ESSER Funds & Safe Return to School Plan
- ESSER Funds & Safe Return to School Plan
- "ESSER" is short for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief.
- ESSER I and ESSER II were established respectively by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act in December 2020.
-
ESSER III receives its numerical designation from the fact that the ARP ESSER Fund is the third set of COVID-related federal relief grants for schools that Congress has passed since the pandemic began.
-
How Will Unit 5 Use Its ESSER Funds?
-
The district used its grant money in five major areas:
-
Academic Supports (including summer school, tutoring, and increasing the number of academic interventionists)
-
Social-Emotional Supports
-
Health and Safety
-
Air Quality & Ventilation
-
Technology
-
Unit 5 has accomplished meaningful consultation through several methods over the past two years. Return to School Advisory Committees met frequently to gain feedback from district stakeholders including staff and their unions, families, and community members. Members of these committees included, Prek through 12th grade certified, classified and administrative staff, parents representing students from all grade levels and demographics, community partners, and our local health department. The focus of these meetings was to determine our highest priorities for safely returning to school and how best to use ESSER funds to support students' needs. The meeting formats consisted of presentations, collaboration, discussions, and survey feedback.