ESSER III
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.
ESSER III includes new required set asides for both ADE and LEAs. These will help guide state and local decision making for leveraging these new funds to accelerate and enrich learning and increase learning opportunities – particularly for our most vulnerable student populations. To see a complete list of ADE’s ESSER set-aside funding allocations to-date, click here.
Allocations
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.
How is ESSER III different from ESSER I and ESSER II?
ESSER III differs from the first two ESSER awards. It contains new requirements for LEAs. These include:
- New 20% required set aside to address disrupted learning using evidence-based academic, social and emotional learning strategies for vulnerable populations of students
- ESSER III LEA plan requirements, to include engaging in meaningful consultation with stakeholders in the development of the plan
- Safe return to in-person instruction plan
- Local maintenance of equity requirements
How do I apply to use my ESSER III Funds?
The ESSER III application for Title-I-A LEAs, Non-Title I-A LEAs and CTED Entities is now live in GME.
- 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]
- Watch the March 24, 2021 ESSER III Overview Webinar and view the PowerPoint
- Watch the May 25, 2021 ESSER III Application overview Webinar and view the PowerPoint
- Watch the June 2, 2021 Safe Return to In-Person Instructional Plan Requirements Webinar and view the PowerPoint
NEW: Step by Step ESSER III Completion with narrative examples
- Read the comprehensive LEA ESSER III guidance.
- Watch our video overview of the ESSER III application process & view the accompanying slides
- 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.
- Read the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) FAQ 'Common Use of Funds Questions for ESSER & GEER'
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.
Read and download the ESSER III and Community Input Partner Toolkit
What should ESSER III Funds be used for?
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.
- ADE has published Evidence-Based Strategies for ESSER Funds
- 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 Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has released an FAQ on the Common Use of Funds for ESSER & GEER.
New 20% Set-Aside Requirements
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.
