Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund
In 2020 and 2021, the Federal government passed three stimulus bills that provided nearly $190.5 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Funding was received by the states based on the same formula used under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title-IA funding allocation. All states are required to distribute at least 90% of funds to local education agencies (LEAs) based on their proportional share of ESEA Title I-A funds, which factors in the District’s poverty ratios. Pennsylvania has a summary of key provisions as it relates to our Commonwealth found here.
In accordance with ESSER Funding, Urban Pathways 6-12 Charter School received the ESSER I allocation, the ESSER II allocation, and ARP-ESSER allocations. Each allotment has permitted allowable expenditures, and the School has applied for the available funding based on those parameters. Once a grant application is reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, funds will be released to the School after proof of the expenditures are submitted to the Department of Education on a quarterly basis.
ESSER I – $131,432
As part of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Congress established and appropriated a total of $13.2 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. ESSER funds are intended to support COVID-19 response efforts and may be spent on a range of allowable expenditures. The School utilized this allocation for the following purposes:
|
Allowable Uses Under Federal Expenditure Guidelines |
Purchased |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Educational Technology |
Technology Supplies |
$11,888 |
|
Supplies to Sanitize and Clean the Facilities |
Cleaning Supplies |
$6,991.28 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Salaries for Janitorial Staff |
$67,454.21 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Benefits for Janitorial Staff |
$33,677.04 |
|
Operations Supplies |
Thermal Scan Camera System |
$11,421.27 |
ESSER II – $584,140
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA Act) was enacted on December 27, 2020 and included an additional $53.4 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Pennsylvania’s ESSER II allocation is $2.22 billion. Pursuant to Sec. 313 of the CRRSA Act. Funds are available to be used until September 2023. The School is utilizing this allocation for the following purposes:
|
Allowable Uses Under Federal Expenditure Guidelines |
Purchased |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for Math Specialist |
$54,290.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for Math Specialist |
$32,028.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for 6th Grade Teaching Assistant |
$31,930.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 6th Grade Teaching Assistant |
$4,039.15 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for 6th Grade ELA Teacher |
$49,000.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 6th Grade ELA Teacher |
$6,198.50 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for Middle School Physical Education Teacher |
$49,000.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for Middle School Physical Education Teacher |
$6,198.50 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salaries for 2 Teaching Assistants |
$70,000.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 2 Teaching Assistants |
$14,922.50 |
|
Student Support Services |
Salary for School Counselor |
$49,000.00 |
|
Student Support Services |
Benefits for School Counselor |
$6,198.50 |
|
Student Support Services |
Salary for School Based Therapist |
$65,000.00 |
|
Student Support Services |
Benefits for School Based Therapist |
$4,158.14 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Salary for Maintenance for 2 years |
$90,785.66 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Benefits for Maintenance for 2 years |
$51,391.05 |
ARP ESSER III – $1,181,547.00
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 will provide Pennsylvania with $5 billion in emergency funding to support the long-term work of education recovery. Under the ARP Act, at least 90%, or $4.5 billion, of the fund will flow to eligible public school districts and charter schools. This application requires stakeholder input, which started in the Spring of 2021. “Stakeholders include students; families; school and district administrators (including special education administrators); teachers; principals; school leaders; other educators; school staff; and unions.” Funds are available to be used until September 2024. The School is utilizing this allocation for the following purposes:
|
Allowable Uses Under Federal Expenditure Guidelines |
Purchased |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Instruction (20% Set Aside) |
Read 180 Intervention Program |
$230,000.00 |
|
Instruction |
NWEA MAP (ELA, Math and Science local assessments) and MAP Accelerator (Math) |
$16,236.40 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for Math Specialist |
$113,514.96 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for Math Specialist |
$66,967.35 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for 6th Grade Teaching Assistant |
$66,762.44 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 6th Grade Teaching Assistant |
$8,445.45 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for 6th Grade ELA Teacher |
$102,454.10 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 6th Grade ELA Teacher |
$12,960.44 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salary for Middle School Physical Education Teacher |
$102,454.10 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for Middle School Physical Education Teacher |
$12,960.44 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Salaries for 2 Teaching Assistants |
$146,363.00 |
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
Benefits for 2 Teaching Assistants |
$31,301.46 |
|
Student Support Services |
Salary for School Counselor |
$102,454.10 |
|
Student Support Services |
Benefits for School Counselor |
$12,960.44 |
|
Support Services |
Salary for School Psychologist |
$57,542.54 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Salary for Maintenance |
$147,445.57 |
|
Operations and Maintenance |
Benefits for Maintenance |
$25,724.21 |
|
Staff Support Services |
Curriculum Consultant |
$25,000.00 |
ARP ESSER III A-TSI Set Aside – $32,788
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) recognizes the extraordinary efforts made by Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, and educators to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (A-TSI) schools are designated every three years, when one or more student groups in a school perform below the CSI thresholds for academic proficiency, academic growth, and at least one additional indicator. Also consistent with CSI determinations, any school in which the combined four- and five-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for one or more student groups is 67 percent or below will be designated for A-TSI. ARP ESSER includes a significant focus on vulnerable student populations. The School is utilizing this allocation for the following purposes:
|
Allowable Uses Under Federal Expenditure Guidelines |
Purchased |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular Elementary/Secondary Programs |
School-Based Substitute Teacher |
$32,788.00 |
ARP-ESSER State Set Aside – $91,832.00
The ARP Act allocated 90% of Pennsylvania’s allocations directly to school districts and charter schools. The General Assembly and Governor Wolf determined usage for the remaining 10% of the total state allocation through Act 24 of 2021. In addition to $14 million reserved for PDE to administer and implement ARP ESSER, about $485 million was allocated to LEAs in four required set-asides: learning loss, summer enrichment, afterschool programs, and support for other LEAs. Districts/Schools must follow the appropriate set-aside guidelines set forth by PDE for these funds.
|
Allowable Uses Under Federal Expenditure Guidelines |
Purchased |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
After School Program Set Aside |
Tutoring |
$13,119.00 |
|
Summer School Program Set Aside |
Tutoring |
$13,119.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
Kognito/Friend2Friend Curriculum |
$3,000.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
Salary for School Counselor in Restorative Practices Room |
$16,678.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
Leader In Me (SEL) PD |
$3,500.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
Restorative Practices/Mental Health PD |
$900.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
State of Black Learning Conference |
$2,159.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
NWEA MAP Assessment |
$5,248.00 |
|
Learning Loss Set Aside |
Salary for Targeted Tutoring Support in Math and ELA |
$34,109.00 |