Federal guidance on the ESSER funding

 ...is now out and found here. 

ESSER is the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funding, as this round we're in now is ESSER III, the largest yet.

You might also look at this from EdWeek, and this from K-12 Dive, and this from Future Ed, which has this: 

The frequently asked questions sheet clarifies the rules for states to review local plans for spending the money from the American Rescue Plan and other relief aid that will flow to school districts. It makes clear that state legislatures or departments of education cannot limit how localities use the money, as long as the uses are within the bounds of the federal law. And states and localities cannot use the relief aid to replenish "rainy day" funds.

And interesting point: 

 School construction is an allowable use for Covid relief funds--including new projects, renovations to ventilation systems, and purchasing trailers. But the guidance cautions against large capital projects that will require too much money and entail not only approval from the state but complex requirements for using federal money for such purposes. 

This piece in the THE Journal spells out the allowable uses rather well.  

You might also find this interview with the Acting Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Iam Rosenblum of interest.  

The following bar graph was shared at Tuesday's Board of Ed meeting, showing Massachusetts (state total) amounts and timelines for when the funding expires: 

May 2021: Board of Ed on early college and innovation pathways

 which is discussed a bit here

May 2021: Student Advisory Council report

 Jasper Coughlin: medium through which student voices are amplified to the Board of Ed
144 RSAC delegates; 43 SSAC delegates; 69 schools represented

worked on three priorities this year: 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

COVID-19 work group

health and wellness

student survey in November: 5000+ responses
high level of frustration and anxiety

key themes: lower levels of participation
new methods of interaction SAC communication
conducted extensive research into topics important to students today
enacted policies that will equip next generation

high dedication and exemplary leadership among students; increased number of meetings; greater ability to consult with DESE

Moriarity congratulates Coughlin on organizational leadership
how prepared are leaders coming
Coughlin: leaders well poised
policies on recruitment and communication, more established guideline on communication as a council

Morton: students provided useful and thoughtful input, as has he
recognized those who have supported him

May 2021: Amendment to time on learning regulations

 final vote on amendments to learning time regs (were passed on emergency basis in March)

and you can find the summary of public comment here

Not recommending any changes to language 

passes without comment 

May 2021 Board of Ed: Acceleration Roadmap

 except first Riley's talking a bit about this

May 2021 Board of Ed: opening remarks

 You can find the agenda here. The livestream will eventually appear here.

the video is picking up 16 minutes in, so I don't know if they already started or not: updating as we go

about the FY22 budget

Before the committee deliberates, the public has a chance to weigh in: don't miss it Tuesday! 

You can find the agenda and link here.

You can find the full budget here. I always recommend starting with the executive summary. Remember this is the budget that starts like this: 

You might also look over this nice infographic on what is in the budget:

The budget uses $40M in ESSER funding, of which $30M is beyond that which is filling in the gap in state aid from the drop in enrollment; the specifics of the gap filling are spelled out on page 145. You can find the overview of year by year plan for district ESSER funding on page 165:

In terms of that funding--which is most of the changes in there--you can also look at this chart on page 145, which is the "enrollment increase" on the second line in more detail:

And then today, we got this additional page of detail for the first line of that ESSER chart, of what administration is recommending we spend on that then would get picked up by SOA funding next year: 

Note that this means that the expectation is that both the $9.6M and the $13.1M would be picked up in the increase in our foundation budget next year...or else be cut. 

Without getting into pre-deliberation--because yes, I do have many thoughts--the question we have before us is: is this the budget that Worcester students need next year, and does it make the highest and best use of the funding that is available to us? 

Come tell us what you think tonight.