The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has received funding through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to provide new Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund grants to LEAs to support local recovery needs and efforts in response to COVID-19.
You can contact our ESSER team anytime at Devon Isherwood, 602 364-0379 or Allison Barbor, 602 542-3068 or the [email protected]
ESSER III - ADE setaside funds
The Arizona Department of Education received an incredible 130+ submissions for ESSER III Set-Aside dollars. These applications were for the Arizona Department of Education’s discretionary funds from the third federal COVID-19 recovery act, the American Rescue Plan, and are distinct from the ESSER III funds available only to LEAs through grant applications that were due this month.
Our team is reviewing submissions and plans to announce recipients by Spring 2022.
GREAT NEWS! Unlike ESSER I, there will be a single completion report for ESSER II and a single completion report for ESSER III. This will remove the burden of completing a second application and budget with unspent carry over funds. See information below:
Ninety percent of Arizona’s total $2.5 billion ESSER III Fund award is required to be allocated to LEAs based on the proportionate share of Title I-A funds they received in SY20-21, totaling $2,323,888,827.30.
Additional funds were provided using ADE’s SEA Discretionary Activities Reserve to ensure all non-profit Non-Title I-A LEAs and CTED Entities receive an award of $570 per pupil, and to ensure all Title I-A LEAs receive an award of at least $570 per pupil.
In total, $2,372,250,366.22 has been allocated to LEAs through ESSER III.
LEAs applying for their ESSER III allocations should have submitted their application on February 1, 2022. This deadline was set by the US Department of Education.
The ESSER III application for Title-I-A LEAs, Non-Title I-A LEAs and CTED Entities was due February 1, 2022. This deadline was established by the US Department of Education.
Download the list of available ESSER III allocations:
What is the process for Non-Title I-A LEAs receiving small ESSER III awards ($50,000 or less):
Based on stakeholder feedback, small Non-Title I-A LEAs receiving an ESSER III allocation of $50,000 or less will be provided their award as a supplement to their existing ESSER II award. This will streamline the process for small Non-Title I-A LEAs to access and leverage these new funds, remove the need for small LEAs to complete a new application for ESSER III, and will also waive the new ESSER III LEA plan requirements. If a small LEA would rather access their ESSER III funds through the new ESSER III application process (with all the new ESSER IIII requirements) they may do so through sending a request to [email protected]
Read the new U.S. Department of Education Frequently Asked Questions guidance regarding allowable uses of ESSER funds and ESSER funds requirements across ESSER I, II and III.
ADE partnered with Achieve60AZ, College Success Arizona, Expect More Arizona and Arizona School Administrators to create and share a new resource to support LEAs to meet new ESSER III local stakeholder engagement requirements.
ESSER III – just like ESSER I & II funds - are highly flexible, and are designed to help address local recovery efforts relative to responding to COVID-19. ESSER III Funds can be used throughout the LEA, in all schools and in support of all students and staff.
The U.S. Department of Education has released new Frequently Asked Questions guidance regarding allowable uses of ESSER funds and ESSER funds requirements across ESSER I, II and III.
By the end of the Summer, ADE will also release recommendations from our Equitable & Effective Schools Task Force on LEA use of these funds.
The American Rescue Plan stipulates that 20% of an LEA’s total ESSER III award must be reserved to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or extended school year programs.
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan Requirements
All LEAs receiving ESSER III funds must develop and make publicly available on their website, a plan for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services.
ESSER I funds expire Sept 30th, Junior Achievement Inspire, WestEd's Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL), and a spotlight on one of our American Rescue Plan School and Community grantees.
