After a months-long freeze, Washington school districts can once again access remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds—but time is limited, and the future of the deadline remains uncertain.
In a late June policy reversal, the U.S. Department of Education announced that all states, including those that did not join the ESSER lawsuit, may now spend their pandemic relief funds through March 2026, restoring the original liquidation deadline. This update followed a March 2025 decision that unexpectedly rescinded previously approved deadline extensions—creating confusion, project delays, and uncertainty for districts across Washington.
Now, the Department’s reversal brings some long-awaited clarity—but it warns that the updated timeline could change again, depending on how the litigation unfolds in federal court.
A Reopened Door—With a Short Window to Act
Washington districts now have another opportunity to put their remaining COVID-19 relief funds to work—but they should move quickly and strategically:
- March 2026 is the reinstated deadline, but it’s not guaranteed to hold if courts side with the Department in the ongoing legal challenge.
- Delays in spending increase risk, particularly for projects involving facilities, professional development, or long-term contracts.
- All expenses must align with COVID-related goals, such as academic recovery, health and safety, or equitable access to learning.
- The Department is expected to closely review remaining requests, especially those not directly tied to pandemic response or learning-loss mitigation.
Transportation Funding: Still Available, Still Vital
During the pandemic, many Washington districts turned to ESSER funds to help address transportation challenges—from statewide driver shortages to the need for individualized service for students experiencing homelessness or disabilities.
Now that spending flexibility has been restored, districts have another chance to:
- Support McKinney-Vento students, foster youth, and students with disabilities through flexible, door-to-door transportation
- Reduce chronic absenteeism by investing in reliable transportation options that ensure students can access school every day
- Advance equity and safety by serving students disproportionately affected by pandemic disruptions
These investments remain eligible under ESSER—so long as districts can clearly connect them to pandemic recovery efforts such as improving attendance, academic continuity, or student well-being.
“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.”
Resources for Washington School Leaders
Reevaluate, Reengage, and Spend with Purpose
For Washington districts, this policy change is a critical chance to revisit ESSER plans, restart paused initiatives, and finish what recovery funding was meant to support. But the timeline is fragile—and the opportunity may not last.
District leaders should:
- Reassess their remaining ESSER allocations and any unspent funds
- Prioritize programs that address learning loss, mental health, attendance, or access
- Maintain clear documentation to ensure compliance in case of audits or additional changes
Whether it’s tutoring, counseling, or Alternative Student Transportation, this is the moment to put recovery funding into action—for the students who need it most.
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.
