- Uplift Education
- ESSER
ESSER
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Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund)
ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief) was authorized under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) in February of 2021. It provides a total of $11.2 billion to Texas schools to ensure that students can return to school safely in the fall and to help districts sustain the safe operation of their facilities. Uplift Education expects to receive about $53+ million in ESSER III funding, which is intended to help reopen schools and accelerate learning and mitigate learning loss.
ESSER III’s primary purpose is to direct attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s students. The funds can be used to attend to social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs that have resulted from the pandemic and have contributed to learning loss.
Over a three-year period, Uplift Education will receive over $53+ million in ESSER III grant funds. Our commitment is to maximize the benefit of these funds through the implementation of innovative strategies such as High Impact Tutoring and Summer Institutes to make up learning loss, Scholar Culture Programs based on parent feedback to further engage scholars to retain enrollment over future years as well as offsetting salary costs across the network.
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) may provide additional or updated information, as necessary, on the Department’s website at: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilizationfund/elementary-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund/.
Use of Funds
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Spending Guidelines and Learning Loss Activities
- Must spend a minimum of 20% of the grant funds to address learning loss and academic impact loss of instructional time
- Evidence-based interventions, such as learning or enrichment, extended day comprehensive after-school programs, or extended school year programs; and
- Ensure interventions respond to students’ academic, social and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on student populations as defined in Title I, homeless students, and foster care students.
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Uplift Education's Spending Plan
- 20% is reserved to mitigate learning loss due to COVID-19 through High Impact Tutoring & Summer Institute
- 60% is planned for existing salaries at campuses and district staff
- 5% are planned for Scholar Culture Programs as determined by scholars, families, and staff
- 15% is budgeted for (Unrestricted) Indirect Costs (rate adjusted annually by TEA)
- Our guiding principle is that scholars have access to do activities in a high-quality way, we create programs that start to build distinction in a community (e.g., a primary band program) and we have a consistent experience across the PK-12, particularly within secondary
- Primary schools will receive $20 per enrolled scholar per year for 3 years • Secondary schools will receive $40 per enrolled scholar per year for 3 years.
FAQ
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What is the purpose of ESSER III funds?
The purpose of ESSER, in general, is to award subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) such as Uplift Education to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools.
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Are ESSER III funds required to be used for specific purposes?
Yes, LEAs must expend a minimum of 20 percent of their grant funds on:
- Evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning, extended day comprehensive after school programs, or extended school year programs; and
- Ensure interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on student populations as defined in ESEA, Title I, Part A, students experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.
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What are some of the allowable uses for ESSER III funds?
ESSER funds are designated to be used in any or all of 15 buckets, which include addressing learning loss, providing professional development, improving indoor air quality, providing social and emotional supports, updating and providing technology, and others (FAQ from TEA)
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What is the funding period for ESSER III grants?
Funds may be used for allowable activities from March 13, 2020 (with approved pre-award) through Sept. 30, 2024 (carryover).
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What are the federal requirements around ESSER III use of Funds Plan?
The LEA must engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders and give the public an opportunity to provide input in the development of its plan for the uses of ARP ESSER III funds.
The LEA must provide its plan for the uses of ARP ESSER III funds in an understandable and uniform format.
The LEA’s plan for the uses of ARP ESSER III funds will be posted to the LEA’s website within 30 days of receiving its ESSER III Notice of Grant Award.
