After a period of policy uncertainty, Florida school districts have regained access to unspent federal pandemic relief funds. However, this opportunity comes with urgency.

In late June, the U.S. Department of Education reversed a controversial decision made earlier this year that had cut off billions in ESSER III and related COVID-19 aid, eliminating the 15-month liquidation extension many districts were counting on. For non-litigating states like Florida, the freeze abruptly halted planned initiatives, leaving districts at risk of forfeiting funds already allocated.

Now, the Department has reinstated the original March 2026 spending deadline for all states, restoring temporary stability to district planning. The shift follows legal challenges from 16 states and Washington, D.C.—excluding Florida—which argued that the initial policy unfairly disrupted approved spending plans and student services. In response to state leaders, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon acknowledged the need to apply the rules consistently across all states.

A Welcome Reinstatement—But the Clock Is Still Ticking

Florida districts now have the green light to move forward with spending—but with some clear caveats:

• The March 2026 deadline is back in place, but future policy shifts could once again shorten the timeline.
• Delaying action could pose risks—districts should move quickly to avoid losing access if the policy changes again.
• Reimbursements aren’t guaranteed—especially those not clearly tied to pandemic response, such as construction or training initiatives.

The Department has also made it clear that all spending must be well-documented and aligned with the original intent of the funds: to prepare for, respond to, or recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Transportation Services Are Still Eligible—and Still Essential

During the pandemic, transportation was one of the most disrupted services for students—especially those facing housing instability, attending out-of-boundary schools, or needing door-to-door service. Many Florida districts used ESSER funds to close those gaps through flexible transportation solutions.

With the deadline back in place, districts can now:

• Continue or reinstate contracts with vetted alternative transportation providers
• Support attendance recovery efforts through expanded routes or non-traditional scheduling
• Ensure students experiencing homelessness or with disabilities can get to school safely and consistently

These investments remain eligible—if they can be clearly linked to addressing pandemic-era disruptions such as chronic absenteeism or learning loss.

“We know that funding uncertainty has made planning difficult for districts across the country. Now that the timeline has been restored, we’re working closely with school leaders to help them make the most of these remaining funds—especially for students who depend on flexible, reliable transportation to access their education.” — Danielle Press, Chief Growth Officer, EverDriven

Key Resources for Florida School and District Leaders

• US. Department of Education official notice
• U.S. Department of Education FAQs
• Florida Department of Education ESSER Overview

Take Action While the Window Is Open

This policy reversal gives Florida districts a second chance to finish what they started—but it may also be the last.

To make the most of this limited runway, districts should:

• Reassess remaining ESSER funds and their intended use
• Accelerate spending plans with a focus on student impact
• Document how each expenditure connects to pandemic recovery and compliance guidelines

Whether it’s investing in transportation equity, academic recovery, or student wellness, now is the time to act—before that window potentially closes again.

Morgan Judge

Morgan Judge is an attorney and regulatory strategist with a rare combination of legislative, legal, and private sector expertise. As Senior Director of Compliance, Regulation, and Policy at EverDriven, she leads government relations and regulatory strategy for a company operating at the intersection of technology, education, and a rapidly evolving policy landscape , overseeing multi-state legislative and compliance initiatives, managing contract lobbyists, and working across teams to advance policies that align with EverDriven’s mission and growth.

Morgan’s foundation in law and policy runs deep. She earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law and gained early experience through legal clerkships researching civil law, criminal procedure, and local government policy. She then spent six and a half years as a nonpartisan staff member in a state legislature, working her way from enrolling clerk to senior projects and calendar manager. In those roles she developed deep fluency in legislative process, parliamentary procedure, and the mechanics of how policy actually gets made, experience that now gives her a distinctive edge navigating state-level regulatory environments on EverDriven’s behalf.

Morgan joined EverDriven in 2021 and has grown steadily within the organization, moving from Regulatory Compliance Manager to Director to her current Senior Director role. She is a visible voice in the student transportation policy community, regularly engaging at national industry conferences and advocating for regulatory frameworks that reflect the realities of modern, technology-enabled student transportation.