Response Required: ESSER III Assurances and Certifications Document

Oregon Department of Education sent this bulletin at 06/25/2021 07:24 AM PDT

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Oregon Department of Education - Oregon achieves - together

Response Required:

ESSER III Assurances and Certifications Document 

Dear Superintendents and Business Managers,

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The ARP Act includes nearly $122 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER or ESSER III) Fund, where the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) was allocated $1.121 billion. These resources will help state and local education agencies safely reopen schools for in-person instruction and keep them open, and address disruptions to teaching and learning resulting from the pandemic.

In response to the requirements identified in the ARP Act, ODE is requesting that each LEA review, sign, and return the ESSER III Assurances and Certifications document to the ODE ESSER email address. This must be completed prior to the release of any ARP ESSER III resources, which are currently available in ODE’s Electronic Grant Management System (EGMS).

The Assurances and Certifications document can also be found on the ESSER III webpage.

Per the ARP Act, ODE is required to meet certain requirements on how the funds must be allocated and distributed.

  • No less than 90% of the resources or $1,008,925,861 must be allocated to school districts in the same manner as the 2020-21 Title I district funding formula. Each school district receiving an award must designate no less than 20% of the grant funding to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or extended school year programs, and ensure that such interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on the student subgroups described in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(B)(xi)), students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.
  • 10% of funding, or $112,102,873 is dedicated to a state set aside of which $78,472,011 (at least 7 percent of the 10 percent set aside) must be allocated for three specific activities and interventions that respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups, including each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care:
    • 5% ($56,051,437) of the total ARP ESSER allocation must be used for the implementation of evidence-based interventions aimed specifically at addressing learning loss, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or extended school year programs.
    • 1% ($11,210,287) of the total ARP ESSER allocation must be used for evidence-based summer enrichment programs.
    • 1% ($11,210,287) of the total ARP ESSER allocation must be used for evidence-based comprehensive afterschool programs.

Of the remaining $33,630,282 state set-aside, $5,605,144 (0.5%) is dedicated for state administration costs, with the balance of $28,025,718 allocated for any eligible activities for responding to the pandemic.

It is important to know ODE has been messaging and has stated in its ARP ESSER Plan (Plan) that the currently required RSSL Operational Blueprint for Reentry meets the ESSER statutory requirements under section 2001(i)(3) of the ARP Act for the Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services plan, which is due June 24, 2021. No further action by the LEA is necessary at this time regarding the Continuity of Services Plan.

The Plan goes on to say: With the passage of House Bill 3427, the Student Success Act (SSA) was established in Oregon in 2019. The ODE has been implementing this robust state law, which is deeply aligned with the goals, priorities, focal student groups, and public plan accountabilities required by ARP ESSER funding.

ODE asserts that many of the desired requirements for LEAs are sufficiently met through the implementation of the SIA, which satisfies the deadline to post LEA plans no later than 90 days after receiving its ARP ESSER allocation. ODE proposes alignment in practice and program implementation to streamline administrative processes, while also seeking maximum coordination in terms of outcomes for students, families, and schools. No further action by the LEA is necessary at this time regarding the LEA ARP ESSER Plan.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Wiltfong, Director of School Finance and School Facilities, or contact Savanah Solario, ESSER Grants Coordinator.

Thank you!