How COVID Relief Funds are Transforming our Schools
Part II: Prioritizing COVID-Relief Funds
Throughout the pandemic, Coalition to Advance Future Student Success members have supported their respective members in thinking through long-term and sustainable solutions to improve public schools. In Part II of this three-part blog series on how COVID relief dollars are transforming schools, Coalition organization members share compelling stories of how ESSER funding has been dedicated to these high-priority issues and the impact it has made in schools.
A recent survey asked Coalition members to indicate priority areas for their organization based on the 10-point framework to drive support and consistent guidance. The majority of members identified the following as priority areas: Provide Physical, Mental Health and Well-being Supports, Address COVID Learning Gaps for All Students, Ensure High-Quality Curriculum & Instruction, and Recruit and Retain Talented Educator Workforce. Coalition organizations are finding ways to support and elevate how their members are using ESSER funds to address each of these issues.
Schools across the country are using this infusion of federal COVID aid to re-envision how they deliver education and wellbeing supports and address staffing shortages. This National Association of Elementary School Principals resource, “ Divvying up the ESSER Dollars,” highlights how districts are dedicating ESSER funds to hiring new personnel, enhancing academic supports and exploring innovative ideas. Poway Unified School District in San Diego has earmarked funds for social workers, psychologists and counselors in all of its 38 schools. In Dayton, Ohio, ESSER funds are being used to double the number of teachers in primary grade classrooms to ensure that every child receives the support needed to recover academically. Additionally, “grow-your-own” programs that train paraeducators, after-school providers and other support staff to become teachers have shown promise in improving retention. This approach is particularly effective at developing a more diverse educator workforce.
In this commentary, the National Governors Association (NGA) highlighted Governors’ efforts to address the impact of interrupted instruction on K-12 students and their plans for additional academic supports, including afterschool and summer learning. Additionally, NGA’s K-12 Education: Reflect and Redesign webinars focus on Governors’ strategies for K-12 education finance, reengaging students, afterschool and summer learning and enrichment and supporting students with unique needs, including students in tribal communities, students experiencing homelessness, students with disabilities and English language learners. Forthcoming webinars in this series will cover topics including parent, family and community engagement and community schools.
Moving toward creating a holistic redesign of our nation’s schools, , in partnership with the Successful Practices Network, has recognized 13 school districts as “Lighthouse” systems that will serve as models of positive change in public education. One of these districts, Baldwin Union Free School District in New York, is working to fill vacant teacher positions by having high school students earn college credit so they may return to the district as teachers.
The Fort Worth (Texas) Independent School District used federal dollars on programs that support academic growth and outcomes, the recruitment and retention of employees and security and a safe return to instruction in the post-crisis era of COVID. The school district also asked for stakeholder input on how these funds have been utilized so far and how they should be spent in the future.
The National Association of State Boards of Education’s September 2022 issue of The State Education Standard featured an adaptation from a recent conference session, “Teachers as Drivers of Excellence.” Christine Benson, a member of the Illinois State Board of Education, shared that with the influx of federal COVID-relief funds, the state has added 5,600 teachers this year alone. The state also dedicated $5.6 million of its ESSER set-aside for district grants to implement research-based strategies to improve the retention of special education teachers, prioritizing districts that have low special education teacher retention rates and/or special education vacancies. Additionally, the Missouri State Board of Education directed nearly $55 million in relief funds earmarked to support recruitment and retention grants across the state.
Even more local investments can have a big impact on staff funding to provide additional support for students. This National Association of Secondary School Principals’ blog offers a principal’s perspective on the impact of COVID relief funding. Mike Roemer, a principal in Milwaukee, shares how funds from an equity “mini-grant” using ESSER funds helped 80 students receive summer math and reading enrichment opportunities to ensure they were prepared academically for the next school year. Roemer’s school also used ESSER funds to purchase technology, improve infrastructure and address social and emotional needs by hiring school psychologists, social workers and counselors.
Schools have had to readjust delivery models and address education professional shortages while protecting students and staff, both emotionally and physically. The Coalition to Advance Future Student Success member organizations have supported their members by working together to identify promising practices, support state and local leaders and coordinate the efforts of leading education organizations toward transformative goals.
Be sure to check out Parts I and III of this blog series, which looks at how Coalition members are supporting their members to track and elevate uses of ESSER funds and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury’s discussion about his state’s use of the funds on the Route K-12: Exploring Education Recovery podcast. For more 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.
