September 2023 ESSER Compass Bulletin

(ESSER) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief

Looking Ahead:

Affordable Connectivity Program (internet access) offers qualifying families $30-$75 per month for internet services. Broadband project and funding reports include Digital Opportunity Plan and Broadband 5 Year Action Plan. Contact Allison Agostino (406 202-7685) for details. The States Digital Opportunity Plan is open for public comment. Please send all comments to Connectmt@mt.gov

ESSER II critical dates:

• Cash Requests are due by September 25^th, 2023.
• Final Expenditure Reports (FERs) are due by October 25^th, 2023.
• Of Education May 5, 2023: Notice of updated technical FAQs for liquidation extensions and an updated CRRSA liquidation extension request template.

OPI ESSER Review/Monitoring Process: As part of federal ESSER compliance OPI is performing several monitoring activities. OPI has been assisting LEAs in mitigating risks to avoid audit findings by reviewing requests for funding and providing assistance with compliance. From June through December, we will be contacting schools to conduct monitoring assessments and helping to strengthen ESSER documentation. Part of this process will include a Self-Monitoring Assessment Survey.  This survey was developed through feedback from the ESSER Review Committee (LEA and OPI staff), review of other state monitoring processes, and direction provided by the Department of Education ESSER Monitoring.  The Self Monitoring survey made available in September 2023 is required to be completed by the Final Expenditure Report process for ESSER II in November 2023. Contact Wendi Fawns, ESSER Director for assistance (wendi.fawns@mt.gov) 

ESSER ELO (Extended/Expanded Learning Opportunity) Grant:

There will be a final round of the ESSER ELO (Extended/Expanded Learning Opportunity) Grant funding available for the 2023-24 School Year (Afterschool) and Summer 2024.

• The E-Grants application for ELO 23-24 will be open by August 15th.
• The deadline for submission will be September 29, 2023, at 5pm or until the funding is depleted whichever comes first.
• Math and/or Reading Literacy will continue to be the major areas of focus for ELO 23-24.
• The current ELO Grant must be fully closed out before applying for the upcoming ELO 23-24 grant.

All ELO grant funding will end in September 2024. The ELO 23-24 grant will be the final round of ELO funding.

If you have any questions about the ELO 23-24 Grant, please contact Allison Agostino at allison.agostino@mt.gov or visit the ELO Website.

E-Grants Budget and Cash Request Descriptions must be reviewed to ensure there is adequate detail provided. The increase in detail is needed in response to OPI audit findings.

If you see cash requests/amendments being returned to your district more frequently, please look through your descriptions and make sure it ties to what your original grant application states, and includes adequate detail.

For more information and specific guidance, please click here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MTOPI/bulletins/310cc35

Please review budget items and ensure all descriptions include the following:

• Include specific details of each expenditure – What is being purchased, student gain, and how expenditure prepares for, prevents, or responds to the effects of COVID-19.
  • For staff/faculty members, what grade level(s) do they serve? How many FTE are represented? What subjects are being taught?
  • What is the supply/material/program title? Who is the publisher/provider?
  • If a budget item includes a digital subscription/software/license purchase, what is the time period being paid for? (Reminder that ESSER funds cannot be used past the grant deadlines)

If you have questions, contact one of the ESSER team members.

E-Grants Amendments and Cash Requests are processed in the order they are submitted to the OPI.

Cash Requests must be submitted by the 25^th of each month in order to be paid by the 10^th of the next month.

ESSER II Amendments and Cash Requests will be prioritized over ESSER III, due to the September 30^th deadline approaching for ESSER II.

• Amendment questions, please contact Rebecca Brown at brown@mt.gov
• Cash Request questions, please contact Steve Morgan at morgan@mt.gov

Office Hours and System of Support.  The ESSER Team is available through extended-hour coverage between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Feel free to reach out with your questions to any ESSER Team Member by phone or email. 

District Monthly Status Reports view of allocated and expended funds can be found on the OPI ESSER webpage.

Many resources are available on the OPI ESSER webpage including but not limited to:

• Quick Start Guide for new Superintendents and Clerks
• Department of Education ESSER FAQ
• Department of Education Labor Shortages and ESSER funding allocations
• Montana District list of ESSER Plans
• All previous Compass newsletters (2021-22)
• Broadband Modernization project information

For further information please contact:

Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov  (406) 437-8595   

Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov (406) 444-0783

Allison Agostino, Project Communication Specialist at allison.agostino@mt.gov (406) 202-7685

Questions? Contact: 

Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov

Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov

The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.