What is it?
ON MARCH 11, 2021 the largest-ever-one-time federal investment in K12 education occurred with congressional passing of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). This supplemental ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding, known as ESSER III allocates nearly $123 billion for school districts to be spent over the next three and a half years.
What’s the timeline?
The deadline for claiming ARP funds is Sept. 30, 2021, with the ability to expand the funding for two calendar years afterward. Contact your school district or state for funding specifics, or send your questions directly to COVID-19@ed.gov for additional information and guidance. It’s worth noting that ESSER I and II funds are available for use through September 30, 2023. ESSER III funds must be allocated by September 30, 2024 (but not necessarily used by this date).
How are funds allocated? Allocated to local education authorities in each state, ESSER funds are distributed based on the individual state’s relative share of Title I enrollment numbers of public schools through state education departments, and to private schools through local educational authorities (LEAs). Check with your individual state education department or LEA to apply for funding and determine eligibility.
Click here for the full description of your state’s ESSER I, II and III funding allocation.
How can ESSER III funds be used?
Provided the educational expenses meet the guidelines of the bill, ESSER III provides local education agencies (LEAs) with $123 billion to be allocated to public and private schools in each state. 20% of the funds must be used to address learning loss through evidenced-based interventions that respond to the students’ academic, social and emotional needs. Additionally, districts are mandated to publish a plan to reopen schools for in-person instruction within 30 days of receiving funding.
Flexibility is provided allowing K12s to use the ESSER funds on any "activity authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.” The remaining funds can be used for any allowable use under the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Carl Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Your ESSER funds can be used for:
Software, hardware, connectivity
Online/hybrid learning
Mental health services and supports
Assessments
Identifying and addressing unfinished learning
Instructional materials
After school/extended day
Summer learning
Professional development
Teacher pay
According to the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, over 20% of technology infrastructure in public schools was described to be in ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ condition. Budgetary constraints have previously hampered school districts’ technology purchasing efforts allowing both hardware and software to become obsolete. With up to 80% of ESSER III funds eligible for addressing schools’ technology needs, districts are now taking advantage to update long over-due hardware, purchase instructional software to address the anticipated learning loss, connectivity and security-related software, among others.
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Deledao products aligned with ESSER Funding:
1) Support Online/Hybrid Learning
Deledao Education – Web Filter
Deledao Education – Live Online Classroom Management
2) Mental Health Services and Supports
Deledao Education – Student Wellness Monitoring
3) Assist Student/Teacher Interactions
Deledao Education – Live Online Classroom Management
What do Deledao products do?
Deledao Education – Web Filter
Keeps students safe, productive and learning online, whether on campus or off campus.
Deledao Education – Student Wellness Monitoring
Monitors a student’s social-emotional wellbeing by detecting cyberbullying and potential self-harm behavior.
Deledao Education – Live Online Classroom Management
Gives visibility into student engagement, provides student-teacher 1:1 communication.
