The ESSER funding well has officially run dry, and schools are feeling the fallout. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which helped schools weather the worst of the pandemic, have officially expired. For many districts, those dollars were lifelines—allowing for raises, new positions, instructional coaches, interventionists, tech upgrades, and expanded special education support. Now, schools across the country are facing mass layoffs, frozen salaries, and tough staffing decisions. The question is how they will maintain the progress they made, especially for vulnerable learners, without the financial support they’ve come to rely on. 

What ESSER Gave and What’s Gone

At its peak, ESSER funding funneled over $190 billion into K–12 education. Districts were encouraged to act boldly and quickly to support students after months of disruption. Many used the funds to:

• Increase teacher pay
• Hire new staff in critical roles (SPED, counselors, interventionists)
• Launch academic recovery programs
• Invest in digital tools and learning platforms
• Make overdue facility upgrades 

But while the money was temporary, the needs weren’t. The additional staffing and services helped fill long-standing gaps. Once in place, they became deeply embedded in what communities came to expect from their schools. Now, with the funding gone, districts are faced with an impossible task: doing more with far less.

What Is Happening in Schools Without ESSER?

We’re already seeing the impact. According to Brookings, around 300,000 positions were created with ESSER funds. Many of those jobs are now on the chopping block. Roles being eliminated include reading specialists, special education case managers, academic interventionists, substitute teachers, and support staff hired to close learning gaps.

At the same time, some districts are freezing pay or reversing raises awarded with federal aid, making an especially painful step at a time when teacher morale is already low.

But this crisis isn’t about a lack of need. It’s about a lack of sustainable funding. The challenges these positions were created to solve, like learning loss, equity gaps, student mental health, and compliance requirements, haven’t gone away. Schools are now being asked to solve the same problems with fewer resources and smaller teams.

Why Is the End of ESSER a Problem? 

Every student still deserves a high-quality, personalized education. Every teacher still deserves support. And every district leader is still working toward that vision, even with fewer options on the table.

Many of the eliminated positions were essential to learning recovery and special education compliance. Their absence puts strain on remaining staff and impacts the consistency of student services.

It’s disheartening to have to make changes that negatively affect students. No one goes into education to cut programs or reduce support. But when the budget shrinks and the needs stay the same, creative thinking becomes not just useful, but necessary. 

Creative Staffing Starts with a Virtual Learning Environment

For districts looking for flexible, sustainable ways to continue supporting students, a virtual learning environment can open doors.

Proximity Learning partners with districts to deliver live, certified teachers and case managers through virtual instruction. We’re not talking about pre-recorded content or passive learning. These are real teachers engaging with real students in real time. They follow your bell schedule, your curriculum, and your goals.

We offer a range of educators and specialists from Special Education instructors and case managers who integrate with your IEP teams, to core content teachers ready to jump into hard-to-fill subject areas, to specialist services like ESL, world languages, and test prep.

It’s not one-size-fits-all. Designed with your needs in mind, Proximity Learning is customizable, collaborative, and built to fill the gaps you’re facing right now.

Why Proximity Learning is the Best Solution

We’ve spent over 15 years supporting districts through change and challenge. Whether it was a pandemic or a staffing shortage, we’ve been there helping ensure students still had a teacher in front of them.

What sets this model apart is its flexibility. Virtual instruction can scale up or down with your needs. It can work alongside your in-person faculty. It can cover roles that might otherwise go unfilled or help schools retain programs that would otherwise be cut.

Our partner districts often tell us that Proximity is the bridge between what they need and what they can realistically staff. We’re proud to be that partner. We are keeping students on track and teachers supported, even behind the scenes.

The Budget Changed but Your Mission Didn’t

You didn’t stop believing in what your students deserve—just because the funding ended. And you’re not alone in that. The truth is, this moment is hard. But you’re not out of options. And you’re not without support.

A virtual learning environment might not have been your first plan. However, in times like these, flexibility, partnership, and consistency are what matter most. We’re here to help you move forward without sacrificing quality, compliance, or care.

Let’s talk about what your district needs now and how we can help you get there.