously and are distributing them in accordance with the CARES Act and implementing guidance.
The institution is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020.1 For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Donna Humer Dill, Student Services/Compliance Officer, at dhumer@ytech.edu.
- The institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
- The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency
- Financial Aid Grants to Students is $102,596.
- The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $68,250.
- The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 161.
- The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 105.
- The method used by the institution to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the
- CARES Act is as follows: The York County School of Technology identified all currently enrolled full-time, undergraduate students within the institutions financial aid system with an eligible Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.Student Financial Services validated enrollment statuses and federal aid eligibility prior to disbursement of emergency funds as outlined in the CARES Act and additional guidance from the U.S. Education Department.
- Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants are provided at Attachment A.
[1] See: https://ifap.ed.gov/electronic-announcements/050620HigherEdEmergencyReliefFundRptg
May 18, 2020 Initial Report
York County School of Technology is required to provide regular reporting to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on the use of funds authorized by the CARES Act. Funds received by York County School of Technology under the CARES Act were authorized by Congress and signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020. The information noted below is intended to not only meet the reporting requirements of the CARES Act but also provide information to our university community regarding York County School of Technology’s use of the student grant portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the HEERF. Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare). On April 9, 2020, the ED published documents related to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for signing and returning by institutions to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under 18004(a)(1).
The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to ED. Each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter:
- An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- York County School of Technology (YCST) signed and submitted the U.S. Department of Education Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 18, 2020. The U.S. DOE provided YCST with an electronically signed Grant Award Notification (GAN) on April 25, 2020.
- The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- York County School of Technology will receive $102,596 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30- day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
- $102,596 to be distributed – in process
- The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- 161 Title IV Eligible YCST Students
- The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- Grant processing for the 161 eligible students noted above began on 5/22/20.
- The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- York County School of Technology identified all currently enrolled, full-time, undergraduate students within the university’s financial aid system with an eligible Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Student Financial Services validated enrollment statuses and federal aid eligibility prior to disbursement of emergency funds as outlined in the CARES Act and additional guidance from ED.
- In accordance with the Secretary of Education’s instructions for institutions to issue aid to students as soon as possible under the student aid portion of the CARES Act HEERF, York County School of Technology sent an email message with a CARES Act Application attached to all eligible students on May 5, 2020. A follow-up letter/application was sent to all students on May 15, 2020 via US Mail. A second email reminder was sent on May 22, 2020.
- By completing the application with their name and signature, students indicate via a checklist how the campus closure has affected them financially. The application allows the student an opportunity to add additional comments not covered by the checklist. The electronic form was also made available for students to download, print, and return. Students were also mailed a hard copy of the application. Students submitted the form indicating they were requesting emergency funding related to the disruption of campus operations due to Covid-19 as noted above and also that any funds received would be used for this purpose.