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ESSER III

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Fund was passed in March 2021.  ESSER III is expected to provides nearly $122 billion to states to support the nations schools in safely reopening and sustaining safe operations of schools while meeting academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spring Creek ISD will receive $122,591 that is to be used over the next three years to provide academic support to help close learning gaps that emerged as a result of the pandemic and to provide social-emotional support to meet mental health needs, and support for a culture of literacy. 

The ARP ESSER III funds may be used by the Local Education Agency (LEA) for the following:

Of the total amount allocated to an LEA from the State's ARP ESSER award, the LEA must reserve at least 20% of funds to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions and ensure that those interventions respond to sutdents' social, emotional, and academic needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups (each major racial and ethic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care).

Remaining LEA funds may be used for a wide range of activities to address needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including

  • any activity authorized by the ESEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), or Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins CTE);
  • coordination of preparedness and response efforts of LEAs with state and local public health departments, and other relevant agencies, to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus;
  • activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth, including how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population;
  • developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs;
  • training and professional development for staff of the LEA on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases;
  • purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of an LEA;
  • planning for, coordinating and implementing activities during long-term closures, including providing meals to eligible students, providing technology for online learning for all students, provide guidance for carrying out requirements under IDEA, and ensuring other educational services can continue to be provided that is consistent with all federal, state, and local requirements.
  • purchasing educational technology (hardware, software, and connectivity) for students that aids in regular/substantive educational interaction between students and instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment;
  • providing mental health services and supports, including through implementation of evidence based full-service community schools;
  • planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs;
  • addressing learning loss;
  • school facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs;
  • developing strategies and implementing public health protocols;
  • other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in the LEA as well as continuing to employ existing staff and new staff.