ESSER III
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The ESSER III Fund was passed in March 2021, under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. ESSER III is expected to provide approximately $11.177 billion to Texas school districts. The Texas Education Agency (TEA), as the pass-through entity from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and TEA awards subgrants to non-federal entities such as local education agencies (LEAs). ARP ESSER III focuses on school districts reopening and operating safely, as well as, addressing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students.
Santo ISD is eligible for a total of $978,357 from the ARP ESSER III Fund. To receive the funds, Santo ISD is required to submit a grant application to the Texas Education Agency by 5:00 p.m. July 27, 2021. The grant will be awarded in two phases. In phase 1, Santo ISD will receive two-thirds of the total available grant, equaling to the amount of $652,238. In phase 2, Santo ISD will receive the remaining one-third of the total available grant, equaling to the amount of $326,119.
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How can ESSER III funds be used?
- Activities allowed by:
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
- with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
- Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)
- Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins CTE)
- Develop strategies and implement public health protocols (in line with guidance from the CDC to the greatest extent possible) to reopen and operate schools to effectively maintain the health of students and staff;
- Coordinating and response efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19;
- Training and professional development on sanitizing and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases;
- Supplies to sanitize and clean the District’s facilities;
- Improving and/or repairing the District’s facilities to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards;
- Improve indoor air quality;
- Addressing the needs of children from low-income families, children that have disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, homeless students, and children that are in foster care;
- Procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of the District, including developing and implementing those procedures;
- Planning and/or implementing activities during long-term closures, including providing meals to eligible students and providing technology for online learning;
- Educational technology for students that aid in interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment;
- Mental health services and supports, including implementation of evidence-based full-service community schools and the hiring of counselors;
- Summer learning and supplemental after-school programs, including planning and the implementation of those programs;
- Activities that address learning loss; and
- Any other activities that are necessary to maintain operation and services provided by the District, including continuing to employ existing staff or hiring new staff.
- Activities allowed by:
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Are any of the funds dedicated for a specific purpose?
ESSER III requires that a District reserve, at a minimum, 20 percent of ESSER III funds to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Districts must ensure that the interventions respond to the students’ social, emotional, and academic needs. Additionally, the interventions must address the impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups such as each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, gender, migrant students, homeless students, and children and youth in foster care.
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Stakeholder Input #1
Santo ISD is seeking input from stakeholders Those wishing to provide input may do so by completing the ARP ESSER III survey under Resource Links below or by attending the June 23, 2021 Board meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room on the Elementary Campus at 406 FM 2201, Santo.
ESSER Survey
Parent/Community Feedback Survey open at 11 AM Monday, May 24 through 8 AM Wednesday, June 2. -
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services Plan
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Santo ISD's Use of Funds Plan 2020-2023
SISD Use of Funds Plan
updated 7/27/2022
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Please feel free to contact Greg Gilbert at 940-769-2835 if you have any questions.