State Board of Education ESSER Recovery Funding

August 12, 2021

Information Item

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PURPOSETo share statewide feedback on the ESSER state set aside funding and provide time for the board to discuss priorities for the resources.

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Today’s Purpose and Agenda

AGENDA● Federal funding and timeline

overview

● Context and coordination

● Synthesis of input received

● CDE considerations

● Board discussion

Overview ofFederal Funding

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ESSER I(CARES Act) March 2020

ESSER II(CRRS Act)

December 2020

ESSER III(ARP Act)March 2021

Total State Allocation

$120,993,782 $519,324,311 $1,167,153,961

Allocation to LEAs

$108,894,404

$120.81 per pupil

90% of total funding Title I formula

$467,391,880

$518.70 per pupil

90% of total funding Title I formula

$1,050,438,565

$1,164.93 per pupil

90% of total funding Title I formula

State Reserve$12,099,378

10% of total funding

$51,932,431

10% of total funding

$116,715,396

10% of total funding

Funding PeriodThrough

Sept. 30, 2022Through

Sept. 30, 2023Through

Sept. 30, 2024

Total ESSER Funding

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Additional Federal Money for Education

Governor’s Emergency Education

Relief(~$44M)

Coronavirus Relief Funds for

Education (~$550M)

Emergency Assistance for

Non-Public Schools (~$57M)

Included in the first

stimulus bill

Included in the first

stimulus bill

Funding available for non-public schools in the

second and third stimulus bills

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Additional Federal Money for Education

Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act Funding ($41.5M)

Library Services and Technology

Funds($3.4M)

Emergency Costs for Child

Nutrition Program ($9.9M)

Included in the third stimulus bill Included in a separate

stimulus bill

Funds to Support Homeless

Children & Youth ($7.6M)

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ESSER Funding Directly to Districts

ESSER I: ~$109M

90% Allocation

ESSER II: ~$467M

90% Allocation

ESSER III: ~$1B

90% Allocation

● Applications due December 31, 2020

● Funds must be spent by September 30, 2022

● Applications due September 30, 2021

● Funds must be spent by September 30, 2023

● Initial applications due May 23, 2021

● Final application due March 24, 2022

● Funds must be spent by September 30, 2024

Funds distributed to districts based upon Title I formula

At least 20% of ESSER III funding must be used to address the learning impacts of COVID-19 through interventions, summer programming, and after-school opportunities

ESSER State Set Aside FundsFunding Gap Support

(~$3.2 M)Provide Broadband

(~$1.3 M)Statewide Capacity

Building(~$5 M)

ESSER I: $11.5 MillionExpand Learning

Opportunities(~$2 M)

ESSER II: $49.3 Million

Funding Gap Support(~$16.8 M)

Expand Learning Opportunities

(~$10.5 M)

Statewide Capacity Building(~$650K)

Other Allowable Activities

(~$21.4 M)

ESSER III: $110.8 Million

Evidenced-Based Interventions for

Learning Loss(~$58.3 M)

Summer Programming

(~$11.7 M)

After SchoolProgramming

(~$11.7 M)

Other AllowableActivities

(~$29.2 M)

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ESSER State Set Aside Funds (9.5%)

● June - July

○ Gather and synthesize stakeholder input

● August 12

○ Present stakeholder feedback report to SBE

● August 24

○ SBE vote on ESSER allocations

● August 31

○ Submit APR ESSER III state plan to USDOE

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Process and Timeline

CONTEXT AND COORDINATION

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Coordination

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District Context

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ESSER I ESSER II ESSER III

Addressing the impact of COVID-19 on schools, such as:

● Coordination with public health departments

● Purchasing educational technology

● Planning for long term closures

● Training and supplies for sanitation

● Mental health support

● Summer school and afterschool programs

● Funds for principals to address local needs

● Other activities to continue school operations and employment of existing staff

Same as ESSER I with emphasis on:

● Addressing learning loss

● School facility repairs and improvements

● Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of schools

Same as ESSER I with a requirement to direct at least 20% of funding to

address the learning impacts of COVID-19

through interventions

All ESSER funds may be used for activities allowable under ESEA, IDEA, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Perkins CTE Act, or the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, in response to COVID-19.

