The purpose of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Fund is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on the nation’s students by addressing students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs.

This grant provides schools with funding to address the impact COVID-19 has had on services to students during school building closures. It also provides funding to develop and implement plans for the return to normal school operations.

Newman-Crows Landing Unified Schools (NCLUSD) must make available a plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services.  NCLUSD has a Return to School Plan that will be updated and needed.

In developing the ARP ESSER III Plan, NCLUSD must conduct consultation in the following ways:

• With stakeholders, including: students; families; school and district administrators (including special education administrators); and teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions; and

• To the extent present in or served by the LEA: Tribes; civil rights organizations (including disability rights organizations); and stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migratory students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students; and

• NCLUSD will engage stakeholders through the following:

• Board Meetings

• ESSER lll Survey

• Site Parent Meetings

• Staff Meetings

• Website

• District parent communication tools:  Class Dojo and Parent Square

ESSER lll Funding

The American Rescue Plan

ARP ESER III Overview: The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, was enacted on March 11, 2021. The ARP Act provides additional funding for school districts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Education portion of ARP is known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III or ARP ESSER) Fund.

General grant specifics are as follows:

• Grant Timeframe: Grant expires September 30, 2023. If needed, districts can carry over unused funds and be allowed to continue spending until September 30, 2024.

• Districts will be required to follow all federal, state, and local regulations and requirements for federal grant administration and fiscal spending of funds.

• NCLUSD has been allocated 4,477, 980(estimate) - to be expended over a 3-year period.

15 allowable uses of ESSER III funds

• Any activities authorized under ESSA: IDEA, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and Perkins Act

• Coordinate emergency response

• Address needs of highly vulnerable populations

• Ensure preparedness and coordination (systems and procedures)

• Training related to infectious disease     

• Purchasing cleaning supplies to sanitize and clean schools

• Planning/coordinating for continued education

• Purchase educational technology

• Mental health support

• Summer learning

• Learning loss

• Facilities repairs and improvements

• Improving indoor air quality

• Developing strategies and implementing public health protocol

• Other activities necessary for maintaining services and instruction

The next step for the District is to develop a budget for ESSER III funds through meaningful consultation and engagement with district stakeholders. 

NCLUSD Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund

NCLUSD Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund (Spanish)

ESSER III Expenditure Plan