CARES Act Disclosures

Brooklyn Law School has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or 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. As a recipient of these funds, Brooklyn Law School is required to make the following disclosures:

Brooklyn Law School has received $1,415,358.00 in emergency financial aid grants for students through the CARES Act, the CRSSA, the SSARP, and HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund).

To date, Brooklyn Law School has distributed $1,415,358.00 in emergency financial aid grants to 413 students through the CARES Act, the CRSSA, the SSARP, and HEERF.

Brooklyn Law School estimates that based on their FAFSA (per Federal Cares Act guidance) up to 3340 students were eligible for emergency financial aid grants through the CARES Act, the CRSSA, SSARP, and HEERF since the programs began in 2020. Based on our limited funds, Brooklyn Law School identified 413 unduplicated students through student hardship requests, need-analysis, and Cost of Attendance factors, including high student loan debt.

During the April 1 – June 30, 2023 quarter, $2,725.60 was disbursed to 2 students. 2 students were eligible during the April 1 – June 30, 2023 quarter.

During the January 1 – March 31, 2023 quarter, $132,100 was disbursed to 27 students. 27 students were eligible during the January 1 – March 31, 2023 quarter.

During the October 1 – December 31, 2022 quarter, $152,522 was disbursed to 33 students. 33 students were eligible for aid during the October 1 – December 31 quarter. (Please note that the determination of eligibility and the awarding of aid are usually made early in the semester, so figures for April 1 – June 30 and October 1 – December 31 quarters will seem lower than expected).

During the July 1 – September 30, 2022 quarter, $491,764 was distributed to 73 students. 73 students were eligible for aid during the July 1 – September 30, 2022 quarter.

During the April 1 – June 30, 2022 quarter, $18,000 was distributed to 18 students. 18 students were eligible for aid during the April 1 – June 30, 2022 quarter. (Please note that the determination of eligibility and the awarding of aid are usually made early in the semester, so figures for April 1 – June 30 and October 1 – December 31 quarters will seem lower than expected).

During the January 1 – March 31, 2022, quarter, $280,150 was distributed to 208 students. 208 students were eligible for aid during the January 1 – March 31, 2022 quarter.

During the October 1 – December 31,2021 quarter, $2,150 was distributed to 2 students. 2 students were eligible for aid during the October 1 – December 31 quarter. (Please note that the determination of eligibility and the awarding of aid are usually made early in the semester, so figures for April 1 – June 30 and October 1 – December 31 quarters will seem lower than expected).

During the July 1 – September 30, 2021 quarter, $90,000 was distributed to 39 students. 39 students were eligible for aid during the July 1 – September 30, 2021 quarter.

Brooklyn Law School uses the following methodology to determine which students receive Federal CARES Act Grants and how much they receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:

Student Federal Cares Act Grants are awarded by the Office of Financial Aid.

  • Students must have significant unmet need based on their EFC, Institutional scholarships/grants, and law school federal student loan debt.
  • Students must have a current FAFSA on file to receive Federal Cares Act funding. Exceptions are made for international students who are not eligible for federal student loans, and because of this, are not eligible to complete the FAFSA.

Brooklyn Law School has disclosed the following guidance regarding Federal Cares Act Funding. Students must use Federal Cares Act Grants to cover to educational and emergency expenses such as:

  • Brooklyn Law School tuition/fees/housing
  • Off-campus rent
  • Basic needs such as food, personal living expenses, and clothing
  • Medical expenses not covered by insurance
  • Housing displacement due to unsafe or unhealthy conditions
  • Emergency travel to care for immediate family members
  • Computer related expenses
  • Other Covid-related emergencies

Federal Cares Act Grants are part of the students’ Cost of Attendance and financial aid package. Federal Cares Act Grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid.

Brooklyn Law School has received an additional $1,052,871.00 from the CARES Act, CRSSA, and the ARP Act: $803,981 from the institution portions of Section (a)(1) of these Acts and $248,890 from CARES Act Section (a)(3) funding. Brooklyn Law School has chosen to use this additional funding to support the development of online and hybrid courses that will allow the school to continue to educate students during the pandemic, and to provide evidence-based interventions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including surveillance testing and PPE for faculty and staff.