Cares Act

CARES Act
COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

For detailed information about the CARES Act Student Emergency Grant, please read the FAQ section below and refer to this web page for updates regularly (www.mtdiabloadulted.org - click on the CARES Act link).

The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds student grant is a one-time grant for Mt. Diablo Adult Education students enrolled in Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) programs who face unexpected expenses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to remote classes and services. These funds, which are grants, not loans, do not need to be paid back. Funding is limited and is subject to the rules and eligibility requirements found in Section 18004 of the CARES Act and in subsequent notice(s) from the United States Department of Education. For more detailed information about requirements and the application process, please read the information in the FAQ below and review the CARES Act page of our website at www.mtdiabloadulted.org regularly for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Eligible?

Students eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant must meet one of the following enrollment requirements:

Enrolled in a Fall 2019-20 Career and Technical Education certificate program that was still in progress but disrupted due to the coronavirus on 3/17/2020 OR
Enrolled in a Winter/Spring 2019-20 Career and Technical Education certificate program that was in progress but disrupted due to the coronavirus on 3/17/2020 AND re-enrolled and started the program again in Fall 2020-21.
Enrolled for the first time in Fall, Winter, or Spring 2020-21.
Enrolled for the first time in Fall, Winter, or Spring 2021-22.
Enrolled for the first time in Fall, Winter, or Spring 2022-23 (as long as funds are remaining).

Students must also meet the following Title IV eligibility criteria, determined through a completed FAFSA or CARES Act application:

US Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
Registered with selective service (males under age 25 only)
Valid Social Security Number
Valid High School Diploma or equivalency (GED, HISET)
Cannot be in default on a federal student loan
Cannot owe an overpayment on a Federal Student Aid program
No unresolved drug convictions involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs within a certain time frame.

How Do I Apply for the CARES Act Student Emergency Grant?

Students who meet the enrollment eligibility requirements noted above will receive an email with a link to a CARES Act Student Emergency Grant application, which must be submitted online by the deadline noted. Students who meet the Title IV eligibility requirements and certify that they had unexpected expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus will be eligible to receive a grant. Grant payments will be made by checks mailed to students through the U.S. mail.

What Can I Expect After I Apply?

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by email after the application deadline has passed (application deadlines vary depending on student’s enrollment date/status).

How Will I Receive My Funds?

CARES Act funds will be disbursed by checks mailed to students at the address provided on the CARES Act application.

What can the CARES Act Student Emergency Grant Be Used For?

The CARES Act Student Emergency Grant may be used for:

food
housing or temporary shelter
utilities
transportation
technology
internet access
class supplies
childcare
healthcare costs
other emergency expenses

Note: Students are not required to use grant funds to make payments to the school.

Do I need to Include This Grant in my Gross Income When Filing Taxes?

No, this grant does not need to be included in your gross income. According to the IRS, emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act qualify as disaster relief payments and are not considered taxable income.

Contact Us

For questions or additional information regarding the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, email Andrea Murphy, CTEC Workforce Programs/Financial Aid Coordinator at murphya@mdusd.org.

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds Disclosure

Mt. Diablo Adult Education (MDAE) received federal emergency grant funding as part of the CARES Act Stabilization Funding Package. This grant funding allows MDAE to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Department of Education requires each institution receiving CARES Act funding to submit a report within 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation and an update every 45 days thereafter. MDAE is disclosing the following required information on its website as part of these reporting requirements:

1. Mt. Diablo Adult Education has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement with the intention of using no less than 50% of the funds received to provide direct assistance to students who have unexpected expenses due to disruption caused by the coronavirus.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution has received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students: $193,638 (plus an additional $35,000 designated from Institutional Grant = $228,638).

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of 1/12/2023: $141,700.

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution who are or could be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 331 students

5. The total number of students to date who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 237 students

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

Current and Graduated students who started a Career and Technical Education Certificate program in fall 2019 and were still enrolled on 3/17/2020.

Students who were enrolled to begin a Career and Technical Education certificate program in spring 2020 that was postponed, re-enrolled in the program in fall 2020, and started attending on or after 10/5/2020.

Student submits FAFSA and meets Title IV eligibility requirements. Self-certifies on CARES Act application that expenses were incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to

Student submits CARES Act application and meets Title IV eligibility requirements. Self-certifies that expenses were incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.

Student submits FAFSA and/or CARES Act application and meets Title IV eligibility requirements. Self-certifies that expenses were incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.

Estimated 24 “greater than half-time” students will receive grants of $500

Estimated 14 “greater than half-time” students will receive $500 and 15 “less than half-time” students will receive $250

Estimated 18 “greater than half-time” students will receive $500 and 14 “less than half-time” students will receive $250

Additional phases were added in 2020-21 to include students enrolling for the first time in (4) Fall, (5) Winter, and (6) Spring terms. Funding for eligible students will include any remaining funds from the $34,479 received by MDAE under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act and an additional $34,479 received by MDAE under Section 18004(a)(3) of the CARES Act and designated for student emergency grants. CARES/HEERF student grant funds remaining at the beginning of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years were designated for additional phases of emergency grants, to include students enrolling for the first time in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, or until funds run out. Available funds include $35,000 designated from the HEERF FIPSE Grant received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Student grants in 2021-22 were increased to $500 for less than half-time students and $650 for greater than half-time students who must travel to an externship site. These increases were made due to increased cost-of-attendance expenses, including transportation costs.

Student grants in 2022-23 remained $500 for less than half-time students and were increased to $900 for greater than half-time students who must travel to an externship site. The increases for greater than half-time students were due to increased transportation and length in program.