Allowable Uses of District ESSER Funding

Education-specific legislation

● HB 21-1234 Supplemental Education High-Impact Tutoring Programs – $5 million

● HB 21-1259 Extended Learning Opportunities – $0

● SB 21-013 COVID Related Learning Loss – $0

● HB 21-1006 Fifth-day School Enrichment Programs Funding – $0

● SB 21-202 Public School Air Quality Improvement Grants – $10 million

● SB21-185 Supporting Educator Workforce in Colorado – $9 million

○ State-level recruitment and retention activities and TEACHColorado.org

○ Alternative educator preparation program grants

○ Creates teacher recruitment education & preparation (TREP) program

● HB 21-1264 Funds for Workforce Development to Increase Workers’ Skills –

○ $5 million for adult education (CDE);

○ $10 million for CTE equipment, facility, and instruction capacity (CDHE)

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General Assembly - 2021 Legislation and Funding

Mental health legislation and resources

● HB21-1068 Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam – $0

● HB21-1258 Rapid Mental Health Response For Colorado Youth – $9 million

● SB21-137 Behavioral Health Recovery Act – $114 million total; approx. $8.5 million for children/youth behavioral health initiatives

● SB 21-185 Supporting Educator Workforce – Requires UCHealth Sciences Center to provide support services for educators through a fee-for-service contract. Services may include a hotline for educators, staffed support groups, and training and support focusing on coping with stress and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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General Assembly - 2021 Legislation and Funding

$40M of Governor's Emergency Education Relief funding dedicated to the Response, Innovation, and Student Equity (RISE) Program to fund innovation in high-needs school districts, charter schools, and public IHEs to address the learning challenges related to the economic, social, and health impacts of COVID-19

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Governor’s Office

Over 30 awards selected by a group of parents, students, and education leaders, including:

● $3.6M for a partnership between Pueblo Community College and Southwest CO school districts to build strong postsecondary pathways for students in the building trades and environmental science.

● $2.8M for the development of a full-time summer literacy program for K-5th graders at schools with lower performance across the Cheraw, Estes Park, Las Animas, Montezuma-Cortez, and Sheridan school districts.

● $2.2M to create a cross-district program for Bennett, Strasburg, and Weld Central to provide training, resources and implementation support to improve student mental health.

● $2.8M for the creation of a comprehensive STEAM program integrated with Ute arts, language and culture that can serve as a model for other American Indian and indigenous communities in CO.

● $1.5M for a cohort of 13 charter and innovation schools to deliver strategy and tools to increase engagement for underserved students.

● All first round awardees can be found here and second round awardees here.

● In May, the Governor approved the use of $9.4M of GEER funds to create the Tutoring Corps initiative within AmeriCorps.

● With a focus on math and reading, this program is in the process of recruiting schools to host AmeriCorps members to provide high-impact tutoring services and capacity building for school personnel.

● Approximately 380 AmeriCorps members will be placed in schools across Colorado in the 2021-22 academic year, and are anticipated to impact 10,000 students.

● Program design includes input of school districts, community organizations, CDE staff and Colorado Education Initiative.

● Using ESSER I and II funds, the AmeriCorp program continues to support immediate needs in schools by using some Corp members as school-based substitutes during the day and tutoring after school.

● Corp members are also encouraged to become educators through ongoing engagement with TEACHColorado.org and articulated pathways with CSU and PEBC

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Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s Office, Cont.

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Community, Philanthropy and Non-Profit Partners

Community based organizations working together

with our schools and school districts

Community based organizations working directly

with the families in their community

CEI and Early Milestone’s Recovery Summer 2021

Public library initiatives

COMMUNITY INPUT

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Process

CDE contracted with Keystone Policy Group to conduct a community input process

The process occurred during the month of July

● Focus groups with parents, educators, students, community organizations, school leaders, district administrators, educator preparation programs and CDE staff

● Statewide survey

● Other input received, including a special listening session with legislators

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Feedback - Themes and Ideas

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Feedback - Values/Overarching Guidance

We need inclusive practices for all of our students – not just the ones who can catch up quickly but also the kids who do need the extra help.

