The third and largest ESSER grant to date, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act on March 11, 2021, ESSER III is also known as ARP ESSER. View WCSD's ESSER III Use of Funds Plan.
Through ESSER III, the U.S. Department of Education provided an additional $122 billion to state educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including school districts, with emergency relief funds to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students.
WCSD's allocation of ESSER III funding is $77,282,787, with a spending deadline of September 30, 2024. The Board of Trustees approved the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III) grant application under the American Recovery Plan (ARP) Act for $77,282,787 on July 27, 2021. The Board of Trustees approved the plan to spend the final one-third of the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III) in the amount of $25,798,620 on January 25, 2022.
As part of the funding requirements, all Nevada school districts were required to create a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan through a process that included engaging in meaningful consultation with community stakeholders. Community stakeholder groups are composed of students, families, school and district administrators, civil rights organizations, and stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved student populations, including local tribal councils. This group must be consulted at least once every six months for review and revision of the plan.
This funding supports a safe return to in-person instruction and sustain the safe operation of schools. Schools were able to select resources for learning recovery and student well-being, as well as supporting teacher professional development. District-wide, WCSD is investing in monitoring of HVAC systems and equipment for deep cleaning of school buildings. The section below categorizes WCSD's budgeted expenses for ESSER III funding.
ESSER III Spending Categories
Note: Student instruction provides services directly to students to address academic recovery. Teacher support provides services directly to teachers. Student well-being provides services directly to students to address social, emotional, and mental support. Family support provides services directly to families. District support provides services district-wide in support of funding goals. Other support provides services to charter schools and other mandatory costs.
Student Learning $44.45M
Building Learning Facilitators
Class Size Reduction grades 1st -3rd
English Learner intervention programming
Laptop Cart Assembly
PBS Ready To Learn - Expands STEM literacy workshops to all elementary schools.
PreK teachers and aides
RALLY Program - Provides additional staff to MS and HS to address academic recovery
Textbook adoptions for core subjects
Summer School K-12
Tutoring Programs – In-person and on-line, available to all K-12 students
Web-based intervention programs - DreamBox, Reading A to Z, and Lexia for K-8
Teacher Support $20.71M
Alternative Route to Licensure
Equity & Diversity Specialist - Supports teachers through PD in equity and diversity (one year only FY 21)
Leadership Pathway Project - Provides leadership training and development
Master Lead Teachers – Provides training for teachers to mentor new teachers
Mental Health First Aid - Training for teachers in supporting struggling students
PLC Lead Teachers - Supports collaboration for ELA and Math teachers in grades 6-9
Scholarships for Aspiring Special Education Teachers
SPED Records
Sub incentive program
COVID-19 Differential Pay - To address the needs of extra duties performed during COVID-19
Incentives for Critical Labor Shortages - To address critical labor shortages in education
Student Well-Being $2.92M
Mental Health Admin. - Supports families’ ability to access mental health services.
RALLY Program - Provides additional staff to middle and high schools
Substance Abuse Counselor - Provides evidence-based prevention programs for students
Student Voice Facilitator - Leads student groups in addressing challenges students face
Suicide Prevention - Provides screening and evidence-based prevention programs for students
Family Support $1.27M
Children In Transition Liaisons - Provides support to homeless students
Family Graduation Advocates and Native American Student Graduation Advocates
District Support $2.01M
Grant Support - Provides grant program, fiscal, and evaluation support
