The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or, CARES Act (HEERF I), was passed by Congress on March 27th, 2020. This bill allotted $2.2 trillion to provide economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that money, approximately $14 billion was given to the Office of Post-secondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief.

In addition to the CARES Act, supplemental funding has been made available for students and institutions of higher education.  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.  The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARP funds are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. Emergency funds available to institutions and their students under all emergency funds total $76.2 billion.

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES acknowledges an authorized representative of the institution has 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.
• Eastern Suffolk BOCES acknowledges that $734,457 (HEERF I, II, III) has been received from the Department pursuant to the Institutions Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
• The method used by the institution to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much students would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was determined based on student request/application, enrollment status, and the student Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as provided on the FAFSA.
• An Announcement and Application has been or will be mailed to all ESBOCES students enrolled in eligible programs. The Eastern Suffolk BOCES website also provides instructions and guidance for students applying for CARES Act funds.

Quarter Ending 03/31/2022

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $502,959 under section 18004(a) (1) for the quarter. 
• The estimated number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants for the quarter is 56.
• The number of students who received grants during this quarter is 55, with an additional 1 being processed. 
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q12022_03/31/2022

Quarter Ending 12/31/2021

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $251,020 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 12/31/2021. 
• The estimated number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants for the quarter is 312.
• The number of students who received grants during this quarter is 266, with an additional 46 being processed. 
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q62021_12/31/2021

Quarter Ending 09/30/2021

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $186,239.36 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 09/30/2021. The total number of students thus far who have received an Emergency Financial aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 239 as of 09/30/2021.
• The estimated total number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES 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 is 401 students.
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q52021_09/30/2021

Quarter Ending 06/30/2021

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $170,976.36 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 06/30/2021. The total number of students thus far who have received an Emergency Financial aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 216 as of 06/30/2021.
• The estimated total number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES 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 is 401 students.
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q42021_06/30/2021

Quarter Ending 03/31/2021

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $71,897.04 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 03/31/2021. The total number of students thus far who have received an Emergency Financial aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is fifty-eight (58) as of 03/31/2021.
• The estimated total number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES 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 is 166 students.
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q32021_03/31/2021

Quarter Ending 12/31/2020

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $18,100.36 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 12/31/2020. The total number of students thus far who have received an Emergency Financial aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 17 as of 12/31/2020.
• The estimated total number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES 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 is 113 students.
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q22020_12/31/2020

Quarter Ending 9/30/2020

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES has distributed $434.49 under section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of 09/30/2020. The total number of students thus far who have received an Emergency Financial aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is one (1) as of 09/30/2020.
• The estimated total number of students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES 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 is 166 students.
• Institutional Portion - 02179400_HEERF_Q12020_09/30/2020

Institutions may now award student grants for any component of the cost of attendance, as well as emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care and child care.

Students may apply for funding by completing a HEERF I, HEERF II, or HEERF III application and by completing a FAFSA.  It is the continued intention of the U.S. Dept. of Education to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need; therefore, Eastern Suffolk BOCES will continue to request that a FAFSA be completed by all applicants.  Students will be awarded a HEERF grant based on their EFC (Estimated Financial Contribution) as determined by their FAFSA, and prorated based on enrollment status and program clock hours.

Assistance is available to complete your FAFSA.  To schedule an appointment please call (631) 233-4483.

For further information on HEERF funding and recent changes, please visit CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Archive: History of CARES Act announcements on ESBOCES website

Additional COVID Resources and web links:

NYS Office of Mental Health

Suffolk County Health Services

U.S. Department of Education

NYS COVID-19 Hotline 1-888-364-3065