ESSER 2022-23
Overview:
| Time | CARES ACT: ESSER I | CRSA: ESSERII | ARP: ESSER III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Date | March 13, 2020 | March 13, 2020 | March 13, 2020 |
| End Date | September 30, 2022 | September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2024 |
| RISD Allocation | $8,096,794 | $30,980,223 | $69,500,000 |
CARES Act: ESSER I
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act dedicated $13.2 billion for K-12 schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. This grant is known as ESSER I. The intent and purpose of ESSER I funding is to provide emergency relief funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. ESSER I funds can be used to cover expenses incurred March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2022.
Richardson ISD applied to receive its ESSER I allocation in August 2020. RISD’s ESSER I allocation was not supplemental to Richardson ISD; instead, ESSER I funds were used by the Texas Education Agency to offset the loss of average daily attendance (ADA) through the Foundation School Program (FSP) under Texas school finance. RISD used its internal allocation of $8,096,794 to maintain salaries, provide internet connectivity and purchase necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
CRRSA: ESSER II
In December 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) was signed into law. CRRSA dedicated an additional $54.3 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. This grant is known as ESSER II. The Texas Education Agency released the grant application on June 4, 2021, and Richardson ISD’s ESSER II allocation is $30,980,223. Richardson ISD will apply for its allocation of ESSER II funds before September 2, 2021. ESSER II funds can be used to cover expenses incurred March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2023.
Richardson ISD is not required to provide equitable services to private non-profit schools with ESSER II funds. Private non-profit schools will receive separate funding from TEA under the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) I grant. RISD is waiting on additional formula rules to be shared by TEA to determine the amount available to the district after TEA determines the amount they will allocate to offset the loss of average daily attendance (ADA) through the Foundation School Program (FSP) under Texas school finance.
ARP: ESSER III
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law. ARP dedicated $122 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund. This grant is known as ESSER III. The intent and purpose of ESSER III is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus on students.
Richardson ISD applied to the TEA to receive its share of funding via the third round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.
ESSER III funds are federal dollars to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. A portion of this grant must address students’ learning loss related to the pandemic.
RISD received $69,599,659 in ESSER III funding which will be released in 2 distributions. These funds can be used through Sept. 30, 2024.
Some of the anticipated allocations for the $46,384,786 that has been released include:
- Address learning loss and provide accelerated instruction – $35 million
- Math and reading interventions and interventionists – $8 million
- Kindergarten and 1st grade support teachers – $5.86 million
- Summer Programming – $5.81 million
- Class Size Reduction and Remediation (5th and 6th Grade, JH/HS core, credit recovery, Edgenuity) – $9.7 million
- Student recovery support – $50,000
- Extracurricular Learning Activities – $1.8 million
- SEL Support – $1 million
- ARD/Evaluation Support – $160,000
- Expanded RISE Academies (Saturday acceleration program) – $2.5 million
- Literacy and Intervention – 1.475 million
- Dyslexia support – $515,000
- Special Education Support – $160,000
- Community in schools support – $560,000
- Pre-K Special Education Classrooms – $486,000
ESSER III funds have not been utilized to implement the RISD Return to Learning Plan (The Blueprint).
Richardson ISD is not required to provide equitable services to private non-profit schools with ESSER III funds. Private non-profit schools can apply for funding from TEA under the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) II grant.
Please see the below Board of Trustee presentations for more information on the ESSER III plans for Richardson ISD.
Meeting Links
Stakeholder Input
Richardson ISD engaged stakeholders in a variety of ways when developing a comprehensive plan for ESSER funds These efforts included planning for both Safe Return to School which is outlined in our Richardson ISD Pandemic Protocols and Addressing Learning Loss which is outlined in RISD’s Comprehensive Plan for the ESSER III Federal Grant. For each area, feedback was solicited through surveys and public comment from staff, students, families, public health authorities, and the community.
The Safe Return to School has been revisited through staff and family surveys and through public comment on our Let’s Talk and at our regularly scheduled board meetings. It is on board meeting agendas to be reviewed by our Board of Trustees on an ongoing basis. ESSER III funds have not been needed to address the many aspects of our Richardson ISD Pandemic Protocols.
If you would like to provide feedback on the plans or input to be considered during the periodic review of the plans, please submit feedback to Let’s Talk.
All ESSER III funds have been committed to our Accelerated Learning Plan to address learning loss and to Improving Student Outcomes. Stakeholders including staff, students, families, and the community were surveyed and invited to comment through our district Let’s Talk platform. Additionally, district leadership has addressed community groups to inform and solicit feedback throughout the summer and fall. Information about use of funds has been shared as requests have been made.
Resources
- RISD Comprehensive ESSER III Federal Grant Plan July 2023
- RISD Comprehensive ESSER III Federal Grant Plan December 2022
- RISD’s Comprehensive Plan for the ESSER III Federal Grant (2021)
- Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Grant Programs
- Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
- The Blueprint (RISD Return to Learning Plan)
- COVID-19 Pandemic Protocols