Avoid dumping funds into things that you can’t sustain, become relied upon & then are unfunded mandates

Invest in what currently is working vs. new programs/efforts

Assure that resources are provided state-wide, all sizes or organizations, rural in particular

Flexibility in funding (who it goes to, how it is allocated) - Make it easier to get funds

with a focus on language other than English

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Feedback - Some specific suggested investments

Evaluation

Curriculum and Assessments

Collaboration Supports

● Community organization partnerships

● Multi-district partnerships, especially in rural Colorado

● Start-up costs, collaboration structures

Professional Development

Recruitment and Retention Strategies

Online Tools

Communication Supports

Compensatory Services for

Students with Disabilities

Charter Authorizer Support

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Additional Considerations

Who didn’t wehear from?

What does the state data tell us?

CDECONSIDERATIONS

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ESSER State Reserve Decision Making Process

We recognize the once-in-a-generation opportunity to support our education system with these funds.

We want to ensure we stop, think big and creatively, gather input, and use this funding to truly make a difference for our students in Colorado.

Our top priority is to close the opportunity and achievement gaps that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

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Proposed Criteria/Priorities

Addresses the needs of our students most

impacted by the pandemic and

historically

Builds capacity for our state both in the

moment and longer-term● Includes evaluation to

inform potential long-term adjustments to our education system

Magnifies impact by funding at the state level, versus being funded by

individual districts

Focuses the funding on fewer priorities to have a more significant impact● Supports existing programs as opposed to creating brand new structures, when possible

Allowable use – specifically in response to COVID-19

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CDE Considerations for Allocations

Increase and support school workforce (teachers, tutors, substitutes, special service providers)

Recruitment and retention Professional development (social-emotional learning, content acceleration/interventions, community coordination)

Support academic acceleration (English language proficiency, math and literacy for impacted populations, tutoring, summer school, afterschool)

Transparency, monitoring and learning through data, information and evaluation

Re-engagement for students through after-school, summer school, enrichment, academic innovation, school climate and other supports

Community building within school and district communities, with community partners and across districts

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CDE Specific Considerations for Allocations

1 Increase and support school workforceteachers, tutors, substitutes, special service providers, bus drivers

$15 million – tutoring corps, preservice, recruitment, mentoring retention grants

$5 million – professional development learning modules

2 Support academic accelerationEnglish language proficiency, math and literacy for impacted populations

● $25 million – supplemental for districts, BOCES, SPED, Tribes, high risk populations.

● $15 million – career connected learning (CTE, rural collaboration zones)

● $30 million – high dosage tutoring, summer school, after-school

● $10 -12 million – high quality instructional materials and curriculum bank

● $6 million – additional support for EASI, proactive grants for schools

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CDE Specific Considerations for Allocations (con’t)

3 Transparency, monitoring and learning through data, information and evaluation

$7-10 million – data pipeline, customer relations and grant management tool, with data visualization

$1 million – Data and Evaluation Office (includes blended learning facilitator)

4 Re-engagement for students through after-school, summer school, enrichment, academic innovation, school climate and other supports

$12 million – community engagement, enrichment, after-school, etc.

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CDE Specific Considerations for Allocations (con’t)

5 Community Building

$2 million – technical assistance for developing partnerships across schools, districts and/or with community partners

6 Additional Needs Reserve

$4 million – reserved for future emergency, recovery needs

Discussion

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● What additional information do you need?

● What additions or adjustments would you propose to CDE’s considerations?

● What did you hear in the input from stakeholders that you’d like to prioritize?

● What can we do in this moment that we couldn't do any other time with this kind of investment? What big state systems/policies can we tackle? What haven’t we had the resources to tackle?

● What statewide initiatives could we fund that would help for both short-term and long-term capacity?

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Guiding Questions

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CDE’s Strategic Plan Categories