ESSER I
The first ESSER grant, which was funded by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020.
Purpose: to address the impact the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 has had, and continues to have on elementary and secondary schools in Florida. This includes developing and implementing plans for educational services and continued learning, whether school campuses are open or closed.
OCPS’s allocation of ESSER I funding is $55,446,693, with a spending deadline of September 30, 2022.
Allowable Activities
In accordance with section 18003(d) of the CARES Act, the allowable uses of these funds are as follows:
- Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including:
- The Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Alaska Native Educational Equity, Support Assistance Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.),
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) (‘‘IDEA’’),
- The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.),
- Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) (‘‘the Perkins Act’’), or
- Subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
- Coordination of preparedness and response efforts of LEAs with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments, and other relevant agencies, to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
- Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
- Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth, including how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population.
- Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs.
- Training and professional development for staff of the LEA on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
- Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of a local educational agency, including buildings operated by LEA.
- Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including for how to provide meals to eligible students, how to provide technology for on line learning to all students, how to provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) and how to ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all Federal, State, and local requirements.
- Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.
- Providing mental health services and supports.
- Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental after school programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
- Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in LEAs and continuing to employ existing staff of the LEA.