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ESSER

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020.  CARES provided direct funding to states and districts to address the impact COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. In December 2020, ESSER II was created through enactment of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA). As with the initial ESSER Fund established by the CARES Act, the core purpose of the ESSER II Fund is to provide direct money to states and districts to address the areas most impacted by the disruption and closure of schools caused by COVID-19.  In March 2021, The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund was enacted. ARP ESSER  provides direct aid to states and districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of COVID-19 on schools.

In regards to the all ESSER Funds, each district must have a plan that includes, or will be modified to include how it will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other school and LEA staff, and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the CDC’s safety recommendations including: 

  • Universal and correct wearing of masks;

  • Physical distancing (e.g., including use of cohorts);

  • Handwashing and respiratory etiquette;

  • Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation;

  • Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the state, local, territorial or tribal health departments;

  • Diagnostic and screening testing;

  • Efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff and students, if eligible; and

  • Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to the health and safety policies.

  • Ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to services to address students’ academic needs and students’ and staff social, emotional, mental health and other needs, which may include student health and food services.

  • Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to the health and safety policies. 

Additional ESSER funding provided to the district is planned for the following uses:

  • Mitigating learning loss

  • After school programming

  • Summer school programming

  • NOCTI testing and resources to close the gap for career and technical education students

  • Homeless student needs and resources

  • Purchase equipment for CTE programs to include: (1) Two Alex simulators for Health Occupations Program; (2) On Car Brake Lathe for Auto Technology Program

  • Purchase curriculum materials for CTE programs to include: (1) Patient Care Technician for Health Occupation Program; (2) Home Builders Institute for Construction Trades Program 

Any input or feedback regarding the District's plan related to the above bullet points can be sent to CommunityFeedback@kcsd.k12.pa.us  Please remember to include pertinent contact information (phone number, address, etc.) in the email so that the District can contact you if we require additional information or have questions. Thank you!

ESSER Grants

ESSER Summary 1-2022