How COVID Relief Funds are Transforming our Schools
Part I: Supporting Our Members
Over the past two years, Congress provided nearly $190 billion for K-12 education through three rounds of funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. The obligation deadline for the first set of ESSER funds, from the federal law known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is September 30, 2022, and education leaders across the country are working to ensure these funds bring about greater equity and outcomes for students in the U.S.
Members of the Coalition to Advance Future Student Success have provided resources to support their members in leveraging this transformational moment in education. Additionally, these organizations are seeing bright spots that demonstrate how their respective members are investing these funds to chart a path forward toward an equitable education recovery. Part I of this three-part blog series on how COVID relief dollars are transforming schools highlights how Coalition members are helping their members track and elevate the use of ESSER funds.
Of the overall $190 billion in ESSER funds allocated to states, 10% of those funds, or $19 billion, is set aside for state education agency use. To better understand how their members are using these funds, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) launched the COVID Relief Data Project to research and analyze how states are using this federal aid. According to the data, states are making noteworthy investments in scaling up tutoring and accelerated learning efforts, expanding out-of-school-time programs, implementing high-quality curriculum and instruction, addressing staffing shortages, closing the digital divide and tending to student and staff wellbeing. CCSSO also supports members through the development of tools and resources and by offering cross-state sharing opportunities. More information is available on CCSSO’s State Leadership on Recovery website.
Other organizations are also tracking and reporting the use of ESSER funds on behalf of their members. Having readily available data helps members tell the stories of how ESSER funds are making a difference in their classrooms and schools. Chiefs for Change created this resource to help K-12 systems communicate how they are spending COVID aid. Indianapolis Public Schools held a series of town halls to hear from families, students and educators. Using that input, the district identified priority areas aligned to its overall strategic planning process and created a publicly available ESSER tracker with up-to-date information on how the funding is being spent across key priorities and initiatives.
The National Conference of State Legislatures published this Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds Tracker, which highlights how states are investing ESSER funds. It includes a variety of highlights, including how Alaska is using COVID relief funds to support Indian Education and American Indian and Alaska Native health. The state used ESSER funds to address issues about access to devices and the internet, which helped alleviate connectivity concerns related to virtual care provided by Indian health services.
Using COVID relief funding to cope with the challenges both created and deepened by the pandemic has been instrumental in addressing the disruption in our schools. The thoughtful use of federal funds gives schools the opportunity to chart a path to recovery and helps ensure that all students receive the educational opportunities they deserve.
Parts II and III of this series will focus on high-priority funding trends in schools and how Maryland is working to transform education for all students. For more compelling examples of how the Coalition is working to drive support and consistent guidance for its members, follow the Coalition Perspectives blog and subscribe to our monthly Coalition in Action newsletter.
