CARES ACT REPORT
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
Certification and Agreement Acknowledgement: Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the US Department of Education with the assurance that PTC 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.
Students were sent a notification through email or SwiftK12 messaging – informing them they may qualify for a grant and directing them to the HEERF information page and application on the PTC website. After the initial application deadline passed, two rounds of phone calls were made to the students that had not applied, once again directing them to the information page and application.
PTC determined that an across the board distribution would be made to all eligible post-secondary students who were enrolled in an approved program as of March 13, 2020 and had indicated expenses due to disruption of COVID-19 with a required move to Distance Education. Students indicated related expenses when completing the online application. Eligible expenses were technology, course materials, housing, food, childcare and health care. On November 23, 2020, PTC moved to an alternate class schedule due to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases. As a result, the application process was reopened for eligible post-secondary students who were enrolled in an approved program and had indicated expenses due to the disruption of COVID-19 and an across the board distribution was made of remaining HEERF funds.
Students must attest to meeting eligibility criteria as defined by law in SEC 484, 20 U.S.C. 1091 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA):
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Must have a valid social security number
- Must have registered with Selective Service (if male)
- Must have a High School Diploma, GED or homeschool certificate
- Must be attending & participating in a post-secondary program at an institution of higher education
- Must be making satisfactory academic progress
- Must not owe a refund on grants or be in default on loans with any institution of higher education
- Must have completed repayment of any Title IV funds obtained fraudulently
CARES ACT – HEERF I
Estimated total number of students at PTC 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 – HEERF I: 78
Total number of students at PTC who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act – HEERF I: 62
Total amount of funds PTC has been awarded from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under CARES ACT – HEERF I: $131,415.
Total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act – HEERF 1: $131,415.
CRRSAA – HEERF II
On January 19, 2021, PTC was awarded additional student funds under CRRSAA - HEERF II. These funds were distributed based on exceptional financial need, going first to students who receive Pell Grants. Checks disbursements began on April 21, 2021. Students were required to sign a statement that these grant funds were to be used for expenses related to cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as: tuition, food, housing, technology expenses, course materials, health care, or child care.
Estimated total number of students at PTC 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 CRRSAA – HEERF II: 72
Total number of students at PTC who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CRRSAA – HEERF II: 72
Total amount of funds PTC has been awarded from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under CRRSAA – HEERF II: $131,415.
Total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CRRSAA – HEERF II: $131,415.
ARP – HEERF III
On May 14, 2021, PTC was awarded additional student funds under ARP – HEERF III, in the amount of $281,990. These funds have not yet been disbursed.
This notice is posted within 30 days of receipt of allocation and will be updated every 45 days hereafter.
Date of Allocation 05/12/20; 30-day report 06/12/20;
45-day reports posted 07/20/20; 09/02/20; 10/12/20; FINAL 01/08/21
Updated report including new HEERF II and HEERF III funds, posted 07/09/21.