ESSER Information

The purpose of ESSER funding is to award subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) such as Robertson County Schools to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools.

Robertson County's ESSER 3.0 allocation is $14,762,182.91.

Funds may be used for allowable activities from March 2020 (with approved pre-award) through Sept. 2024.

The LEAs must engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders and give the public an opportunity to provide input in the development of its plan for the uses of ARP ESSER 3.0 funds.

1. The LEA must provide its plan for the use of ARP ESSER 3.0 funds in an understandable and uniform format.
2. The LEA's plan for the use of ARP ESSER 3.0 funds must be posted on the district website within 30 days of receiving an ESSER 3.0 Notice of Grant Award.

Yes, LEAs must expend a minimum of 20 percent of their grant funds on:

1. Evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning, extended day comprehensive after school programs, or extended school year programs; and
2. Ensure interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on student populations as defined in ESEA, Title I, Part A, students experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.

While keeping in mind the purpose and requirements under ESSER 3.0 related to accelerating student learning, The TN Department of Education strongly encourages school systems to plan for how to use these one-time federal funds expeditiously over the entire covered period to facilitate a more comprehensive long-term approach to learning acceleration. This may include aligned strategies that are currently part of a district’s current plans and strategies. A qualitative review of draft local learning acceleration plans revealed the following trends and suggestions, including but not limited to:

• Professional Development: comprehensive Reading Academies, high-quality instructional materials, dyslexia training, professional development stipends, technology integration training;
• Extended Instructional Time: extended day, extended year, high-dosage tutoring, summer learning;
• Staffing: tutors, reduced class sizes, small group instruction, staff retention and recruitment incentive pay, after school enrichment programs, instructional coaching and leadership;
• Facilities: ventilation, cleaning, HVAC systems, specialized instructional spaces;
• Technology: devices, infrastructure upgrades, learning management systems, digital tools, educational application;
• Mental Health and Behavioral Supports: social workers, at-risk coordinators, additional counseling services, teacher training and programming, wrap-around and community partnerships.

ESSER funds are designated to be used in any or all of the designated allowable areas, which include addressing learning loss, providing professional development, improving indoor air quality, providing social and emotional supports, updating and providing technology, and other (TDOE allowable uses).

Since the large influx of ESSER funding into LEAs can result in funding deficits when it ends, the LEA must plan for how to effectively and efficiently use the ESSER funds. It is recommended to use the ESSER grant funds for one-time or short-term expenditures to address the identified needs caused by the pandemic. Although long-term uses of the ESSER funds are also allowable, these types of uses may cause the LEA to not have funding to continue these  activities after the ESSER period of availability ends, thus creating fiscal deficits.